Financial Security and Self Employment

In the current economic climate with more and more people losing jobs and homes and it doesn’t seem like there’s any end in sight. In these uncertain times, wouldn’t it be nice to make a little extra money and feel more in control of your own future. There’s not much worse than feeling economically vulnerable and sitting around wondering when you’re going to get downsized. When this happened to me, I faced my own economic downfall and inevitable downsizing by putting an end to the cycle. I decided that I no longer wanted to be dependent on anyone else to make my living, pay my mortgage or put bread on my table. No longer was I going to sit around waiting for other people to decide my fate.

My simple answer was to start a vending route. Maybe I’ll never get rich this way, but I wasn’t getting rich working for other people either. I make more than enough to pay my bills and earn as much as I was before. I have to pay for my own health insurance, so this an expense I have now have to pay on my own, plus I lost my matching IRA plan, but to my mind, these two losses are more than offset by what I gained. I gained control of my employment, my money, my schedule and my life.

Honestly, I was forced into the vending machine business out of desperation, but I wish I did it years ago. This is not to say that self employment or the vending business isn’t without challenges, but the challenges are within my control. Is it hard to get profitable locations? Is it hard to be successful in vending? Definitely! Is it hard working for someone else feeling like you have no control over you life? Definitely!

I would say to anyone who thinks that working for someone else for a regular paycheck and benefits is the ‘safe’ choice, this is delusional thinking. I’m not suggesting that everyone get into the vending business, because this isn’t the right option for everyone, but I would definitely encourage everyone to redefine ‘safe’ and consider how economically vulnerable they are when they work for other people. The only person looking out for your best interest is you, not your boss and not your company.