| I have to admit, sometimes I get teased by | | | | sold in post offices. If you know you're going to |
| friends or family for what I buy on eBay. There is | | | | sell more than just a few items, buy your supplies |
| very little I purchase that I don't at least attempt | | | | on eBay! Great discounts are to be had on bubble |
| to buy on eBay first. Why not? There are | | | | mailers, bubble sheets, labels, and more. |
| thousands (if not millions) of eBay listings at any | | | | 6. Spices: Yes, kitchen spices! I eat oatmeal nearly |
| given time -- that's a pretty amazing resource for | | | | every morning and use a generous amount of |
| everything under the sun. For everything you buy | | | | pumpkin pie spice for flavor. I was spending at |
| on eBay, there's probably at least one other thing | | | | least $3 every time I purchased a tiny container |
| you haven't thought of. To start you off, here's a | | | | of it at the store. I found a supplier on eBay and |
| list of ten things you (probably) never thought to | | | | was able to get over ten times the amount for |
| buy on eBay: | | | | only twice the price! |
| 1. Postage Stamps: Yes, it is possible to get a | | | | 7. Gift Cards: If you frequently shop at a certain |
| discount on postage stamps! A lot of times | | | | store, it pays (literally) to check out the gift |
| companies or individuals will purchase a mass | | | | certificates category on eBay. People resell gift |
| quantity of stamps for a mailing and end up not | | | | cards they aren't interested in using, and you can |
| using them all. The USPS doesn't buy back | | | | often get a good discount. Some of the more |
| stamps, so a good alternative is to sell on eBay. | | | | popular stores sell for nearly 100% of face value, |
| Expect to pay between 80% and 90% of face | | | | but others sell for 70% to 90% of face value. If |
| value, with the bigger discount coming from a | | | | you're going to spend the money at the store |
| larger purchase quantity. | | | | anyway, why not buy a gift card and save a few |
| 2. Timeshares: Real estate is big on eBay, | | | | bucks? I like to look at it as free money! |
| especially timeshares! As long as you are careful in | | | | 8. Food: The food category on eBay is huge. You |
| reading all of the fine print and purchasing from a | | | | can buy your favorite overseas candy, soda |
| reputable seller, you can come away with a great | | | | flavors you can't find locally, fresh baked cookies |
| vacation at a fantastic value. You can easily pick | | | | just like mom made them, protein bars, elegant |
| and choose from a wide variety of locations, | | | | desserts, and much more. A word of warning |
| amenities, and prices. | | | | though... looking for food on eBay can make you |
| 3. Over-the-counter medication: Need to replenish | | | | hungry! |
| your supply of Advil, Visine, Airborne, or Mylanta? | | | | 9. Massage Appointments: These can usually be |
| I buy nearly all of my over-the-counter | | | | found in the gift certificates category. A lot of |
| medication on eBay. It's almost always drastically | | | | spas and massage therapy locations will sell gift |
| cheaper, and you can also search for generic or | | | | certificates for massages at discounted rates to |
| store brands. I save hundreds of dollars a year | | | | gain new customers. As long as you are careful |
| doing this. | | | | to check that the location is legit, you can find a |
| 4. Makeup: There are certain shades and certain | | | | great deal. I was able to purchase a fantastic |
| brands of makeup I know I will always use. It's | | | | one-hour massage for only $35. |
| easy to search for these on eBay and buy them | | | | 10. Magazine Subscriptions: Magazines make |
| in bulk or at a discount. It's also a great way to | | | | money selling ads, and they can charge more for |
| find discontinued colors that you love and can't live | | | | their ads if they have more subscribers. Because |
| without! I set up a search for my favorite | | | | of that, they will let go of a lot of subscriptions to |
| discontinued items and save it so I am emailed | | | | brokers for very low prices. A lot of these |
| whenever an auction matching my criteria comes | | | | brokers sell on eBay. Imagine buying a year's |
| up. I've been able to keep using a certain shade | | | | subscription to your favorite magazine for only $3! |
| of lipstick despite the fact that it was discontinued | | | | They usually take four to eight weeks to kick in, |
| years ago. | | | | but it's well worth the wait. |
| 5. eBay Business Supplies: I see so many people | | | | Hopefully these ideas have given you a starting |
| who sell on eBay using padded envelopes or other | | | | point for the wide variety of ways you can save |
| supplies from the USPS -- not the free Priority or | | | | money on a daily basis by purchasing through |
| Express mail supplies, but the expensive supplies | | | | eBay. Happy bidding! |