I mentioned this some time ago but a small business that I want to get into is making panel id tags for electrical and HVAC companies here in town. The equipment will cost me anywhere from $300-800 dollars but at $3.50 a tag it won’t take too long to recoup my money.

I need to think about setting up a website where users can submit a request online and I can fill orders. If this works out ok locally then I could expand elsewhere? I know that I should be able to do my own companies labels and save them money while paying for the equipment. Also I could get into the pet id tag business but there are already hundreds of them online already.

I have been in a very bad habit for nearly 15 years of a ritual of going each more to the convenient store and purchasing a couple of bottles of diet Mountain Dew on my way to work for break and lunch. This is then followed by storing at the convenient store on the way home for one or two more for the evening. Right or wrong this is what I have been doing for the past, well for as long as I can remember.

We won’t even go into whether that much pop is even good for you. I am going to break down the savings for you and myself as I am writing to see how much I would save by buying 12 or 24 packs at home. First, a bottle of soda pop 20 oz is right now about $1.29-$1.39 and usually you can get a 2 for $2 or 2 for $2.22, I’ve seen both. The 12 oz cans can be purchase for around $2.99 to $3.99 a twelve pack. I found a great sale this week and purchased 24 packs for $4.50.

Let’s be conservative and do the first price for bottles at a dollar a soda pop. $1 x 4 = $4 per day for bottle soda pop. $4 per day x 365 = $1460 per year of Diet Mountain Dew. Now, let’s go with a middle of the road figure of $3.50 for can soda pop per 12 pack. That breaks down to a little under .30 cents per can. Wait a minute you say? That is only 12 oz versus 20 oz cans. Ok, let’s double it and say .60 cents. 60 cents x 4 per day is $2.40 per day or $876 per year. That is a savings of $584 per year and you even get more soda.

I could purchase a 4 day - 3 night cruise to the Bahamas each year for 2 people just from the money I save by switching from Bottle to Cans. Oh and wait just a minute - one more thing. The bottles end up in the trash, which in turn go to the land fill. The cans on the other hand can be crushed and take to the recyclers and right now you can get as much as 70 cents per pound. That might even buy your drinks on the cruise?