Just an FYI...you aren't the only person who has responded to this thread.

I'm in a suburb of Sacramento, and I'm sorry, but people didn't get the memo of Hard Times USA. Outside Starbucks yesterday there were 15 SUV's. Yes, 15 gas guzzling V8's getting $4 worth of Wake Up Juice. You go to a movie on a friday night to wait in long lines and have your party broken up because there aren't enough seats together.

Everyone is spouting these ideas of depression and economic collapse, but if you look at what people's actions and spending habbits are showing, I disagree. I think people are going to have to invest in one of those little countertop machines that make the coffee at home, and wait til movies come out on dvd, and of course....gasp....make a lunch and take it to work! (WHAT??? No more eating out for lunch...oh my!) I went to dinner last week in downtown sacramento. There was a line around the corner to put your name on the waiting list to wait another two hours for a table. Yes, you read that right!!! HARD TIMES USA....riiiiiight!!!

People at my work are always complaining about gas and how they can't afford to drive to work, while guzzling down the biggest soda and fries and burger from what ever fast food place they deemed worthy for lunch that day.

If you really want to worry about the economy, that's going to be when people start making their own coffee, making their own lunch, carpooling or taking the bus to work, not buying a new designer bag once a month. (You should see the amount of Coach we have around here! I myself have one thank you).

I moved out of my mom's house six months ago....no more mommy food, no more mommy doing the laundry. I have about fifteen bills now instead of three....and guess what, I save each month. If I can do it so can everyone else.

I did not take offense to the "Susie Homebaker" remark because at one time I was one.

But--FYI--I did take offense about the education system sucking "down there"! I graduated in a class of 600--not the top 2% but close enough.
If you think our education system sucks, it's because the education should START at home in the first place.

And I can say that because I have worked in the school system!

Melody...who's the famous/expensive baker in the area? I am so nosy! LOL! Does it start with a K or a R or an N?

Did anyone watch the Presidential debate last night? One of the candidates mentioned that although we have lost over 700,000 jobs since January, small businesses (such as the ones you all run) have increased and grown, and actually created over 300,000 new jobs here in the US.

Small business is the backbone of the American economy. There isn't a single domestic business (businesses created in the US, not brought in from abroad), which did not start out as a small business. Small business is probably the only reason why our economy hasn't collapsed completely.

So all those who are running legal businesses here on the forum, be proud of yourselves, for it is you, and others in your category, who are keeping the economy going. And I thank you for it.

Theresa

Well said Loriesmom. If Suzie is upset so be it. Let her spend the $$$$ to get legal. I could care less if the ones skirting the law are upset.

Mike

Not wanting to hijack the thread but since education was brought up ....

Just yesterday, my two girls (come in after school to make cookie dough balls) got into a discussion on different presidents. They didnt' know Nixon was the first president to go to China and what that meant. They didn't know about the 18% inflation and how people felt LUCKY to get a 14% interest rate to buy a home during Carter. They didn't know about the Iran hostages, how long they were there. When I told them about Reagan's "Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall!" statement, their revelation came from "Oh, that's that scene from Family Guy!" (How sad they get their history lesson from a cartoon ... and sadder that they can't even understand cartoons because they aren't being taught history.) They didn't know what the wall was, why it was there and why it was a big deal when it came down. They had no idea about disarmament (sp?) and thougth Star Wars was just a movie.

Watching the debates last night, I spent a lot of time explaining things to my 16 year old. While some teachers assign their students to watch this debate, I wonder what kind of value it really has because I had to explain to my daughter what "KGB" was (oh! that's what that one song means when it says it has more files than the KGB!), what the Cold War was. If kids are not being taught what this is, then what value is it to watch politicians talk about it when they've no idea what the candidates are referring to or talking about.

I asked my daughter and the other girl who works for me, "Don't they teach you ANY of this stuff in school?" I'm told they aren't being taught what happened in the past ... they are being taught geography. History is ONE class that you're required to take before you graduate.

Our children do not know their history ..... god save us when it appears we are doomed to repeat it.

that is really terrible indydebi. This really brings up the question of why don't young people know history? I am a young person too (22) although I knew everything you mentioned except the Nixon thing but I chalk that up to being Canadian.

I find that everyone places blame on the education system (here and in the US). However, being taught and LEARNING are different things. My dad taught high school and he switched schools late in his career to be closer to home (12 mile drive vs. 52 one way). In his grade 12 biology class he asked the students to read a chapter of the textbook and make some notes to discuss in class. The uproar of the parents was deafening! To think that their babies would need to do some work and be prepared to be taught - grade 12 students! It totally blew him away.

There are only so many hours in a school day and the teachers now spend more time discipling students than teaching, that unruliness is a product of media and home environment. Learning starts at young age, and parents need to instill the desire to learn and explore in kids. Oprah was critized very loudly for deciding to build that girls school in Africa, but her reasoning was very clear, those girls VALUED an education and wanted to learn unlike so many students here and in the US.

Books are for learning - buy your daughter a history book. I do think that is great you are taking the time to discuss these subjects with your girls. Society is no longer a critcial thinker - one of my favorite quotes

How fortunate for leaders that men do not think. - Adolf Hitler

When I saw in growing up, you meal ticket and pass to have a roof over your head in my house was to have a library card! We had to read, read, read! On weekends, Archie & Friends comic books were big treats! My mom was big on history so I knew more about American and European history (we lived in Jamaica) at my age in the 1970 than what my nephew know now (he is 16) in 2008! Of course we watch movies, and listen to all types of music (rock, pop, jazz, classical)...but we had a world view. My mom lived in the USA (on a work permit) in the late 1960 early 1970; did not go to high school. When she came back here to live 1980s, she took her GED without doing a class and passed. All because she was well read!

I love cake decorating and I'm looking forward to get my business legal and enjoy the benefits the USA affords me - a true freemarket (I hope a little while longer) to compete fairly with the supermarket down the road, and Suzie home baker across the road.

Ok, seems like the thread got a little off topic....

But as for the OPs original question goes, Yes, the economy may be tight and it may last for a REALLY long time, but don't let that detour your dreams. There are ways to do anything and everything at anytime.

In times when the economy is slow, diversify your services and don't just offer a cake, but offer party solutions!

I believe that the baker who understands the frugal budget and overall needs of his or her clients will sustain overtime.

Next, let the success of others fuel your need for entreprenuership and pay little to no attention to negativity.

Finally, when you get the ball rolling on your venture in this tough economy, send us a positive note so that we can all be encouraged!

Blessed wishes!

tcp

[quote="loriemomsUnless you're licensed and legal, it's wrong because it's illegal.[/quote]

Nope. They just happily fly under the raider, making cakes for their "friends"...(I guess everyone on goes on Craig's list is their "friend") My only hope is that one day they get caught and they have to pay the THOUSANDS of dollars in fines.


If you guys want to have fights and be mean and nasty to each other, then please, take it somewhere else. I am honestly very tired of it.[/quote]

If your sick and tired of everyone being nasty, why would you wish ill will on someone else?

Since we are KINDA talking about saddness/economy, I just have to get something off my chest...and YES I WILL GET FLAMED FOR THIS! I understand that single mom's-even married one's have the right to buy whatever clothes/shoes/handbags they want, but...I was running in the grocery store yesturday at 1:30 after I picked my sin up from Mother's Day out to buy him some watermelon and a Lunchable for Thursdays class' I am waiting in line behind a young girl wearing a sparkling new & clean PUMA track suit, probably $100.00 and some brand spanking new Nike Shox (at least $100.00) and OF course a Coach handbag-(Couple Hundred dollars...do you know what the holdup was for me? She is cashing in her WIC checks for milk, juice and formula. NOW, I am not being ugly, but you are on gov't assistance when you are low on funds...I pay for that service! My tax $ goes so that someone can buy new clothes and look "HOT" instead of their responsibilities first. Let the flaming start! I don't even care-I save every penny I have on cakes, etc. to put into my sons college account which has taken a major hit with the stock market, I choose not to spend my money on clothes and shoes and put the needs of my child first so that we don't go on gov't assistance, and it just makes me upset that THIS is why the economy suffers is when people ABUSE our gov't. I don't think that every mother on WIC/Food Stamps is that way but it was such a blatant abuse that I was floored. I don't know the girls circumstances...and this is getting you all way off topic it just made me sick. My husband that went to school and is still paying off his college loans own a Financial business with his dad-things are so bad for them now with the economy and if you know anything about the stock market you have to ride everything out...but for us honest law abiding folks that means no paycheck for him for a while (we do have savings thank god! And I do ok with cakes!) but it feels like we are always the one's hit the "Middle Class" we pay for the sins of the super rich and the poor. I want better for my sons future!

Not to mention have a back up funding source (part time job, teaching cake classes, etc.) as alot of businesses take a few years to even yield a profit!

To the original poster: If you want to start your business go ahead but start small. Keep things tight if you feel the economy is not as strong as before. Just don't over extend yourself $ wise and you will be ok no matter what. Small businesses are what makes America great. Compaq and Microsoft and Dell started SMALL! Compaq in a garage and Dell in a dorm room!

It is going to get a little tight. I am fortunate - I live in an area that is booming and since we were just smacked with a hurricane and many of the refineries were smacked right along with the rest of us - they are going to have to strip out and rebuilt parts of the refineries along with the expansion they were already doing. So in my area things are a little more cautious but not depressed or repressed. It is beat up and ugly looking but like I told my boss (I work part time for the largest paint company in the world) we are going to be slammed for paint and that means money.

My cake business is doing just fine and I am grateful. Gasoline is high and so are groceries. I have tightened my belt along with everyone else. I actually gave up my beloved lattes. Latte's are the reason I started decorating for $ in the first place - to pay for my indulgence in lattes. (I would no more by a Coach purse than I would fly to the moon)

My hubby and I are both conservative with our money - 20 years ago when we bought our house we were told we could afford a $160K house and we could have done that. We bought one for $57k and did the old sweat equity - our home is worth 4 times what we paid for it and it has been paid for in full for 8 years.

As far as the comment about our education "down there" America has one of the finest education systems in the world. We have world class universities that people come to from all corners of the earth to learn and live the American Dream. My kids have gone to private and public schools and my 20 year old son could give anyone a run for their money on history. He can speak about WWII and ancient history/mythology with a depth that almost astounds me - almost! My oldest son is pretty darn smart too, and my youngest child, my only daughter, wants to own her own business one day and she has the drive and determination to make that happen. I have always fostered education in my children and purchased books for them to read and discussed events with them. Right now they are sick of listening to all the FOX news but they are at least informed!

Ok...back to the regularly scheduled program

iamlis

I can understand why that angers you....hey maybe she bought the stuff at the Good Will? (I guess I will now blasted for suggesting that people who are on warefare only show at the good will...which, btw, is one of my favorite places to shop!)

Back to the economy, this weekend they are doing the annual parade of homes in our area and we LOVE going to the really neat houses, that only run about a million, to see how the other half lives. Can you beleive a lot of these houses are sold? I wonder who is buying them and how can I get to become their best friends?

VERY well said Denise!

Loriemoms I do have to say every time I see you post i CRACK up about "Gotta have more cowbell"! Ohhh SNL! LOL!

But I did speak out of anger earlier in my post, I am not a mean person and I help and donate time and money to various charities, far be it for me to begrudge a single mom (just saying single mom cause there was no rock on her finger ) a luxury like looking nice, especially if that is all she has but our economy is weak because so many of our populations priorities are really whacked out! THat is what bothers me I don't EVER want my son to covet a pair of shoes more than a private schooled education. I love doing cakes, and because I was a nanny for so long I started out with an "IN" for the rich mom. "HEY I WANT THAT!" cake crowd. SO I kind of was able to go into business with an instant following. I think the #1 thing you have to do is EDUCATE YOURSELF (Cake classes, cake shows, ICES DOS) Anything that you can learn newer techniques and keep your prices competitive with the market! In the midwest you can still charge $200.00 for a kids birthday cake and they won't bat an eye, if you choose your client base. If your client base is SAHM, or your church friends they might not have the funds for $200.00 cakes so you may not be able to cater to them if you want your business to thrive. I guess you do have to be a cake snob Not in a bad way, but I would never haggle with a customer over a price, this is what I charge take it or leave it. No skin off my nose. Business has been TOO much since January, so I think if you have a good client base they will always return. I am sad to say that if you have to lower your price to compete with Walmart, then you just can't ever make a profit. It just isn't possible.

Iamlis, I would just like you to know that WIC is not necessarily only for the very low income, like say food stamps so go ahead and look up the income guidlines for WIC and maybe then you wont feel so angry. As for the ecomomy, my opinion is basically an unsure one, I do see people spending lots of money still on going out to eat and shopping and I also see small businesses like my parents on the brink of going under. So maybe it just has not hit its peak yet so what I am just trying to save a little more just in case. I am really angry about one thing though and that is last weeks bail out and this weeks AIG scandal and the ceos getting millions, it is so terrible and that is why I am not voting for either canidate because they both voted for it, I am not a highly eduated politician but I did see that coming!!