How do you bring home that militaria buying dough?

[carbinephalen]

Hey everyone!

 

In the past I've enjoyed reading such topics as "show yourself", "show your vehicles", "what's your age?", ect. ect. and that got me thinking, "I wonder what everybody on here does for a living?" So feel free to share your occupation! I'll start...

 

I work full time for our county ambulance service as an EMT. This will be my 4th year here and I still love it as much as I did when I first started. Plus there's the benefits...24 hours straight trapped in a station leaves a LOT of free time between calls for military research and scoping out the forum!

 

I look forward to seeing what you all do to bring home the green...to spend it on the green (of the OD variety)

 

*retired folks feel free to gloat now also :thumbsup:

 

-Thomas

 

[Johnny Signor]

I "try" to make my dough via being a Leather Flying unit patch maker, I make the WW-2 era unit types, I have a messed up back and neck from an auto accident some years ago , got rear ended by a carless driver , so I'm not able to get a "normal" job, but I highly enjoy what I do as many a veteran has crossed my path needing a patch he either couldn't find or afford via "dealers" cost , and I really have made many a veterans day recreating thier specific Squadron/Group patch!

 

I have also had the privaledge to meet many a VERY interesting veteran of the WW-2 era in this line of work, either at air shows. museums, special events etc, and the stories they've related about their wartime experiences can't be beat !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My utmost thanks to all those that have served and are serving , good to know they're coming home from the "sand box" soon and Merry Christmas to them all and a Happy and Prosperous New Year too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny

[hirsca]

GLOATING!!!!

 

Well O.K., When I feel like it, I do substitute teach for beer money in the Dallas ISD. Thanks, Al.

[Timberwolf]

In school for nursing, when I'm done with that I'll really be able to bring in the dough! lol But in the mean time I work at our neighborhood Ace Hardware. Lots of good opportunities to network with folks and I've gotten some good pieces this way.-Ben

[Bob Hudson]

The best way is to make your collection self-sustaining: let profits from buying and selling pay for the really good stuff you want to keep and display. If you have cardboard boxes full of militaria stashed away in the basement or garage, then you should probably think about if that stuff is being "collected" or just hoarded. If it's just taking up space, then sell it and use it to buy something you'll actually look at. Or better yet, take the half the money you make and tell your wife "Hey, I sold some stuff out of a box in the garage...can I take you to dinner."

[carbinephalen]

The best way is to make your collection self-sustaining: let profits from buying and selling pay for the really good stuff you want to keep and display. If you have cardboard boxes full of militaria stashed away in the basement or garage, then you should probably think about if that stuff is being "collected" or just hoarded. If it's just taking up space, then sell it and use it to buy something you'll actually look at. Or better yet, take the half the money you make and tell your wife "Hey, I sold some stuff out of a box in the garage...can I take you to dinner."

 

VERY true! I've found it's much easier to break the news of buying another pricey 76th Division grouping to her if she is wearing a new pair of shoes or has a full stomach from her favorite Italian restaurant! (HA! )

[MasonK]

VERY true! I've found it's much easier to break the news of buying another pricey 76th Division grouping to her if she is wearing a new pair of shoes or has a full stomach from her favorite Italian restaurant! (HA! )

 

I've tried this with my wife; I use the tit for tat tactic. She mentions that she wants to buy a piece of jewelry, or anything pricey, and my immediate response is, "Go for it!". All the while I'm thinking, "if she buys that, I can justify buying this". Sadly, she's very frugal (which, in reality, is good for the both of us) and prefers the cheap QVC Diamonique stuff, so it never works out for me... :crying:

 

As for occupation, I'm Assistant Vice President of facilities management at a "Cough" commercial mortgage company "Cough". I've been here for 12 years (right out of High School) and worked my way up from the mailroom.

[Sabrejet]

I'm one of those "gloaters" you alluded to. I took early retirement last summer after 36 years in teaching! :thumbsup:

[Austin R]

I'm one of those "gloaters" you alluded to. I took early retirement last summer after 36 years in teaching! :thumbsup:

I'm guessing you were a history teacher?

[Sabrejet]

I'm guessing you were a history teacher?

 

Not solely, but part of the time, yes! :thumbsup:

[Justin]

I work in a Zumiez shop, though I enjoy it, hopfully in a few years I won't be doing it for a living.

[LtRGFRANK]

Retired from Law Enforcement. 25 years and Firefighter 35 years. Got paid for being a policeman. No pay as a Fireman. So all funds come from retirement and Soc Sec. Robert

[3rdeye]

the government paid me to do things that kept you all safe under your "blanket " of democracy

 

yeah,,whatever,,,,ignorance really is bliss,,,,lots of blood was shed,,and many men lost,,,,

benn there done that,,,now I drive school bus,,, with a bum leg,,,,green beret to school bus driver ,,,nice

[Patriot]

In school for nursing, when I'm done with that I'll really be able to bring in the dough! lol But in the mean time I work at our neighborhood Ace Hardware. Lots of good opportunities to network with folks and I've gotten some good pieces this way.-Ben

 

Awesome! I am a RN, working on my BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). My goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner. Income is close to what a MD makes, and since I am too old for Med school... this is my best option.

 

Don't give up... it's a very challenging field, but you will enjoy it!

 

Chris

[37thguy]

US Postal Service, at least for a while longer...? :nerv0003:

[Got da Penny]

Work for an HVAC wholesale company, Running the Warehouse now, with experience in

Counter Sales/Deliveries all over the state of Kentucky/ and warehouse for

the past 11 yrs.

 

But, my income for buying comes from the same way Forum Support says .. Buy/ReSell on eBay/Flea Markets/ on Forum. :thumbsup:

[RDUNE]

Until last Tuesday I worked for a history museum, then I got laid off :crying:

 

The pay was terrible, the hours were crazy, and the workload was too heavy, but it was a lot of fun and I got to work with passionate people and handle some really cool artifacts. In fact, I got to curate my own military history exhibit full of WWI & WWII uniforms (lots of 29th div) headgear, field gear, etc. I met a lot of vets, one of which was in K/3/5 with Eugene Sledge and loaned me his Hinomaru Yosegaki flag that he captured on Okinawa for an exhibit I put together for Veterans Day.

 

But, being a non-profit in a bad economy (and poor decisions by senior leadership) finaly ended my run. So now I'm back to substitute teaching in elementary schools while I finish my masters degree in teaching :thumbsup:

 

The silver lining: I'm 25 minutes from the National D-Day memorial and finally have time to volunteer as a tour guide.

 

My budget for collecting typically comes from whatever I can buy at estate sales & antique malls and flip for profit. And I collect cheap things like patches, medals, and pictures.

 

The picture below is me at one of the high points of my time with the museum. The medal was awarded to Gary L. Miller from Covington, VA. He dove on a hand grenade in Vietnam.

[m1ashooter]

I manage a bowling ally.

[3rdeye]

I've tried this with uncle sam, I use the tit for tat tactic. he mentions that he wants to buy a piece of my property, or anything pricey, and my immediate response is, "Go for it!". All the while I'm thinking, "if he buys that, I can justify buying this". Sadly, he's not very frugal (which, in reality, is good for the both of us) and prefers the cheap Afganistan stuff, so it never works out for me... crying.gif

[boyt44]

I worked in a factory for 31 years,ended up as a pipefitter. I collected all sorts of things over the years , but I always seemed to come back to militaria. I would go to all the numerous gun shows we used to have in this area, and lots of yard sales and antique shops,too. This was back when you could find a fixed-bail US helmet sitting on a pile of junk in a shop for 5 or 10 dollars. I never spent a whole lot at one time-I just collected it for years and years. Now, since I'm retired, I've been looking at the really massive piles of stuff I've accumulated, and I've started my first tentative steps to selling it on eBay. I grabbed a couple of things that I wasn't too concerned about if I screwed up the process, took some pics, and listed them. I'm shocked at what one of them has been bid up to already-it was just the first thing that came to hand. I can see that this is going to be my 'job' for a while now-I'm sure I'll be passing some of my stuff to you collectors here ( these things will hopefully pay for parts for a '30 Ford Model A i'm restoring)

[oldfireguy]

Firefighter until June 1st and then retired.

[ghost]

I'm a CNC Machinist for a firm that produces military training simulators (giant video games).

[Timberwolf]

Awesome! I am a RN, working on my BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). My goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner. Income is close to what a MD makes, and since I am too old for Med school... this is my best option.

 

Don't give up... it's a very challenging field, but you will enjoy it!

 

Chris

 

Thanks! Ya, my school only offers the BSN program which is nice, but it's super competitive program so I'm doing my prerequisites until I'm accepted. I really want to work in the ER. My dad is an ER RN so I know what he goes through.

[carbinephalen]

Interesting to see quite a few Fire/EMS/police guys on here :thumbsup: I never knew there were others out there! I was a FF for 3 years prior to my EMS gig. Too little time to volunteer with the family now.

[BigDogMilitaria]

I'm a Communications Supervisor in a 911/Police/Fire Dispatch Center. Been there about 12 years. I have quite a few knowlegeble co-workers who have been able to show me the ropes and stop me from making some foolish purchases!