Worked Examples
Theory is one thing; a plan is another. Here are two concrete examples of how to put these frugal habits into action.
90-Day Path to Your First $200 (Mending)
This plan focuses on turning a basic sewing skill into reliable pocket money with minimal risk.
Month 1: Skill Building & Zero-Cost Practice (Weeks 1-4)
Your goal is to become confident with 3-4 basic repairs. Go through your own closets and your family’s. Find items that need a new button, have a fallen hem, or a small tear in a seam.
Time Commitment: 2 hours per week.
Cost: $0 (using clothes you already own) to $15 for a basic mending kit if you have nothing.
Action: Watch five online videos on hemming pants, sewing on a button securely, and fixing a split seam. Practice each repair twice on scrap fabric or old clothes. At the end of the month, offer to do one free repair for a trusted neighbor or friend to get feedback on your work and timing.
Month 2: Building a “Portfolio” & Setting Prices (Weeks 5-8)
Now you build proof of your work. Do 3-4 more repairs for friends or family, but this time charge only for the cost of materials (e.g., $1 for a special button). Take good, well-lit photos of the “before” and “after” for each repair.
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per week.
Cost: ~$5 for miscellaneous thread or buttons.
Action: Create a simple price sheet: Buttons ($5), Hemming ($15), Seam Repair ($10). Post it with your photos on your personal social media page or a local online forum. Announce you are “now open” for small mending jobs.
Month 3: Earning and Refining (Weeks 9-12)
Your goal is to complete 4-5 paid jobs per week. Focus on excellent customer service and a quick turnaround (2-3 days).
Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per week.
Cost: ~$10 for more thread colors or supplies.
Action: Let’s do the math. If you do two hems ($15×2 = $30) and three button replacements ($5×3 = $15) per week, that’s $45 per week. Over four weeks, that’s $180. Add in a couple of seam repairs, and you have easily crossed the $200 mark for the month, with total costs under $30 for the entire 90 days.
A Simple Pricing Ladder (For Baked Goods)
How you price your item depends entirely on who you are selling to. A pricing ladder helps you adjust for different markets without over-complicating things. Let’s use our $1.50 COGS loaf of bread.
Level 1: Friends, Family, & Neighbors ($5.00)
This is your “beta test” price. It’s low enough that people feel they are getting a great deal from someone they know. Your net profit is $3.50 per loaf. The goal here isn’t maximizing profit; it’s building a regular customer base and getting consistent feedback. You might offer a “buy four, get one free” punch card.
Level 2: Local Community or Farmers Market ($7.00)
Here you are selling to the general public. Your price needs to be competitive but reflect the quality of a handmade item. You might have costs like a table fee at the market. Your net profit is $5.50 per loaf. At this level, presentation matters. A simple paper wrapper with a branded sticker can justify the higher price.
Level 3: Online or Special Order ($9.00 + Shipping/Delivery)
This level is for custom orders or selling on a platform. The price is higher to account for your time in managing listings, communication, and special packaging. If you are shipping, that cost must be passed on to the customer. Your net profit might be around $7.50 per loaf before accounting for platform fees. This is a higher-effort, higher-reward tier reserved for when you are confident in your product and process.
