With the warm weather and spring finally upon us, along comes the desire for cleaning and purging items in your home. While some of your items may be perfect for donating, some might be in such great condition that you do not want to simply give it away.

If you are thinking of selling on eBay or are brand new to selling online, here are 5 basic tips for making the most out of your selling experience.

1) Decide which items you are most comfortable selling on eBay

eBay has its own type of niche that not everyone is comfortable using or exploring. Popular or rare products sell better then products that only a few individuals may look out for. The ease of selling online and shipping must be factored in when deciding what items you would want to sell on eBay.

Decide what venue is appropriate for your item. eBay may not be the right answer! Craigslist or Amazon may help you strike a better deal for your product. For example, when I won a giveaway for a kitchen faucet, my husband and I decided to sell it. I had already started selling things on eBay at this point and realized right away what a hassle selling a faucet would be on eBay because of shipping. We sold the product on Craigslist a few weeks after listing it. For large, heavy products, Craigslist may just be a better selling venue.

2) Figure out shipping costs before posting an item

Inflated shipping costs may turn buyers away from purchasing your item. However, you do not want to take a hit out of your profits because you didn’t set the shipping cost high enough for the item. The first few items that I sold on eBay, I did not set these costs high enough for how much it cost to send to the buyer. Unfortunately, I ended up in the red on these first few items due to my lack of knowledge and research beforehand.

As you continue to sell products, you will be able to gauge what works for you. I have recently put most of my items in priority mail because it is convenient, the costs are always a flat rate, and the United States Postal Service provides free packaging material, making expenses for sellers decrease significantly!

3) Create a detailed description and creative title

Words must be chosen carefully and wisely when selling items on eBay. The title of your item should be concise, yet descriptive, using as many keywords as possible. Think about what a buyer might search for when describing your item.

Add as much information as possible in the details section so buyers have no questions for you about the product and they know exactly what to expect. Include all types of measurements if applicable, color, condition, material contents, and care of the product. The most important part – BE HONEST. If there is wear or a defect on the item, make sure the buyer knows about it. Nothing is worse than receiving an item you purchased just to find out it wasn’t exactly as described.

4) Set items at a reasonable price

If your item is popular, set the price low, as the demand for the item will allow the price to rise. However, if you think your item is less desirable, set the price at the lowest that you will accept. Research – such as comparing what similar items are selling for – is key to setting your products at a reasonable price. Look around on eBay and on various websites to see how much the item is being sold for or has sold for in the past.

5) Consistently sell items

Seller feedback is crucial for success in the eBay market. While it takes a while to get quality feedback and it may seem daunting to continue with selling items, consistency is key. Buyers want to give you feedback and if you do everything possible to provide a good experience, you will get great ratings.

Make sure to continue listing items, even if it is just a few a month so that your feedback does not suffer just from a lack of selling. Even if you are not making a considerable amount of money, any amount can help you achieve your financial goals for the future.
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There are so many tips and blogs for selling on eBay that it can seem so overwhelming. If you are just beginning to use the site or are an experienced, these tips can help get you started or can just be helpful reminders for you to continue on your side hustle.

Have you or do you currently sell on eBay? What has been your biggest learning experience from selling?
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Photo by Kazuhisa OTSUBO

When planning out a budget for your wedding, there are things that are obvious things that are expected such as the venue, attire, food, and decor. But even budget planning guides for weddings don’t include certain things that add up and should be accounted for.

There were a number of things while planning my own wedding that I simply overlooked, even though I was organized and conscious about the budget. While this list may not be extensive and can include a number of other things, hopefully this will help those who are engaged or helping others with wedding planning to be aware of these unexpected costs.

1) Postage

The number one cost of a wedding that people seem to not to account for is postage. With the new increase for sending mail in the U.S., it will cost .49 cents for each invitation you send. That isn’t including extra charges for weight, unusual shapes or buttons/embellishments.

While it may not seem like a lot of money when you are only thinking of sending a few, if you send out 100 invitations, that is $50 in extra costs that you may have overlooked. Even if you understand that there will be things that cost more and the budget needs to be adjusted, depending on how many save the dates, invitations, and thank you cards you intend to send, the cost of postage may significant.

2) Beauty Treatments

While it is not absolutely necessary, many people getting married would love to get pampered before the big day. Grooms and brides alike usually want to look their best, and looking fantastic can come at a price. Haircuts, mani/pedis, tanning, or facials can all add up but might not be in that budget guide you have been using. To cut down on costs, look for deals on various sites, such as Groupon, to find the best value possible.

3) Non-wedding Attire

Another forgotten about wedding cost: pre-wedding attire for the bride and groom. Dresses, nice shirts, and other outfits will want to be had for these special occasions. Engagement party, bridal showers, bachelorette/bachelor party and the rehearsal dinner all include outfits that you may want to purchase special attire for. While you do not need to buy everything new, you might want to get something you will feel comfortable and look your best in for these celebratory occasions.

4) Gifts for People Involved in the Wedding

It seems like a given that people within the wedding party should get gifts for being such a big part of the wedding day. It’s the parents and the “extras” that often get overlooked. There are a number of people involved in the wedding that help to make it all happen.

Even if they have a small role in the wedding and you are only planning to get them a small gift, the last thing you want when the big day is near is to be surprised at the total costs of gifts. Include this cost when making a budget initially as to avoid added stress down the road.

5) Food and Beverages for the Day-of Events

Any budget planning guide for weddings will include the obvious of food for guests, whatever that may be for your wedding. However, it is all too often that food throughout the day is forgotten about. Your wedding party, attendants, special guests, and other family will be with you throughout the day, and most probably won’t be thinking about bringing their brown bag lunches/breakfast so they don’t pass out while standing next to you at the altar.

Keeping food/beverages simple is easy and giving the task to a family member is a great idea, but you still have to include the cost of this food based on how many people are getting ready with you.

6) Meals for Vendors

Speaking of food- vendors that are with you throughout the day or for a significant amount of time may get hungry. I have a friend who is a photographer, and she explained that at some weddings, the couple doesn’t always include her in the meal count at the reception. This makes it so vendors have to go out to get their own food when they are working for you.

While some may say that it isn’t a couples duty to pay so much money on a vendor’s meal after they have already paid them a significant amount of money for their services, in my opinion, vendors will work even harder for you if they feel appreciated. One way to do this is to feed them! This should be calculated within the budget so it is not overlooked or forgotten about.

7) Thank you cards

Most budget guides include a section in the budget for “stationary.” This can include a number of things for the wedding that are obvious, such as invitations. However, thank you cards might not be on your radar while you are in the midst of planning. Depending on what you want to do for the thank you cards, they might end up costing you more than you think. Even the postage for these can get pricey depending on how many guests attend your wedding.

If you’re married – what unexpected expenses did you run into? If you aren’t married, what’s your plan for dealing with some of these “miscellaneous” or unexpected expenses?
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Photo copyright Dana Johnson – all rights reserved

While spending money may not be ideal if you are on a tight budget, there are ways that you can save a significant amount of money that you would have otherwise spent throughout the holidays.

Today I will share 5 ways in which you can save or “get” money this holiday season.

1) Get a Plan

First and foremost, get a plan on how you are going to spend, on whom, and on what. If you just keep buying and buying, you won’t ever really know how much you spent, when, and on whom. In order to save money this holiday season, you MUST get a plan. Retailers are hoping you do not have a plan so prove them wrong and get one!

List specifics such as who you are going to buy for, when, where, and how much. Also take into consideration any food or baking you will be preparing as this can cut into how much you are spending throughout the holidays that could break your budget.

2) Get an obtainable budget

I always have an idea in my mind of how much I will spend on Christmas gifts and even try to break it down by individual. However, it can be difficult to stick to your limits. For me, I always get tempted to keep buying gifts for the children in our lives. This year it is my goal to not only write down my budget- but to STICK TO IT.

Having a budget that is within your means is essential to being smart with your money during the holidays.

3) Get e-mail notifications

While many of you are skeptical of this suggestion for many reasons, I have found this to be extremely helpful. I am on the email list for a number of retail stores and online coupon sites. Often, it is very tempting to buy things because of all the great deals that come through my inbox on a daily basis. But the best thing about it is that I can delete it right away if I don’t need anything!

I have to admit that sometimes, it is absolutely obnoxious to get 50 emails a day from companies rather than people. However, I cannot deny that it has saved me hundreds of dollars. I monitor what type of deals the sites have and how often so I can grab onto the best deals out there.

4) Get prices

Price comparing is key. I have never been super big on Black Friday shopping. This year though, I was in the hunt for a pair of boots considering I live in snowy Minnesota and didn’t have one pair of boots that didn’t get soaked when walking in the snow. Because I compared Black Friday deals at various stores and online, I found a pair of brown boots that were the same brand at one store that was selling for $40 and the other one for $20. Twenty dollars here and there adds up so get researching to get saving!

5) Get creative

I am all about getting creative to save money. I have made multiple gifts that I could have spent hundreds of dollars on just by being creative and making things myself. If you are not crafty, don’t worry, you can still get creative by thinking outside the box on what types of gifts to get people and save a considerable amount of money this season.

What do you do to save money during the holidays? How do you “get” money during this season?
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Photo by Alan Cleaver

Central Location

One of the best pieces of advice I read on a blog recently was, “It’s not really just your big day.” While your wedding is to celebrate you as individuals and as a couple, it is also to honor and celebrate with people you love and have influenced you. I am all about beautiful locations and maybe where you live there are limited ideal spots for weddings. My sister got married in Hawaii and it was absolutely amazing- I wouldn’t have wanted her to change any moment of it. However, if you are worried that your wedding party or guests are unable to cover the cost of an extended stay away from where most of you centrally live for the wedding, consider finding a wedding venue in your hometown, or near it.

Make their Jewelry/Accessories

Making jewelry for bridesmaids or getting creative with accessories for groomsmen can also cut down on the costs for the wedding party. Not only will these pieces be a unique feature during the day, you can make beautiful things for typically less then what you would pay to buy these items retail.

Pay for their Drinks at the Reception

Alcoholic beverages are often something that can get extremely pricey if you are paying for all of your guests’ drinks throughout the evening. While it is certainly common to pay for your own drinks as a guest at a wedding reception, one way a bride or groom could help their wedding party save money is to budget in their overall wedding budget for their wedding party to drink whatever they want for free all night. This could be as part of their gift or simply a generous thank you to the wedding party in allowing them to not have to worry about paying for drinks during the celebration.

Allow individual choice in dress or tux/suit selection

Wedding shops often raise the price of their dress or tux/suit selection because they know brides, grooms and everyone involved in a wedding are already expecting to pay that price. While the quality is often higher at these shops, so is the cost. If you are thinking about having a cost-effective wedding for your wedding party, consider having them choose their own dress or tux/suit. You can keep the traditional look by keeping them all the same color and fabric, but having a different style can create variety as well as save on cost for the individuals involved.

One great website for mother-of-the-bride dresses is soulmatesdress.com. By allowing the mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom, or even an older close female family member that is heavily involved in the wedding, choose from websites and stores like these, they can have the choice on how much they want to spend and look great for your wedding day.

Now onto the giveaway!

Soulmatesdress.com is giving away a $50 and $100 credit to their online store! What a great gift to give to a mother-of-the-bride or groom for the holidays!

A big thanks to Jessica from Mo Money Mo Houses for organizing this giveaway.

Some details:

• Open Worldwide
• The giveaway runs from Oct. 19 – Nov. 19 (so as of Nov. 19 at midnight the contest will be closed)
• See terms and conditions in the RaffleCopter widget below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Photo by Jose and Roxanne

Editor’s Note: Today’s post was written by my wife, Victoria. Above is a recent picture of our 20+ year old cat that my wife has had since she was very young.

I can’t lie – I have wanted to get a dog since my husband and I got married. We lived in an apartment during our first year of marriage, making it impossible to add a dog to our family. Since we bought a house in October, my desire for a dog of my own has only become amplified. If you are anything like me, you want a dog too – or a cat, a bunny, etc. However, here are six reasons why you should consider waiting to buy a new pet.

1) The Costs of Essentials

No matter what type of pet you want, it will have basic needs that should be factored into your monthly budget. While some pets, such as a fish, may not cost much each month, others may end up costing you more than you think. Especially if you don’t use coupons, you can easily spend $20 on just a cat’s daily necessities. And that is a conservative estimate. Depending on your new pet’s needs and depending on how frugal or tight your budget is, you might want to reconsider what kind of pet you get or if you even should get one at all.

2) Unexpected Vet Costs

I have known many people who have had unexpected vet costs for their pets. Anything can happen, especially if your pet goes outside. Sicknesses can develop no matter what type of pet you have and vet costs can get quite expensive. I once had a friend in high school that paid at least $4,000 for emergency surgery on his dog, only to have it pass away soon after. While this may be worth it for an animal that has become a part of your family, your finances may not be able to handle those kinds of costs.

3) Other Unexpected Costs

Not only can vet costs be unexpected, but other unexpected costs might come up, such as allergies, specific medications, a particular diet, etc. My family dog growing up had terrible allergies and had to have various types of medication throughout his life. Another example is as an animal ages, the cost of taking care of them could potentially increase. Our local vet has told us that our 20-year-old cat (yes, you read that right TWENTY YEARS OLD) should be fed wet food twice a day because of her decaying teeth. These types of costs are always unplanned and may not be easy to adjust to in a budget. Consider the costs of a new pet and if you are able to adjust your income to deal with it.

4) Extra Planning

Photo copyright Victoria Carlson

Once you have a pet, depending on the type of animal you get, there may be an end to those quick weekend getaways or spontaneous vacations. Extra planning needs to take place for vacations and trips once you have a pet. You must take into account who will take care of your pet or where you will bring it. It’s not just vacations that require planning. If you know you will have to stay late at work or you have things in the schedule that won’t allow you to stop at home, you must factor in how your animal will be taken care of on those days.

5) Unstable Life

If your life isn’t exactly stable at this time, you might have to reconsider owning a pet. If you live in a place that you might not be in for more than a year, bringing a new pet into your life might not be the best decision at the time. Moving can cause extra stress for not only the animal, but you as well. My husband’s parent’s cat actually went blind from the stress of moving after living in one place for 15+ years. Or what about your job? If you lost your job today could you still afford the new pet that you were looking into buying? All of these things have to be accounted for when you are deciding whether it is a good idea to get a pet.

6) Time and Other Considerations for Your Family and Yourself

If you read Young Adult Money consistently, you may already know that my husband has had multiple issues with his sinuses and allergies. He recently went to an allergist and found out he is allergic to dogs and cats. While we do have a cat in our household, I have had second thoughts about getting a dog because of the risk of increasing allergens in the home. Maybe you don’t have to worry about allergies, but what if you want a roommate, a baby, or even have a family member stay over that is allergic to your new pet? These things should be taken into consideration before deciding on what type of pet to get. You also should mull over the amount of time that taking care of a pet could take. While some take almost no time at all and even want to be by themselves most of the time, others require more of an effort on your part, thus, increasing the amount of time you spend on them.

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Do you want to get a new pet? What would you or have you taken into consideration before getting a pet?

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When I mention to people that we spend time to enter in giveaways, the response I often hear is “I don’t have time to do that” or “I don’t even know how to do that.” What I really want to say to these comments is “bologna” because it is. Today I explain five reasons why people have no excuses to not enter blog giveaways.

1) It is easy

If you know how to get to Young Adult Money’s Friday giveaway post, entering giveaways is simple. Find the giveaway you want to enter in and the form is right on the blog after clicking each link. You can use your email or your Facebook account to login, nothing else. It is only complicated if you make it that way.

2) It can be quick if you want it to be

You can enter as many or as few giveaways as you want. You can even choose certain entries to complete and not complete. Following people on Twitter is usually an entry in a giveaway. To follow them you just have to click follow in the widget. If you have even ten extra minutes in a day, you can easily enter all of the giveaways listed for each day on the Friday giveaway roundup if you did just one entry.

3) No matter what you win, it is worth it to enter it

Even if you don’t want any of the things that specific blogs are giving away, it is still worth your time to enter. Let’s say you don’t have a baby but you enter in a giveaway for a baby product. You can always sell it, or better yet, give it away as a gift to someone you would have otherwise bought a gift for. The best thing about giveaways is that it is FREE. No penalty for entering, you get the product shipped to your house, and if you don’t want it, you can sell it for cash.

4) You have the opportunity to try new things

Many of the things that blogs give away might be products you have never tried before, always wanted to try, or never even heard of. What better way to try new things without spending money on it? Just by entering a simple giveaway, you can experience something in the world that you might not have ever gotten the chance to.

5) A discovery of new blogs is inevitable

As I have been entering giveaways, I have found numerous blogs that I would have otherwise never have found but are worth keeping up on and following. There are millions of blogs online right now and it can be challenging to find ones that are not a waste of time to read. By entering multiple giveaways on a number of blogs, finding great topics to read and learn about can be achieved.

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The above picture is a sample of a giveaway – we are giving away the above pair of Aurorae yoga pants as well as a yoga mat, total value of $137.

What’s the best thing you won in a giveaway?
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Photo by Kevin Krejci
 

Aurorae Yoga Mat

I am often hesitant to go to a yoga class at the gym mostly because I had never owned a mat before. There is something about borrowing the gym’s yoga mats that they have available for anyone’s use that just does not appeal to me. Aurorae’s mats are light to carry around, thick for extra cushion, and long enough to stretch out completely. Now that I have a great yoga mat from Aurorae Yoga, I will be even more motivated to go to class or use it for other stretching exercises at home even if I don’t go to a specific class at the gym.

Aurorae Yoga Pants

Aurorae’s yoga pants can also make a person thoroughly enjoy yoga. The frugal side in me has never owned a great pair of yoga pants. Even if I don’t do yoga specifically that often, yoga pants are still great to do other types of workouts in. When I wore these pants for the first time, I was excited to put on something so soft to workout in. Not only are they comfortable and flexible, they never shift around as I move and are tight where they should be. However, the best part about the pants is that they have an interior pocket! I used it for my IPOD, but it would be perfect to keep a key there as well so you won’t have to worry about losing it. I am all about the pockets on anything and everything, and the fact that these pants have one made my day when I received them!

Aurorae is giving one lucky Young Adult Money reader a chance to win their own yoga mat and pants!

The Winner will receive:

• Aurorae Yoga “The Ultimate” Women’s Yoga Pants ($64.99 Value)
• Aurorae Yoga Mat/Towel ($59.95 Value)
• Aurorae Spa Organic Lavender Yoga Meditative Mist Aromatherapy Spray ($12.95 Value)

Total value of Aurorae Yoga Prize Pack: $137

If you would like to win this prize package for yourself or someone else, enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway ends on June 4th at 11:59pm CT and is open to anyone in the United States. Please see terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter widget

a Rafflecopter giveaway