So.
Of course, having zero sales on eBay sucks. But last night I realized what made it suck SO HARD. I'll be perfectly upfront with you, because I doubt that any school administrators or students are going to read this. I do not like my job.
I do not like my job A LOT.
Teaching middle school is soul-sucking. Sure, there are great kids who are super and you love them and wish you could just clone them, but in my very low-income district, more often than not, you've got kids who don't care. They're just going to follow in their sorry parent's footsteps, so why do they have to know how to balance a chemical equation? It doesn't matter to them. Now, I try to make it matter. I try to make it interesting and applicable, but that only takes me so far.
So, last night as I was dreading going to work today and crying on Tyler's shoulder (literally), it hit me.
I read so many blogs where people are making my montly salary AND MORE on eBay/etsy/wherever. I want to be there. I want to do that. Granted, inventory and knowledge-wise, I'm nowhere near there yet, but I want it to at least seem like a possiblity. When I'm having a no-sale extravaganza, it upsets me as on an "oh, man, this sucks" level, but it's also upsetting me on an "OH MY GOD I NEED THIS TO WORK SO I DON'T HAVE TO TEACH FOREVER" level.
Love this baby to bits!
Of course, now with all the changes eBay is planning, who knows if this hope of mine is even feasible?
Hi
ReplyDeleteI don't see a contact email. Can you email me
momspaycheck1(@)yahoo(dot)com
Kim-Mom's Paycheck
I was a middle school and an elementary school teacher. I left 5 years ago, after 14 years of teaching, to take care of my son. I did not renew my license because I never wanted to go back. EVER.
ReplyDeleteI have done reselling online for almost 15 years. It is the only job I have had since my son was born has been this one. It can be done.
I know exactly how you feel when you want it to work so you can escape from teaching. It is, like you said, soul-sucking. My life became so much better after I left the profession...and I haven't looked back.
I'm not going to say that you can easily make a teacher's pay right out of the starting gate reselling. But you can make a decent supplementary income.
Read everything you can online. Research. Ask a million questions. Set up a realistic financial budget you can operate in...remembering summer months are sloooooow. Starting in January is great because you have all year to get ready for the big selling months of Sept-December.
I'm sorry to hear of another teacher trying to get out. You aren't alone. It's a sad commentary on our priorities.
You can always email me (it's on my blog).
Rebecca
Late Night Coffee
Oh...and Ebay isn't the only good venue to sell on. Etsy is great for cute vintage items. Amazon is great for books.
ReplyDeleteDiversifying keeps the money coming in more consistently.
I am sorry you are having a rough time. I can definitely relate about the soul-sucking aspect of teaching. I understand about the sh*thead parents who have ruined their children's lives and leave us to pick up the pieces.
ReplyDeleteI've transitioned into a new position as Language Arts teacher which I LOVE. However, the person whose place I took was extremely lenient and let the kids waste a lot of time. As a result, when she told them that she was quitting and I was her replacement, the 7th grade class went nuts--one student went so far to say that she is going to stab me in the throat with a pen. I heard the whole commotion from across the hall and started crying. It really made me question my ability as an educator... And the first thing I thought was, I have to get the hell out of this place and sell on eBay.
Anyway, my point is, I feel ya, and I hope the best for you. BTW, what changes is eBay making? Have I missed the memo?
Well, most disturbing is the postage discount they're giving Asian shippers, which I read about first on mysecretebaydiary's forums, but you can find the article at auction bytes. And also this whole new Cassini search engine totally blows.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear from other teachers and know that I'm not the only person who's totally over it. I do have some fellow teachers who are about as ready to jump ship as I am, which is sad because they're all really great teachers, but when you can't teach because you're constantly disciplining kids or trying to stop them from fighting or being totally inappropriate...it's hard to show what a great teacher you are.
Sell on Amazon. Seriously. I sold on Ebay casually for 10 years and finally really went for it. Sold $35k and the following year I discovered amazon and made that number look like pocket change. There is a great group on Facebook called Stay at home moms selling on ebay. Good luck! I have two sons in middle school and I tell them to be nice to their teachers!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. I'm in education too and only dream of getting out. I carry our insurance. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand how you feel and I was in the same place a few years ago. Now I stay home with my girls and watch two little boys a couple days a week. I also sell on ebay. I pretty much make the same amount I was working full time. I am so much happier home with my girls and I love watching the boys from home and selling on ebay!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your Ebay dreams and disappointments. We all share them too and it is cathartic to read your blog. Have not had a sale since Thursday last week.
ReplyDeleteTry Amazon. I do Amazon EBay, consignment sales and a little babysitting. Don't put all your eggs in one basket and mostly don't give up. Another thing is figure out how much you really make at your job minus all the costs ( taxes lunch child care) and how much singly really need to make to get by if you did not teach.
ReplyDeleteIt is feasible! Don't give up on your dream!
ReplyDeleteUgh!! I USED TO work as a special education teacher in a middle school. I ran outa there and threw all my teaching materials in the trash. I still have bad dreams about that place. But you know what, I sell on eBay full-time and have for the last 3 years. I don't do Etsy, Bonanza or Ecrater. Just eBay and I really love it. I kinda have trouble at the evening trying to sit still with my husband for some down time and relaxing, I want to be doing more stuff.
ReplyDeleteI posted anonymously on another one of your posts and here I am again! I just found your blog so I'm reading up on it... and let me tell you, I am here to STAY! LOL
ReplyDeleteI too have a little baby girl (14 months old!)
I too had a job i couldn't wait to get the hell out of!
I too would cry on my way in to work or when thinking of leaving her and seeing her grow up waaaayyyy too fast.
I too have hopes of making some money off ebay or etsy or any other way possible.
About 3 weeks ago I finally did it... I QUIT my job :) now I stay home with my daughter and I absolutely LOVE it! We have had to work miracles (moneywise) since my husband was out of a job at the time, but I just couldn't do it any longer.
We had to cut things out, like EVERYTHING! I feel stranded, but I don't have a cell phone, no cable! only internet. good enough!
sorry for such a long reply, but I'll be sticking around! ;p
The idea of quitting is so scary! We're getting ready to buy a house soon and once that's done, I think I'll be one step closer to getting out of there. I'm also looking for any part time job I can find (not many around here unless you want to unload freight boxes). I want to make it happen. Thank you for giving me some hope!
ReplyDelete