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eBay – five things that you could sell today
Regardless of what some people say, eBay can be really fun and its a great way to become debt free, if you are in financial difficulties. The bidding frenzy when your stomachs churning in the dying seconds of the auction whether you will win or not. Then there is the rush of actually winning your first item and waiting for it to drop through your letter box.
But, for me nothing can compare to getting the buzz out of making some money, getting those funds into your Paypal account and seeing the fruits of your labour. I even like the wrapping up of the parcels and the trip to my local Post Office, its all part of the eBay experience.
Onto five things most people could sell today, everybody’s different of course but here’s my five ideas, and I might even achieve four of them.
Old junk!
Everybody has junk in the loft, or kicking about their house, it could be anything from old teapots, to an old train set hidden in the attic space, or a pile of old engineering magazines. You should never underestimate the public’s want to buy other peoples tat. Don’t be embarrassed by your junk, embrace it, love it, and sell it! One man’s muck is another man’s brass.
Mobile phone!
Again, if I dug out a drawer or two, I could probably find at least one if not more, old mobile phone. You would be really surprised what people will buy and the price that you get on eBay will often out way most mobile phone recycling companies. However, seller beware, make sure that you clean it out first, you never know what contacts, pictures and messages of a dubious or naughty nature might be lurking in your phones memory.
CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and Books
This is a no brain-er section, if you don’t own at least one CD, DVD, Blu-ray or a Book kicking about that you can live without, what have you been doing for the past 10 years! Have you just been at home watching council television and smoking silk cut extra lights. There is a goldmine to be made with this section, desirable to a buyer and a massive opportunity to clear out that phase you went through when you were into death metal and wearing chainsaws around your neck.
Old Clothes:
I’m not going to expand on this section much, but as long as it’s clean there is a buyer out there for it somewhere. People go crazy for cookie, retro and unusual items of clothing, footwear, handbags and assorted man garments. So get rid of that leather trench coat (see above death metal reference)
The Husband, Wife or Spouse.
Hey its worth a try!
Five tips to save money today!
Saving money doesn’t have to involve making large sacrifices. My granny always used to say if you look after the pennies the pounds will look after themselves. Small savings of even just a pound everyday can have a great impact on your finances. Here are five tips on how to save a pound each day:
- Bring your own lunch instead of buying sandwiches. This will fatten your wallet and thin your waist. Shop sandwiches are often unhealthy and always more expensive. Try keeping an empty water bottle with you that you can fill up from the tap to avoid paying a pound for mineral water.
- If you a big coffee addict try keeping sachets of instant coffee with you at work. Microground instant coffee can be almost as nice as the real deal and certainly its cheaper than Starbucks.
- Walk or cycle to work, or into town if you are going shopping. This way you can save heaps of money from bus fares and parking machines.
- If you are a big texter try signing up to online services which offer free text messages to UK mobiles. This will save you money on texts and its much easier to write a message on a proper keyboard.
- If you need to send somebody a card, try making one. Use a funny picture from a family holiday, or draw one of your own. People will appreciate the homemade touch and you can save the money from the card to get them a better present or send it first class!
Most of the time we can save money with just a little bit of effort and if done regularly enough this can make an impact! You don’t have to stop leaving tips for the waiter in restaurants to save money on a daily basis!
How to Stay Out Of Debt
It is so easy to get into debt, but not as easy to get out of it. The best solution is of course never getting into debt in the first place. Here’s my advice on how to scrape those pennies together if money’s a bit tight to avoid the debt cycle.
The first thing you need to do is set a realistic household budget. List all things you have to spend money on i.e. Gas – Electric, mortgage, then list all the things you want to spend money on. The goal is to separate between ‘Need’ and ‘Want’ for example you ‘need’ to eat or you ‘want’ that new CD. I would also thoroughly recommend using an online money management program to track your spending and help you get a bigger picture of your finances. Read my post on Kublax if you’d like more information.
The idea is to look at you outgoings and see where you can make cut backs, set yourself a shopping budget for food. Some examples of how to save money on groceries and household bills are as follows:
1. Ask your supermarket what time they mark down there products, and purchase these when they are cheaper. Most things can be frozen to restore the sell by date.
2. Grow your own vegetables and fruit allot cheaper than buying.
3. Use price comparisons sites to check you are not paying to much for your gas – electric or mortgage.
4. Check with your energy supplier to see if you have an economy setting, do you washing etc in the evening as it is cheaper.
5. Take a shower instead of a bath, its cheaper.
6. Do you really need the heating on? Can you just put on another layer of clothing?
7. Hang clothes to dry on a rainy day indoors over the bath or use a clothes airer, it’s cheaper than the tumble dryer or radiators.
8. Use natural products for cleaning its cheaper and better for your health!! eg. Vinegar for cleaning windows.
Overall just think about ways to do things on the cheap. Research is rewarding and you will be saving money and getting out of debt. I’m always reading brilliant blogs on frugality such as Almost Frugal.
As my wise mother told me as a kid – If you look after the pennies, the pounds will loook after themselves.