Maxwells and money

[Patsy]

This is something I'm curious about. A few aspects:

- When did they really start getting into money? I kind of had the impression that their packs, books and seminars had been lucrative for quite some time, but I think others might disagree.

- Why do they still hold that iron grip of stubbornness over chore pack copyrights and reselling?

especially as

- What on earth do they use that money for, and what would they need much more for? They make a lot of their own clothing, they don't eat fancy foods, I'm assuming that they at least partially own their house, and it's not as if they seem to splurge that often. Does Uriah really cost that much to maintain?

[Guest Anonymous]

They built their house themselves and own everything in their posession outright, but their 'ministry' and some small business interests provide their income.

Although they present a facade of frugal living, they seem to own just about every nice piece of technology going. They are not poor, by any means.

And, as others have previously commented, their following is not all that vast - they get, what, 16 comments per blog entry, and they struggle to fill 6 weekend conferences and a few evening performances twice a year.

Their 'copyright' terms are ridiculous, but they don't get out much and won't know the inside of a public library to have seen how life works these days. And Steve will have heard from God on the matter, anyway. So, you'll answer to God on Judgement Day for even questioning him, dontcha know...... :naughty:

ETA: Yay, my words of wisdom on this have tipped me into the "Secratly a Duggar" category. :lol:

[Burris]

Their 'copyright' terms are ridiculous, but they don't get out much and won't know the inside of a public library to have seen how life works these days. And Steve will have heard from God on the matter, anyway. So, you'll answer to God on Judgement Day for even questioning him, dontcha know.

I think their miserly copyright terms, some of which are probably unenforceable, are merely an extension of their, "I got mine. If you'd been busy getting yours, instead of being so lazy and beholden to the government for such socialist schemes as the 'public library,' then you wouldn't have a problem getting the money together to buy our books.'

Never-mind all the free tools and DIY chore-pack options there are.

Ask me how and I'll repost some potential alternatives to the Maxwells' system.

[Patsy]

I had the impression that they had passed from making quite a comfortable living into larger amounts of money some time ago, and that they mightn't spend a lot of that money. Perhaps they're not as well off, in the first place, as I thought?

[babs]

What are their copyright terms for the chore packs? I'm thinking most likely they aren't even enforceable. And as for reselling them, I don't think that would ever stand up to being enforceable.

I'm pretty sure that I would already know how to make a chore pack without ever seeing one (which I haven't).

[lilwriter85]

I had the impression that they had passed from making quite a comfortable living into larger amounts of money some time ago, and that they mightn't spend a lot of that money. Perhaps they're not as well off, in the first place, as I thought?

They probably don't spend a lot of money on certain things. Steve seems to hate a lot of entertainment things. I doubt they are spending money on DVD's, CD's, and books. They probably would never attend concerts or sporting events. They would be saving some money in those areas.

[clibbyjo]

I saw the chore pack for $15 at a used,homeshool curriculum sale a few weeks ago. I just COULD NOT buy it.I did show it to my friends and say "this is the thing those people I went to see wrote!" and we all laughed, but that is as close as I came to owning a Maxwell product.

I have said this before, they work some of the biggest homeschool fairs in the country. They could easily make $20k in one weekend at a fair like CHAP. My sister sells at fairs and she only goes to a couple of the big ones and makes more at those than on-line sales.

I would think the Maxwell's have a decent amount of money since the house and Uriah are paid off. Gas would be their biggest expense during travel season. I assume the boys get some kind of "salary" as does Steve,but other than electronics they don't seem to spend much.

[Patsy]

other than electronics they don't seem to spend much

And that's what confuses me - why so jealously guard your 'right' to make as much money as possible off your products, to such a ridiculous level, if you aren't going to use it for anything? I mean, savings are great, but if you're comfortably getting by and you have enough as a fallback, why continue to be so antsy about needing every cent?

[babs]

Okay I looked it up and now I'm astounded. People pay $25 for something like that? Really?

Heck, as an elementary school counselor I came up with something very similar to help a student with Asperger's get through his day. Granted he doesn't wear it around his neck, but he does carry it with him everywhere he goes in school. Although, knowing my student, he'd love wearing it around his neck.

[bananacat]

I can't believe anyone would buy the chore packs. It would be so easy to just make them for a fraction of the cost. It's so simple that even 3rd generation SOTDRT graduates should be able to handle it (obligatory caveat that this applies to the fundie joke they call homeschooling and not homeschooling in general). I often wonder if fundies buy these things as an act of charity rather than actually needing them. The chore packs are right up there with the MOTH spreadsheet in terms of being a complete scam. You'd think that people who make such a big deal about being frugal would just make their own free version of these products.

[bananacat]

And that's what confuses me - why so jealously guard your 'right' to make as much money as possible off your products, to such a ridiculous level, if you aren't going to use it for anything? I mean, savings are great, but if you're comfortably getting by and you have enough as a fallback, why continue to be so antsy about needing every cent?

He kind of makes me think of the dragon in The Hobbit. He sits on his treasure pile and never uses it for anything, but he's gonna make damn sure no one else uses it for anything either.

[kpmom]

And they don't just make their living off chore packs and MOTH. Don't forget Sarah's books, which I've also seen for sale on several Christian catalog sites (and some of the other books Steve and Teri wrote too).

Also, the reversal boys have a construction company.

I don't know if Nathan and Christopher pool their money with the rest of the family, but they do IT consulting (and of course Nathan's "school").

And as clibbyjo pointed out, they can make some major bucks even going to just one major homeschooling conference per year.

And of course, those "love offerings" they get at their conferences.

So, yeah, they do ok for themselves. I imagine their income improves as the children get older and can contribute more and more.

I am very curious as to how they dole out the money everybody makes. Do they get to keep a percentage?

[VodouDoll]

But even for all of that, I can't imagine their income is even a patch on, say, Doug's. The Maxwells have a little assembly line in their basement vs. the VF warehouse. Teri's parents help them stuff their orders when they're traveling vs. all the VF interns and employees. The Maxwells scrimp and save to afford a couple midnight sessions at a recording studio vs. VF's elaborate international trips and movies. I can't imagine they really make that much, do they?

[MaddieMoody]

Do you suppose Sarah gets to keep any of the money her books make? Or no?

[Letgo]

I hope she is allowed to keep the money. She will need it when her parents are gone. Perhaps the Maxwells are saving up so their unmarried daughters are not such a financial burden to their married brothers. The marriage prospects are going to be so limited; who in the world will pass muster with Steve?

[skankbiscuit]

I'll bet Papa Maxwell keeps the money and she gets an allowance. He will probably transfer the rest to her husband when (if?) she gets married. If Sarah has money she can leave and make choices. Steve would never allow that possibility.

[YPestis]

I've taken note about the Maxwell finances before. They are definitely comfortable. They own their house (built it themselves), their interior is not cheaply built (see the kitchen). They own the latest appliances and they individually own nice cars. They don't live extravagantly but they are certainly not poor. As to what they spend their money on, it looks like they poured a lot of money into the house and their individual electronic stuff, also household appliances. The girls recently acquired a new wardrobe.

Steve has said each of their children get paid for their work, including the girls. Sarah is acquiring a nice "nest egg" (as they put it) for marriage. I guess now it may be considered a retirement fund.

Since they are their own business, they probably have to pay their own retirement funds, health insurance and whatever other costs associated with running a business. The Maxwells have spoken of financial hardships in the past, so their wealth is relatively new. However, it probably helps they have so many adult children in the business. Each of them live at home and save their money until they get pay for their own house. That will definitely help with everyone's finances. All in all, the family has a good setup.

Also, don't think for a moment Steve is just 'sitting' on his money. All those nice gadgets are not just for their family business....I'm pretty sure Steve enjoys home improvement projects and gizzmos---and surprise, that's what they spend money on.....

[Guest Anonymous]

The reversal boys are all saving to buy homes outright when they are older, so I guess they are paid fairly for their work. We have seen Sarah and Anna buy quite spendy gifts for Christmas presents and Anna shouted the boys lunch the other week, so they at least have pin money. I would guess they get a minimal office wage for the hours they spend at the Titus2 office, but most of their time is probably taken with unpaid housework. At $7 a book that they self-publish, I doubt Sarah will be a self-made $$$$naire any day soon. I expect they pay her 'royalties' that won't add up to much.