A pair of at-home Friday night jewelry parties meant Erin and Tim Midyett could pay their mortgage just as they had run out of options.
The Arvada family of four is among thousands of cash-strapped Americans turning to direct sales of cosmetics, jewelry, pet treats and other products to beat back the recession. And it’s working.
The Midyetts hit bottom in September, nine months after Tim was laid off from a retail management job. Savings accounts were drained; 401(k) retirement funds were depleted.
“We have two little itty-bitty kids and I’m a stay-at-home mom, and I panicked,” she said. “We were getting really strapped, and I was looking for something I could work around my children or that didn’t have huge quotas.”
The family’s monthly budget has grown since that first sale of Silpada Designs jewelry.
Today, Erin Midyett is grossing up to $1,500 a month and Tim’s personal-chef business is taking off.
“I’m able to get the fast money we need to have for our household, and I have flexible time with my kids,” Erin Midyett said. “Now we are not depending on anyone. No one can lay us off.”
Photo by IrishFireside