Oh, BFS aka Budgeting in the Fun Stuff threw down the gauntlet. She listed plasma donation for pay as one of the EWWWWWW YUK things that were too too frugal. Or, as she put it, "going too far to save money."
Actually, her post came in response to an article from Yahoo Finance. Reading BFS and looking at the original article showed me--yet once more--how value-laden many decisions are.
For instance, I have no opinion one way or the other about dumpster-diving at cemeteries to get flowers. I wouldn't do it, but I don't mind that someone does. I DO think it's awful to refill your condiment jars with the contents of the tiny packets that can be stolen from any fast-food place. Strangely, I'm not upset that the packets are stolen (or are they? how many packets per customer are OK?); I'm upset that the packaging is environmentally wasteful. In my value system, one should use as little of items in wasteful packaging as possible. Besides, I can get a container of ketchup for under $1.00. It would probably take hundreds of tiny packets to fill it up--a lot of wasted energy on the part of the environment and me.
Back to plasma. I must admit that Mr. FS donated plasma several times in grad school. Following the family tradition, Frugal Son found a donation place when he went to college. Two donations a week give him $70. That more than covers his need for spending money. The donations have become annoyingly slow this year, he says. Even so, he is being paid a decent hourly wage. The real EWWWW comes when you learn that the centers sell the plasma for many, many times what they give to the students and "real" poor folks who donate.
SO: BFS vs FS? What's your value system?
Showing posts with label extra money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label extra money. Show all posts
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Clutter and Bargains: The Example of Babysitting
1968: I am 14 years old. My father is self-employed and his business is doing pretty well, so my mother is also working full-time. This is why I am going to buy my back-to-school clothing myself. In those days, a teenager could proffer a store credit card (visas et al were in the future for most families) and say "My mother said I could use this." In those innocent days, the teenager would be believed.
However, I tried to pay for as much as I could with my babysitting money. I had just raised my price from 50 cents an hour to 75 cents. I had lost a few customers to the price increase, including one family that fired me for not cleaning the house while I was there, but there were lots of children. Even at 75 cents, babysitting was so cheap that many of the moms left for hours on end on school days, often telling me that they were taking a course in "crafts." Or the couples went out at night for 8 or more hours. Little did I know that for some of these families, the 60s had arrived, with a full complement of John Updike-style infidelity during the day and "swinging" at night.
Anyway, I took the bus to A & S, a mid-priced department store that is probably no more. In fact, that whole genre seems to have disappeared. There I bought 4 items: a tan corduroy skirt, a tan and brown diagonal plaid skirt, a cream fisherman style sweater, and a brown v-neck sweater. You can tell that I was trying to mix and match, having probably read an article to that effect in Seventeen. So proud was I of my self-sufficiency that I remember the prices: $6.00, $8.00, $10.00, $6.00, for a grand total of $30.00. Except for the corduroy skirt, these items were probably synthetics, since the natural fibers movement of the 60s did not really hit till the 70s.
In other words, 40 hours of babysitting, which probably took me 3 or 4 weeks.
My daughter was 14 in 2005, owing to my late start on children. There are not too many kids around, so babysitting is in short supply. Happily, some children appeared across the street and Miss Em walked over to announce her availability. We wondered what to charge and guessed that $6.00 an hour would be the going rate. Much to her surprise, before she could announce her rates, she was given $60.00 for her 6 hours. We learned that $10.00 an hour was standard!
If Miss Em went to Target or Ross, she could buy clothing for about what I spent so many years ago. But her 4 items would only have taken 3 hours of work. Is it any wonder that our closets are overflowing and that the floors of most teenage rooms are dotted with clean and dirty piles of clothing?
Is it any wonder also that thrift stores are filled with near-new clothing? When I first went to thrift stores many years ago, the pickings were indeed slim. Now, I must keep myself from overbuying.
Sadly, the things that are really important, education and, most important, health care, are out of reach for many. These don't mess up your house either. Both have risen way faster than inflation, while clothing, plastic toys, and other junk are so cheap that it's easy to accumulate.
Last summer, Miss Em was asked to babysit for two kids while she was staying with my mother in Massachusetts. The east coast rate is even higher: she was paid $15.00 an hour and netted $120.00 for 8 hours of work.
However, I tried to pay for as much as I could with my babysitting money. I had just raised my price from 50 cents an hour to 75 cents. I had lost a few customers to the price increase, including one family that fired me for not cleaning the house while I was there, but there were lots of children. Even at 75 cents, babysitting was so cheap that many of the moms left for hours on end on school days, often telling me that they were taking a course in "crafts." Or the couples went out at night for 8 or more hours. Little did I know that for some of these families, the 60s had arrived, with a full complement of John Updike-style infidelity during the day and "swinging" at night.
Anyway, I took the bus to A & S, a mid-priced department store that is probably no more. In fact, that whole genre seems to have disappeared. There I bought 4 items: a tan corduroy skirt, a tan and brown diagonal plaid skirt, a cream fisherman style sweater, and a brown v-neck sweater. You can tell that I was trying to mix and match, having probably read an article to that effect in Seventeen. So proud was I of my self-sufficiency that I remember the prices: $6.00, $8.00, $10.00, $6.00, for a grand total of $30.00. Except for the corduroy skirt, these items were probably synthetics, since the natural fibers movement of the 60s did not really hit till the 70s.
In other words, 40 hours of babysitting, which probably took me 3 or 4 weeks.
My daughter was 14 in 2005, owing to my late start on children. There are not too many kids around, so babysitting is in short supply. Happily, some children appeared across the street and Miss Em walked over to announce her availability. We wondered what to charge and guessed that $6.00 an hour would be the going rate. Much to her surprise, before she could announce her rates, she was given $60.00 for her 6 hours. We learned that $10.00 an hour was standard!
If Miss Em went to Target or Ross, she could buy clothing for about what I spent so many years ago. But her 4 items would only have taken 3 hours of work. Is it any wonder that our closets are overflowing and that the floors of most teenage rooms are dotted with clean and dirty piles of clothing?
Is it any wonder also that thrift stores are filled with near-new clothing? When I first went to thrift stores many years ago, the pickings were indeed slim. Now, I must keep myself from overbuying.
Sadly, the things that are really important, education and, most important, health care, are out of reach for many. These don't mess up your house either. Both have risen way faster than inflation, while clothing, plastic toys, and other junk are so cheap that it's easy to accumulate.
Last summer, Miss Em was asked to babysit for two kids while she was staying with my mother in Massachusetts. The east coast rate is even higher: she was paid $15.00 an hour and netted $120.00 for 8 hours of work.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
St John Dilemma: Keep or Sell?
As I've said before, thrift store zen experiences lead to clutter. If I could achieve the highest level of zen, of course, I could wander through thrift stores without buying anything. As is, however, I am only a lowly disciple on the parth to enlightenment.
Mostly, I donate the excess. Good excess, I try to swap at Buffalo Exchange, giving my dear daughter the proceeds. Really good stuff, of which I have little, presents a problem.
Anyway, I have two St. John suits. The first is cobalt blue, trimmed with sequins and rhinestones. Quite an over-the-top specimen of the genre. This is a size 2. Strangely, the jacket fits me. Sort of.
The second, more recently acquired, is pink with (thank heavens) black trim. This is a 6 and it really fits me. When I put it on, I look like a somewhat flaky and disheveled society lady. Of course, I could never wear this AS a suit, with the pink skirt. I would have to take it down a notch and wear it with my regular old black pants.
There is an on-line consignment venue--Rodeo Drive Resale--that specializes in St. John. I knew about this place from reading an article about the women of Congress, some of whom patronize the site. Suits like mine go from $400.00 to $600.00, and consignors get half! I would have to dry clean (even though I am philosophically, financially, and ecologically opposed to the process) and ship. So trying to sell these would require a cash outlay of sorts, especially for the sequin jacket, which probably requires special treatment.
And of course--like my acquaintance who broke her engagement 30 years ago, thinking she would find Mr. Right-er (and never found anyone)--I may never find another St. John.
So, ladies of the internet, sell or keep?
Mostly, I donate the excess. Good excess, I try to swap at Buffalo Exchange, giving my dear daughter the proceeds. Really good stuff, of which I have little, presents a problem.
Anyway, I have two St. John suits. The first is cobalt blue, trimmed with sequins and rhinestones. Quite an over-the-top specimen of the genre. This is a size 2. Strangely, the jacket fits me. Sort of.
The second, more recently acquired, is pink with (thank heavens) black trim. This is a 6 and it really fits me. When I put it on, I look like a somewhat flaky and disheveled society lady. Of course, I could never wear this AS a suit, with the pink skirt. I would have to take it down a notch and wear it with my regular old black pants.
There is an on-line consignment venue--Rodeo Drive Resale--that specializes in St. John. I knew about this place from reading an article about the women of Congress, some of whom patronize the site. Suits like mine go from $400.00 to $600.00, and consignors get half! I would have to dry clean (even though I am philosophically, financially, and ecologically opposed to the process) and ship. So trying to sell these would require a cash outlay of sorts, especially for the sequin jacket, which probably requires special treatment.
And of course--like my acquaintance who broke her engagement 30 years ago, thinking she would find Mr. Right-er (and never found anyone)--I may never find another St. John.
So, ladies of the internet, sell or keep?
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Frugal Bliss: Saying No to Extra Money
The title says it all. For me, the goal of frugality is not so much to retire early, but to avoid doing things I don't feel like doing. Even if those things involve extra money.
To wit. I received an email (after 8 days sans email)asking if I'd be interested in teaching a course at a seminary college nearby. Now I taught there for a few years a while back. The pay was pitiful, but I did it as a favor to a friend and for a couple of other good reasons I don't feel like going into.
If you've been reading my blog at all, one thing that should be pretty clear is that I love my chosen profession. Not every bit of it, of course. but the fact that I get to blab for hours about the poetry of John Donne is a privilege I can't even begin to describe.
Just because I love teaching doesn't mean I want to do it all the time. Or that I don't find it incredibly draining. That's why Mr. FS and I don't check the "YES" box on "Do you want a summer course?"
Back to the seminary college. Teaching there was a gruesome experience. Perhaps I pride myself too much on my excellent classroom management and rapport--not to mention my amusing presentation. But the boys at the Abbey were awful to me. they were awful to most of the "outsiders," in fact. That is because when you are in the priest-to-be biz, you are constantly criticized by those above you. All this is taken out on the teachers.
One day, I realized that I could quit. So I did. I said it was because I had a sabbatical coming up, but the real reason was that I hated teaching there and that the money was too pitiful to compensate for my stomach aches.
When I got the email asking if I'd return, I replied that I'd need to hear the details. No reply. Eventually, I returned home and was relieved that someone else had been found. I was planning to say no, but it's always better not to turn down a job.
Though I don't want to retire early--or ever, really--I do enjoy retiring each summer. And I especially don't want to take on extra courses. I have a very heavy teaching load at my "real" job.
What does frugality enable you NOT to do?
To wit. I received an email (after 8 days sans email)asking if I'd be interested in teaching a course at a seminary college nearby. Now I taught there for a few years a while back. The pay was pitiful, but I did it as a favor to a friend and for a couple of other good reasons I don't feel like going into.
If you've been reading my blog at all, one thing that should be pretty clear is that I love my chosen profession. Not every bit of it, of course. but the fact that I get to blab for hours about the poetry of John Donne is a privilege I can't even begin to describe.
Just because I love teaching doesn't mean I want to do it all the time. Or that I don't find it incredibly draining. That's why Mr. FS and I don't check the "YES" box on "Do you want a summer course?"
Back to the seminary college. Teaching there was a gruesome experience. Perhaps I pride myself too much on my excellent classroom management and rapport--not to mention my amusing presentation. But the boys at the Abbey were awful to me. they were awful to most of the "outsiders," in fact. That is because when you are in the priest-to-be biz, you are constantly criticized by those above you. All this is taken out on the teachers.
One day, I realized that I could quit. So I did. I said it was because I had a sabbatical coming up, but the real reason was that I hated teaching there and that the money was too pitiful to compensate for my stomach aches.
When I got the email asking if I'd return, I replied that I'd need to hear the details. No reply. Eventually, I returned home and was relieved that someone else had been found. I was planning to say no, but it's always better not to turn down a job.
Though I don't want to retire early--or ever, really--I do enjoy retiring each summer. And I especially don't want to take on extra courses. I have a very heavy teaching load at my "real" job.
What does frugality enable you NOT to do?
Friday, 7 August 2009
Selling Your Books: Best Way
Back from my almost 3-week vacation. Little internet access. Pure bliss.
I had planned to post a killer back-from-vacation essay, but, of course, the pressure to do so makes writing hard. Instead, a very prosaic one.
In the months since the economic meltdown of Fall 2008, there have been loads of articles in the mainstream press about how to make extra money. They all sound pretty much the same. One common tip: Sell your books. Common variation: Be a book scout. This advice is followed by a tip to sell to cash4books.net, because you can often sell a book you bought for a quarter at a yard sale for $5.25.
As it happens, this advice, as well as the example, comes from the cash4books website, which also features a picture of the successful proprietors and their adorable baby.
I typed in a few isbns for a test run, and cash4books wanted nary a one.
So, in a public service mood, I checked out a current and desirable textbook: the Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1. The book is not for sale, folks.
But if I were selling it, here are the options:
Amazon: The lowest price is $40.00. You would have to pay 15%, plus a dollar in fees. Then you'd have to pack and ship. You'd get $3.99 for shipping from Amazon, which probably would cover this bulky tome. Maybe add insurance in case it got lost.
Barnes and Noble: $25.85 cash. They provide a prepaid mailing label! Pack and ship! Easy-Peasy.
Powells: I remember old Mr. Powell bringing a big cart of books to the Reed College campus in the early 70s. A much-beloved store. But they only offer $11.00 in cash and a teeny bit more in virtual credit... They also provide a prepaid shipping label.
cash4books: In spite of the great press these folks get, they only offer $14.46.
I have a beef with these journalists. First, do they take all the info from company publicity? Do they check anything out?
A lot of people must be taking their advice, because I see a lot of book scouts caressing the books at the thrifts with their cellphones.
And, once again, you can't buy my book because it has my precious teaching notes in it.
I had planned to post a killer back-from-vacation essay, but, of course, the pressure to do so makes writing hard. Instead, a very prosaic one.
In the months since the economic meltdown of Fall 2008, there have been loads of articles in the mainstream press about how to make extra money. They all sound pretty much the same. One common tip: Sell your books. Common variation: Be a book scout. This advice is followed by a tip to sell to cash4books.net, because you can often sell a book you bought for a quarter at a yard sale for $5.25.
As it happens, this advice, as well as the example, comes from the cash4books website, which also features a picture of the successful proprietors and their adorable baby.
I typed in a few isbns for a test run, and cash4books wanted nary a one.
So, in a public service mood, I checked out a current and desirable textbook: the Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1. The book is not for sale, folks.
But if I were selling it, here are the options:
Amazon: The lowest price is $40.00. You would have to pay 15%, plus a dollar in fees. Then you'd have to pack and ship. You'd get $3.99 for shipping from Amazon, which probably would cover this bulky tome. Maybe add insurance in case it got lost.
Barnes and Noble: $25.85 cash. They provide a prepaid mailing label! Pack and ship! Easy-Peasy.
Powells: I remember old Mr. Powell bringing a big cart of books to the Reed College campus in the early 70s. A much-beloved store. But they only offer $11.00 in cash and a teeny bit more in virtual credit... They also provide a prepaid shipping label.
cash4books: In spite of the great press these folks get, they only offer $14.46.
I have a beef with these journalists. First, do they take all the info from company publicity? Do they check anything out?
A lot of people must be taking their advice, because I see a lot of book scouts caressing the books at the thrifts with their cellphones.
And, once again, you can't buy my book because it has my precious teaching notes in it.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Contrarian Financial Advice Encore: Selling Things and Shopping Thrifts
As a follow-up to my epiphany--the financial stuff I did right was the very stuff that was supposed to be wrong--I offer more of the "do the opposite" variety.
USA Today, like lots of other mainstream media outlets, offers advice on how to sell stuff on Ebay and elsewhere. Honestly! I never took economics, but I do remember something about supply and demand. If everyone is trying to sell excess stuff or even valuables, wouldn't it stand to reason that the prices would be lower now? That it would be a buyer's market?
My contrarian advice: be a buyer! If you really need to sell stuff, I guess you have to do it, but now is not the time for "recreational" selling to compensate for the "recreational" shopping of the past few years.
If I see another article by another thrift store-come-lately on the treasures to be found in the realm of the gently used, I will throw up. First of all, most of these writers have never set foot in a thrift store before. They don't know the first thing about the rhythm and karma of thrift stores (people who do will know what I'm talking about here).
From my little corner of the zeitgeist, I would have to say that thrift stores have, of late, offered slim pickings. Could it be that everyone is shopping at the thrifts? The other thing I've noticed is that thrift stores are raising their prices. The Food Bank Thrift Store, now under new management, has dramatically raised its prices. Honestly, is a used Ann Taylor Loft top--a few years old and so unfashionably short--worth $5.00. No. We are in Louisiana, not Beverly Hills.
Luckily, my cupboards are full from the years of over-consumption. I guess I over-consumed at thrift stores! So I'm donating more now.
And, in contrast to the exhortations to be frugal, the more hairshirt the better, I'm going to continue with my planned and eagerly-awaited treats: trips to California and Massachusetts and maybe Montreal. And we're renewing out passports in case a last-minute bargain flight to Paris pops up. That's frugality too!
What contrarian things have you done or are you doing?
USA Today, like lots of other mainstream media outlets, offers advice on how to sell stuff on Ebay and elsewhere. Honestly! I never took economics, but I do remember something about supply and demand. If everyone is trying to sell excess stuff or even valuables, wouldn't it stand to reason that the prices would be lower now? That it would be a buyer's market?
My contrarian advice: be a buyer! If you really need to sell stuff, I guess you have to do it, but now is not the time for "recreational" selling to compensate for the "recreational" shopping of the past few years.
If I see another article by another thrift store-come-lately on the treasures to be found in the realm of the gently used, I will throw up. First of all, most of these writers have never set foot in a thrift store before. They don't know the first thing about the rhythm and karma of thrift stores (people who do will know what I'm talking about here).
From my little corner of the zeitgeist, I would have to say that thrift stores have, of late, offered slim pickings. Could it be that everyone is shopping at the thrifts? The other thing I've noticed is that thrift stores are raising their prices. The Food Bank Thrift Store, now under new management, has dramatically raised its prices. Honestly, is a used Ann Taylor Loft top--a few years old and so unfashionably short--worth $5.00. No. We are in Louisiana, not Beverly Hills.
Luckily, my cupboards are full from the years of over-consumption. I guess I over-consumed at thrift stores! So I'm donating more now.
And, in contrast to the exhortations to be frugal, the more hairshirt the better, I'm going to continue with my planned and eagerly-awaited treats: trips to California and Massachusetts and maybe Montreal. And we're renewing out passports in case a last-minute bargain flight to Paris pops up. That's frugality too!
What contrarian things have you done or are you doing?
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Decluttering Books for a bit of Profit at Powells and Barnes and Noble
Have I confessed to my clutter problem? It has been a lifelong affliction. My mother, who came to the United States as a refugee, can donate things to Goodwill with wild abandon. That includes a real Pucci dress from the 60s, EVEN AFTER I TOLD HER NOT TO. My late father was even worse than I am. In addition to stockpiling pieces of cardboard and metal, he refused to get rid of a chandelier from the 60s, even after Christie's told my brother it was worthless. It turned out to be a famous chandelier and ended up being bought by a dealer for $6,000.00.
Very little turns out to have any worth at all, much less the worth of the two above items. I get my clutterbughood through my father's line. It was exacerbated by years of graduate school poverty, followed by insecure working situations, aided by a love of books and thrift stores. All in all, a lethal cocktail.
But we are having visitors in a month. I looked at Flylady a while ago, but that site itself has succumbed to clutter. Anyway, it's not like I don't know what I need to do.
In addition to the True Confessions mode here, I actually have a useful tip for getting rid of books. And it is one that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere.
Yes, you can sell on Amazon or on Half.com. Indeed, I would check the value of books on these sites before doing anything else with them. But most books aren't worth much. Ebay is even worse for booksellers.
Then you can swap via paperbackswap.com or other similar sites. This technique, however, retains your clutter till someone requests your book. Then you have to mail it. This is lifestyle clutter.
Yard sales are so gruesome that I won't say another word.
You can also trade at local used bookstores if any are in your town. I would do this if there were a bookstore fitting my reading tastes around here. I love the people who run the local used bookstore, but its stock tends to romance and popular fiction. I already have $100.00 in credit and can seldom find anything I want.
OK. Are there any immediate ways to get rid of books and get a little something back? Yes! While all of the above have been mentioned across the blogosphere, I haven't seen anything on Barnes and Noble or Powells.
Barnes and Noble will buy your used textbooks. "But I don't have any textbooks." Do you have a copy of The Kiterunner? That's worth $3.05. Or how about that old Penguin Three Theban Plays by Sophocles? We had three of those. They are worth $2.40. In other words, a textbook is a book used as a text.
All you have to do is go to the site, click on textbooks, click on sell your used textbooks, put in the isbn and see what pops up. Often it's nothing, but every now and then a book is worth something. When you get to $10.00 or more, you put the books in a box, print out the prepaid shipping label and packing list, and take to the post office. Prepaid shipping label--you don't pay the postage. After a while, you will get a check.
Powells, the famous independent bookstore, does much the same, only you have a choice between Paypal and virtual credit that can be used for any of its massive on-line stock. Powells also has a prepaid shipping label. You only need a minimum of $5.00. I have used both sites, because a book rejected by one will be desired by the other.
While I prefer to support Powells, having gone to the originals in both Portland and Chicago in days gone by, I must say Barnes and Noble is better. Powells is very picky about condition. I send books that are, in my view, excellent (and I used to sell on half.com with nary a complaint), but Powells rejects a few. There is no appeal. Barnes and Noble, in contrast, has never rejected a book.
However, there are lots of books (used and new) I would like at Powells. I used some of my credit to get my son books he needed for a class in modern African literature. You can also use your credit for a gift card. I, for one, would love a gift like that. Lately, I've opted for cash.
Now this is not huge money. But every now and then I fill a box. In the past week or so I've mailed about 8--around $80.00 will be coming my way. That's a lot more than I could make with a comparable amount of work at a yard sale or on Ebay.
Whatever nobody wants I donate. I'm taking several bags of books in good condition to school to be sold at a student book sale.
Readers, let me know if you try this. Any good tips on getting rid of books? Any other ways to declutter for fun and a little profit?
Very little turns out to have any worth at all, much less the worth of the two above items. I get my clutterbughood through my father's line. It was exacerbated by years of graduate school poverty, followed by insecure working situations, aided by a love of books and thrift stores. All in all, a lethal cocktail.
But we are having visitors in a month. I looked at Flylady a while ago, but that site itself has succumbed to clutter. Anyway, it's not like I don't know what I need to do.
In addition to the True Confessions mode here, I actually have a useful tip for getting rid of books. And it is one that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere.
Yes, you can sell on Amazon or on Half.com. Indeed, I would check the value of books on these sites before doing anything else with them. But most books aren't worth much. Ebay is even worse for booksellers.
Then you can swap via paperbackswap.com or other similar sites. This technique, however, retains your clutter till someone requests your book. Then you have to mail it. This is lifestyle clutter.
Yard sales are so gruesome that I won't say another word.
You can also trade at local used bookstores if any are in your town. I would do this if there were a bookstore fitting my reading tastes around here. I love the people who run the local used bookstore, but its stock tends to romance and popular fiction. I already have $100.00 in credit and can seldom find anything I want.
OK. Are there any immediate ways to get rid of books and get a little something back? Yes! While all of the above have been mentioned across the blogosphere, I haven't seen anything on Barnes and Noble or Powells.
Barnes and Noble will buy your used textbooks. "But I don't have any textbooks." Do you have a copy of The Kiterunner? That's worth $3.05. Or how about that old Penguin Three Theban Plays by Sophocles? We had three of those. They are worth $2.40. In other words, a textbook is a book used as a text.
All you have to do is go to the site, click on textbooks, click on sell your used textbooks, put in the isbn and see what pops up. Often it's nothing, but every now and then a book is worth something. When you get to $10.00 or more, you put the books in a box, print out the prepaid shipping label and packing list, and take to the post office. Prepaid shipping label--you don't pay the postage. After a while, you will get a check.
Powells, the famous independent bookstore, does much the same, only you have a choice between Paypal and virtual credit that can be used for any of its massive on-line stock. Powells also has a prepaid shipping label. You only need a minimum of $5.00. I have used both sites, because a book rejected by one will be desired by the other.
While I prefer to support Powells, having gone to the originals in both Portland and Chicago in days gone by, I must say Barnes and Noble is better. Powells is very picky about condition. I send books that are, in my view, excellent (and I used to sell on half.com with nary a complaint), but Powells rejects a few. There is no appeal. Barnes and Noble, in contrast, has never rejected a book.
However, there are lots of books (used and new) I would like at Powells. I used some of my credit to get my son books he needed for a class in modern African literature. You can also use your credit for a gift card. I, for one, would love a gift like that. Lately, I've opted for cash.
Now this is not huge money. But every now and then I fill a box. In the past week or so I've mailed about 8--around $80.00 will be coming my way. That's a lot more than I could make with a comparable amount of work at a yard sale or on Ebay.
Whatever nobody wants I donate. I'm taking several bags of books in good condition to school to be sold at a student book sale.
Readers, let me know if you try this. Any good tips on getting rid of books? Any other ways to declutter for fun and a little profit?
Monday, 17 November 2008
Ask Dr Frugal: unwanted cds
What do I do with my unwanted cds?
Now that I am getting slightly famous at work for my frugal tips (mostly because I have been telling people I have lots of frugal tips), students have been asking me questions.
Question #1 is from Alexandra: “Dr Frugal, what should I do with cds I don’t want?”
Answer: Check on Amazon to see if they have any value. If so, sell them there! It’s so easy. You can get little padded envelopes when they are on sale at Walgreen’s for 3/$1. Or make your own.
For those that don’t have enough value for Amazon, list on swapacd.com. Also easy. You can set up a wishlist of cds you want.
Now that I am getting slightly famous at work for my frugal tips (mostly because I have been telling people I have lots of frugal tips), students have been asking me questions.
Question #1 is from Alexandra: “Dr Frugal, what should I do with cds I don’t want?”
Answer: Check on Amazon to see if they have any value. If so, sell them there! It’s so easy. You can get little padded envelopes when they are on sale at Walgreen’s for 3/$1. Or make your own.
For those that don’t have enough value for Amazon, list on swapacd.com. Also easy. You can set up a wishlist of cds you want.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)