A Little Goes a Long Way… Buy used via the Net
Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 02:35AM Has the amount on your credit card statement ever taken your breath away?
“There must be some mistake!” (you’re thinking)
“We didn’t buy anything this month!”
You painstakingly go through every purchase only to notice there is nothing on the bill over $50 or even $20!
Yes folks, it’s the little things that add up; the night you didn’t have time for dinner and ordered pizza or all the craft supplies you “needed” for the classroom Valentine’s Day party or wedding gifts or… the list goes on and on and on!
Stop!
If you’re living in debt or feel like you are living paycheck to paycheck small simple changes can get you back in the black.
Blessed Nest has given me the chance to share simple money saving tips with you because a little goes a LONG way.
Today’s Tip is to utilize the good ole’ Internet to buy and sell used products locally. You’ll save green ($$) and be Green!
- My favorite buy-local site is Craig’s List . I have sold and bought loads of things and haven’t had a bad experience yet. Craig’s List allows folks just like you and me to post things they want to sell or giveaway (There is FREE section! ). It’s divided out by city and every major city has its own Craig’s List hub. Just search for what you want, browse the list, contact the seller via email or phone then pick it up! The best part? No shipping… but you may have to call your cousin with a truck!
- Only want to look for free items? Try Freecycle ! Their “mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” Talk about feeling noble for getting a free pack n’ play! You need to join Freecycle (membership is free) or a Yahoo group to see any of the posts. Groups are divided by city and members can post things they want to giveaway AND things they want! I’m in love with their instructional video.
- Book lover? Me too!! I get almost all my books from Half.com . The books are used and CHEAP! I’m talking .75 cents. You do have to pay shipping which runs about $3.50. Search for a book, then choose the quality (new, like new, very good, good or acceptable) then buy. I usually choose from the “good” category because the prices are SO low and the books have all been just fine.
- I’ve just discovered SwapTree. You can swap books, music, DVDs and video games, you just have to pay shipping. And they make the whole shipping super easy by allowing you to print it from their site so you don’t have to worry about stamps, weights or going to the post office. First you list what you have, then you list what you want. Connections are made and the swapping begins! I haven’t done it yet but I’m going to give it a try soon!
- Of course, we all know about eBay! (If you don’t, crawl out of that cave and read this.) We have bought and sold on ebay and it’s not my favorite but, as my friend Soni from the Stringbean Company says “Ebay is only a click away!”
I'm excited to share theses sites with you and I hope you’ll try some of them, if you haven’t already. If you know of any Internet-swapping-free-inexpensive sites please let me know in the comments section!
Kara- Noel is a writer for the Blessed Nest Perch in the area of healthy living, finance, budgeting, and everything Mom. We are so excited to have Kara-Noel sharing her tips on budgeting and living debt free.
Find Kara-Noel at Eli's Lids.com
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Elis Lids, green living in Eli's Lids 
Reader Comments (7)
I was just talking to her about this and here it is! She is truly an inspiration and an example of we all CAN live!
I'm so excited Andrea about her writing for us on this subject. She is filled with wisdom. It is so fun to see how her family lives and how well they do living debt free!
Awesome!! I am very passtionate about living debt free!! Can't wait to share more :)
Some great resources here but I love the half.com link thanks for that
SAHD PDX - Glad you liked the link!! It is awesome!! I have never sold anything on it yet but I should be going through my book shelf soon and I'm going to try it out. One of my friends has sold stuff and says it has been great.
~kn
I've been following you on the Eli's lids blog forever. I'm so glad to see you branching out my. Love the post and I can't wait to here more from you!! By the way my little 2 year old daughter looks like Cora Janes stunt double! sooo cute!
Half.com is the best!!! :) Great post, great tips!