Disney Fund Update

Wow!  Janaury was a great month on Ebay for me.  By far the best month I've ever had.  Sales were steady, getting at least one sale a day most days.  My best selling items were toys.  It always amazes me what some parents will pay for used toys. 
I kicked off the fund with a $375 deposit.  My goal is to deposit $363 monthly to have 4k by November 1st.  This month I was able to bring the fund up to $900.  With all of my sales this month, I paid my Ebay fees, for all my inventory (aka Goodwill trips) and put $100 towards some work done around our house.

How was your month?  Are you working towards any goals this year?

Goodwill Finds

This past weekend I made a quick trip to the Goodwill outlet.  A quick trip means getting there about 30 minutes before rotation, staying through rotation and getting out of there before they rotate again (otherwise I'll want to stay).  Our store rotates about every 2 hours.  On this trip I spent $10.39.

I was able to get a good variety of items.  Some for Ebay and other items to sell locally.  I've really been trying to boost my local sales even for items I would usually list on Ebay.  Some of the items I got from this trip include children's books, Build a Bear clothing, Anthropologie dress, Talbots pants, Creative Memories items, Little Einstein characters, Columbia sandals, Fur Real cat, computer game, Hallmark ornaments, Scooby Doo backpack, Thomas engine, and some small "Chuck" cars.  There are a few more odds and end I didn't mention, but overall these are the major items.

Do you find anything good this weekend?

Linking up to Apron Thrift Girl Her Library Adventures Hey Mom What's for Dinner

Lost Sock Basket

I'm not a very organized person.  I'm slowly trying to make changes to help the clutter and choas in our home.  I recently downloaded a free book on Amazon called Organized Simplicity.  I probably won't read it, but the product description was very motivating.  It read:

Simplicity isn't about what you give up. It's about what you gain. When you remove the things that don't matter to you, you are free to focus on only the things that are meaningful to you.

In come the buckets and containers.  The above baskets I got a few weeks ago.  I wish they were pretty girly colors, but they will serve their purpose for now.  I have placed one on each of my daughter's dressers for lost socks.  After mating socks, the leftovers will go in the appropriate girl's basket with the hopes that it's mate will show up.  You can buy these types of baskets cheap from the $1 store, but I'm to cheap for even that.  So, I keep picking them up at the GW Outlet and I plan on snagging them up at garage sales.  Next goal is to get our pantry stocked with them.

Selling Beyond Ebay

As much as I love selling on Ebay, I also enjoy finding local networks to sell items through.  In the past, I've mostly used Craigslist as a means for cash, but now I'm trying to extend my network.  My latest big adventure is doing consignment sales.  I'm working my way up to be like Janessa over at Savvy Saver Secrets.  Check out her post here and I'm sure it will get your wheels turning.  I was very pleased with my test run last fall and have already registered for a sale here in March.

I've also used local Yahoo groups to unload items.  I've used this avenue the least, but have gotten sales when I have listed this in the groups.  I have found 2 local groups, but have gotten sales mostly from one group.

More recently, I've started exploring Facebook resell groups.  I'm currently part of 3 groups, but have only posted in one.  I have 2 possible sales this week worth $60 total, so I'm looking forward to exploring this opportunity more.

When I resell face to face I rarely let anyone come to my home.  Usually the only exception I make is if it's a big item I can't easily fit in my van.  I have a meeting spot right off the interstate that's about 5 minutes from my house, and allows buyers easy access on and off the interstate.  I do usually have my kids with me, but I meet during the day, in a busy parking lot, and I turn off my vehicle, step outside of the van, and lock the door.  I've never felt threatened or unsafe doing this.   

What are your other selling venues?  Do you prefer those over Ebay, if so why?

Goodwill Finds

I did a quick run to the Goodwill Outlet last week and got the items pictured.  The pickings were slim, but I did manage to spend around $4.50 on these items.  The majority of the items will go for the consignment sale I'm doing in the spring rather than Ebay.  Some of the items I got were a Groovy Girl bed, Leap Frog Airplane Letter set, adult shirt, a small stash of Polly Pocket clothing, books for various collections, puzzle, hat and glove set, toddler boy shirt, bib, Thomas the Train snack cup, Playskool car, and a scrapbooking carrying bag and a few small misc. kid toys.  The sweet thing is, I've already grossed $45 off this trip.   

Hoping to have better luck on a few trips I have planned for this week.  If I remember, I'll snap

pictures and share.  

Linked up @ Apron Thrift Girl Penny Worth Project, Her Library Finds, Cherished Treasures,

Disney Fund Update

Earlier in the week I was able to make another deposit into the Disney fund.  When I started at the beginning of the month, I planned on making deposits once or twice a month.  However, my sales have been a little better then I anticipated for January.

I deposited $200, which brings my fund to $575.  My monthly goal is $363, so at this rate I should have both January and February taken care of.  But, we all know how Ebay works and next month I could be struggling to meet it.

Weekly Update

Last week was a productive week for me in the Ebay world.  My goal for the last month or two was to get my store up to 100 listings.  I hovered around 70 for the longest time.  With sales and listings falling off, I just couldn't get to that magical number.  So, one day I decided to start doing 10 a day until I reached 100.  Now that I'm there, my goal is just 5 a day Monday through Friday. 

I also passed my sales goal of $200 with over $277 in sales.  I had sales every day, many of the items were selling within a day of listing.  This week has started off really slow, but trying to list even when I don't have that Your Item Sold!! message showing up my inbox.

How are your sales?  How is listing going?