Teach Soap

I think I put too much time and energy into my soap business and goat herd to have such a little return. Therefore, I have devised a budget. Since my family attended Financial Peace University (google Dave Ramsey) I have been pretty budget oriented. I am only going to keep 6 goats, which will provide enough dairy products and milk for soap year round (I currently have eighteen). This will also cut WAY back on the cost of feed which half of my profits were paying for prior to my putting this plan into affect and it will allow me to rotate pastures reducing the need for chemical wormers. So, here it is:

subtract all sales animals
add 1/3 of animal sales to goat maintenance budget, 1/3 to reinvesting budget, and 1/3 to savings
Total Soap/Craft Income (increments of 4)
Soap expenses (add $1.80 per $4.00 to business expansion fund)
Goat Maintenance (add $2.00 per $4.00 to goat maintenance budget)
Payroll (add $.18 per $4.00 to personal spending)
Tithe (give $.02 per $4.00)

I have it divided by increments of 4 because my soaps cost $4 per bar. It costs me $1.10 to make a bar of soap so I add an extra 70cents to allow growth in the soap supply envelope. I will keep adding half to the goat chow money. Lastly, I am being sarcastic by saying payroll. I like money and I think $18 (if I really get busy and sell 100 bars) a month in addition to my allowance is fair. I want a life seperate from goats and soap! maybe even some social stuff... like a date or a party would be nice...

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Always be kind to your enemies. It messes with their heads.

My blog:

http://blog.knoxfarms.com/

Leave me lots of comments!

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The Isles of Ambar Cosmetics BY The Wikked Soaping Company Wokingham England

Thanks, I just hope I can sell some of these goats and soon! I make cheese, but raw milk laws are pretty strict here too. Only this month did it finally become legal to sell milk for pet consumption.

_________________
Always be kind to your enemies. It messes with their heads.

My blog:

http://blog.knoxfarms.com/

Leave me lots of comments!

_________________
The Isles of Ambar Cosmetics BY The Wikked Soaping Company Wokingham England

_________________
Always be kind to your enemies. It messes with their heads.

My blog:

http://blog.knoxfarms.com/

Leave me lots of comments!

Goats love thick woodsy areas. They really don't prefer grass and being out in the open. So far, my budget is working nicely. I've made spread sheets to go with it. It really makes it easier for me to plan for other animals that I might want to aquire. I would really like to add sheep to my managerie and breed Dobermans for personal income. I guess that doesn't leave much room for a socaial life, but wiggle room is more important.

_________________
Always be kind to your enemies. It messes with their heads.

My blog:

http://blog.knoxfarms.com/

Leave me lots of comments!

_________________
Always be kind to your enemies. It messes with their heads.

My blog:

http://blog.knoxfarms.com/

Leave me lots of comments!

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

What's a social life? Ditto! I haven't had one since I became self-employed.



Nah, seriously, wouldn't have it any other way but downtime certainly takes on another meaning when your work never stops.

Kudos to making a budget. I started budgeting 8-9 years ago and it changed my business life, for the better. Having a plan and something to measure against really helped to keep me on track to success.

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

I didn't want to make a whole new topic so I thought I'd put this insomniac's rambling here. I can't sleep, so what do I think about besides soap -- all the things I could do to keep a dozen people alive for 3 months if we got shipwrecked on a deserted Island. I threw in a newborn with a father but no mother along as one of the passengers just to add to the challenge.

Needless to say I eventually had to get out of bed so I could do something else with my mind. I do think it's funny and so typical of my personality that I would feel responsible for the lives of the crew or to be more exact to make sure no one died on my watch. I think that's why I'm always taking animals to the humane society and tracking down the owners of "lost" animals. I think I have this great fear that I might ever feel I was the cause of someone's suffering. Actually it's more than that...the thought of other's suffering around me and me failing to take action is so disturbing to me that taking action is just a reflex. But if I examine a little closer the real fear is that some day, someone I love will need help when I'm not around and no one will be there for them. Hmm so I guess it's a control issue eh? But really I do feel like I'm doing the logical thing by making sure I take care (within reason) of the tiny bit of the universe I come in contact with. The logic comes in where if everyone did similarly...then my worst fear would be improbable.

Okay, this has got to be some seriously dull reading, which is good as I will take that as my cue to change the subject...

I got rejected for a spot at an art show. They wrote me to let me know I was one of 25 people they are keeping on their waiting list, in case some other artist/craftsperson can't make the date. Still, I didn't make the first string. pfft what do they know about making soap anyway? hehehe

Maybe I'll put one of the great choral masterpieces on and let my brain be so consumed by that as to stop me from thinking. HAHAHAHA which reminds me of how much I LOVE Willem Dafoe's character in the movie the Boondock Saints and the role music so beautifully reflects his passion for his work. I think the Mass in C Minor is called for here!

Well this was a lovely diversion, if anyone made it this far you're probably up too late with nothing better to do also. So, go to bed!

MWAH!

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PJ,
http://www.pjsoaps.com

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PJ,
http://www.pjsoaps.com

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Laugh, learn and love. Give and receive.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.