Money Saving Tips!

Money Saving Tips - Try eBay! Have you ever shopped on eBay?  You really can find some great bargains there! EBay is an amazing resource and more than that - the prices are almost always bargains! I have provided a list of ten things you (probably) never thought to buy on eBay: Postage Stamps: Yes, it is possible to get a discount on postage stamps! A lot of times companies or individuals will purchase a mass quantity of stamps for a mailing and end up not using them all. The USPS doesn’t buy back stamps, so a good alternative is to sell on eBay. Expect to pay between 80% and 90% of face value, with the bigger discount coming from a larger purchase quantity. Timeshares: Real estate is big on eBay, especially timeshares! As long as you are careful in reading all of the fine print and purchasing from a reputable seller, you can come away with a great vacation at a fantastic value. You can easily pick and choose from a wide variety of locations, amenities, and prices. Over-the-counter medication: Need to replenish your supply of Advil, Visine, Airborne, or Mylanta? It’s almost always drastically cheaper, and you can also search for generic or store brands. You can save hundreds of dollars a year doing this. Makeup: There are certain shades and certain brands of makeup we all know use. It’s easy to search for these on eBay and buy them in bulk or at a discount. It’s also a great way to find discontinued colors that you love and can’t live without! Simply set up a search for your favorite discontinued items and save it so you are emailed whenever an auction matching your criteria comes up. You may find some of your favorites from years past! eBay Business Supplies: I see so many people who sell on eBay using padded envelopes or other supplies from the USPS — not the free Priority or Express mail supplies, but the expensive supplies sold in post offices. If you know you’re going to sell more than just a few items, buy your supplies on eBay! Great discounts are to be had on bubble mailers, bubble sheets, labels, and more. Spices: Yes, kitchen spices! Pumpkin pie spice, garlic powder, cumin, seasoned salt, paprika,  well, the list is endless.  I am often able to get many times the amount for the same or a little over what I usually pay at the grocery store. Gift Cards: If you frequently shop at a certain store, it pays (literally) to check out the gift certificates category on eBay. People resell gift cards they aren’t interested in using, and you can often get a good discount. Some of the more popular stores sell for nearly 100% of face value, but others sell for 70% to 90% of face value. If you’re going to spend the money at the store anyway, why not buy a gift card and save a few bucks? It's almost like free money! Food: The food category on eBay is huge. You can buy your favorite overseas candy, soda flavors you can’t find locally, fresh baked cookies just like mom made them, protein bars, elegant desserts, and much more. A word of warning though… looking for food on eBay can make you hungry! Massage Appointments: These can usually be found in the gift certificates category. A lot of spas and massage therapy locations will sell gift certificates for massages at discounted rates to gain new customers. As long as you are careful to check that the location is legit, you can find a great deal. Magazine Subscriptions: Magazines make money selling ads, and they can charge more for their ads if they have more subscribers. Because of that, they will let go of a lot of subscriptions to brokers for very low prices. A lot of these brokers sell on eBay. Imagine buying a year’s subscription to your favorite magazine for only $3! They usually take four to eight weeks to kick in, but it’s well worth the wait. For lots of other great money saving ideas click on one of the banners on this page!