Finding Balance

Topic I've been thinking about, and I'd love to get thoughts on those who have been scrapping for years. Again, I've only been seriously scrapping for a few months. This is a part time / hobby interest for me, but I believe this applies to people who work full time.

I've become very good in my 9-5 job, and leaving it at 9-5. There are times when I'm working on a complex problem that I think about it a little outside of work, but for the most part it's the last thing on my mind when I walk out the door. Scrapping is another matter. I always have something going through my mind - thinking through working out another score, thinking what level I want to break things down, what is worth my time versus what isn't. I spend a little too much time on my 9-5 keeping an eye on craigs list/Facebook/Ebay buying and selling. I should probably spend 30 minutes to an hour a day in the evening max scrapping. Maybe a few more hours on a Saturday. But I often get started and end up going until 2 in the morning. I'm also feeling like I'm spending my time at home taking things apart and my lunch breaks are spend putting things up on Ebay, making scrapyard runs, or taking plastic to the recycling center. In some ways, I think scrapping is a little addictive.

My life is already pretty busy. I've got a young family, and I love my time with my kids. I'm very active in our church, and spend a lot of time serving there. I can spare a little time here and there to scrap and learn how to scrap more effectively. But if it continues to take over time that should be spent elsewhere, I might have to go cold turkey and take a break.

Scrapping is hard work; and it takes time. Time acquiring, time breaking down, time selling, time thinking and taking steps on how to do better at the 3 key parts. I would think the same issues apply for those of you who are full time scrappers - maybe even more so.

So I would love to hear - how do you flip off the switch when it's time to be done scrapping? How do you allocate your time? What works well for you? Are you doing a good job / bad job of keeping balance between the many demands for your time?

I will offer up what works the best for me: Sundays. I was raised that Sunday is the Sabbath, and it's not a day for working. So, I go to church, and focus on other things each Sunday. I've come to love my Sundays as a break and a fresh reboot for the coming week - even before I was scrapping. Usually by Friday / Saturday my mania/enthusiasm to scrap is out of control and taking Sunday off and focusing on the most important things helps me reel it back in. But that's just me.

My kids love scrapping and it is a form of entertainment for the family. It is also very educational as we search the country side for treasures. My strategy is to include the family as much as I can. Now that my kids have moved out of state, they coordinated a time this summer to come home and scrap with me for a week. This is the only common interest my kids share. Great family vacation.

I know I'm doing a bad job balancing scrapping\home life. Especially in the summer when it's the busiest. Some days I have to force myself to take care of other things but even then I'm thinking about scrapping *facepalm*

Well, for me, at one time I had a switch that worked. Right now it's broken and I seem to be off balance most of the time. More responsibilities at work and an ever increasing amount of scrap coming in. It's very hard to separate the two. My 9-5 is spent working on phone systems and data networks. So I go to a customer site, complete my work order and notice a room full of old PC's, servers, monitors, etc. You see where this is going, right? I am constantly coming in contact with my 9-5 customers who have old equipment and don't know what to do with it. Their faces usually light up when I tell them that I will remove it for free. If it's just one or two PC's I'll take them as I leave but most of the time I have to arrange a pickup after hours or on a weekend. I feel I do a very good job on my 9-5 but I believe sometimes I spend to much time scrapping. Addictive? Yes. An obsession? Getting there. I think I need to sort out my priorities.

My situation is far different than yours and many others, that doesn't make me special but just different enough my way will most likely not work for others.

What I have noticed there are a few reasons why people start and remain part-time scrapers. For some it is for the extra money to make ends meet or pay off bills. You strike me as a very busy guy so if you are not desperate for the money cut back on the scraping. You may want to specialize in one area that does not take up as much of your time. If money is a problem(no need to answer that question because this may pertain to others) then I recommend Dave Ramsey's method of controlling your money and paying off your bills. Here is a link. Dave Ramsey Homepage - daveramsey.com He has at least on podcast you can listen to. Mike