85. Money
Money comes with a whole lot of baggage but I am gradually overcoming my money blocks.
I can’t believe I ended up sick this week. Most likely I caught the bug on the train from Brisbane, despite wearing a mask and cleaning my hands often. I didn’t feel like thinking about the newsletter. In the end, my body made the decision for me — two whole days of sleep, nothing else. It felt strange to drop everything, but I think I needed that reset.
Money is this week’s focus, though not in the big “empire-building” way. Funny thing is, I accidentally stumbled into a new income stream. Out of nowhere, I was invited to sell my gemstone jewellery at the local markets twice a month. I went in with no expectations, and to my surprise, I’ve nearly doubled my monthly income from just two market days!
For a long time I’d given up on the idea of making much from my gemstone hobby. I only sold a few pieces here and there to friends. Then, somehow, I got noticed, and this low-key little market turned out to be exactly the right fit. Of course, I still agonise over pricing, but I’ve learned that “cheap” just looks and feels cheap. People don’t respond to it. If someone is after a generic single-stone bracelet, they can go to the trinket stalls. What I bring to the table is original, handcrafted designs made with care. And the lovely surprise is that people actually value that.
I’m also excited about adding a new layer to my stall — some quote books and card boxes I’ve been eyeing from an Adelaide company. They’d pair beautifully with my bracelets and feed my love for inspiring words. It feels like the right kind of growth: small, meaningful, and aligned with what I care about.
The secret for me has been keeping things small enough to feel like “pocket money” projects, not high-pressure ventures. I don’t need to be as productive as I once was, and I remind myself of that often. It’s amazing how much lighter money feels when you see it as support for the life you enjoy, not as something that controls you.
My takeaways about money right now:
Opportunities show up when you stay open to them.
Pricing fairly is better than pricing cheaply.
Small, steady income can be more satisfying than chasing big profits.
Money feels good when it’s connected to things I genuinely enjoy doing.
It’s okay to earn enough.
I would love to be 30 again and go for a million dollar business empire but that doesn’t mean making money is out of the question for me. In my seventies now, I love looking for small and fun ways to increase my income. The opportunities are there. You just have to embrace them. That is one reason I set aside time each month to focus on money.
Cheers,
Val