Do you think buying a kiln to make your own household items is a fair trade financial (consider the electric bill)?

I would only buy one after taking a series of classes and enjoying the heck out of the craft and the process. I don't think I would do it necessarily for financial reasons, but as a creative outlet. If the work is good, I'm sure it can be sold at local craft fairs or over the internet.

I'm sure there is a learning curve in it; so there would be lost money there when things don't turn out right. I don't really know what an electric bill for a kiln would be so I'm not sure how much of an issue that might be. I think I would use the same advice that people give when deciding to buy a franchise or not.

Go work in the franchise of someone else for six months; if after that time you still want to do it, the buy the franchise. In this case, I would do as much work as I could without buying a kiln to see if I really needed to buy one; if I did after a certain amount of time, then I would know that it was a good idea and purchase. After all, you don't want to spend money on a kiln (not the cheapest item nor the easiest to move) and then have it sit unused.

Or worse, try to resell it.

No. Think of the time involved to make and bake. Plates, cups and vases are pretty cheap at Wal Mart.

I don't see how you would ever come out ahead by just making your own household items.

For financial reasons no. What about the cost of the oven? Then the cost of the clay and the glaze.

Then the electric. It's a good idea if your doing it to be creative but not to save money.

You can buy household items at low price and they're certainly more economical than making it yourself. You need to invest a lot to start making good quality household items, kiln, good clay, pottery paints, glazes, electricity, space, time, etc. However, if you are a creative person and want to make unique handicrafts for sale, then go for it. You might even get good money for it.

Sell your products on Ebay or Etsy.com for additional income.

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