Happy Days Are Here Again

I've been listing like crazy this week. Today alone I listed 20 items which is a record for me. And two of those items already sold! I'm so glad I'm finally selling. Las Vegas is only 20 days away and I need money!!!! This week I've already sold $200.00 and there is still one day left.

I hope everyone else is having a great weekend! I'm being watched so I'm going to go play with my babies.

Sick As A ...Dog

I spent all last week sick as a “dog”. I can’t figure out who I caught my illness from. No one around me was sick except for my doggies. I kept looking at the accusingly but I’m pretty sure I didn’t get it from them.

To make matters worse not only was I sick but I was crazy busy. So eBay got put on the back burner and I only listed 3 items all week. My sales definitely reflected this. $82.00 for the whole entire week. But sometimes life happens. Like Monday I went to see my Uncle in the hospital, Tues I listed my only 3 items, Weds I had my concurrent parents cluster group, Thurs my illness kept me in bed most of the day (I only got up long enough to have the Parents As Teachers meeting), Friday we took the kids to the movies, Saturday I had a date, and Sunday I was too burnt out to think. I’m ok with a slow week because to be honest I didn’t even have much energy to mail things. And with eBay’s new one day shipping requirements I would have been in hot water. I am actually looking at this slow week as a good thing.

I did manage to squeeze in some yard saling. I didn’t find anything too exciting. I bought a bunch more plush. Nothing that’s going to make me a huge profit but I only paid a quarter or two per item so that’s ok. Plush are becoming my favorite things to sell because I can pick them up so cheap and are easy to list and mail. I also picked up some men’s shirts, a couple of long jean skirts I keep hearing are good sellers, a couple pairs of jeans, and this:

Remember these old floppy disks. I’m still not sure why I bought them except for the fact that there were ten cents for a case of 38 and I had a gut feeling. I looked them up and found these that sold for $50.00 but they were new sealed in box and had all 40. I listed mine for much less and I’m crossing my fingers that they sell. Just to prove that my gut can still pick things out on its own without an eBay app. Wish me luck!

Raising Another Generation of Thrifters

Yesterday I played hooky (sshh don’t tell) and took the kids to the $1.00 movies. After the movies my nieces turns to me and says “Auntie are we going to yard sales now?” I told her that no we weren’t because today was Thursday not Friday.I usually take every 3^rd Friday off and we go to garage sales so to her the fact I was home meant yard sales. That’s just a part of life.

How addicted to thrifting and eBay am I? I have a code word for my niece and nephews when they go shopping with me. We certainly don’t want people to know I’m reselling their merchandise so when they spot something they think might be a good sale they ask “Do you think Grandma will like this?” Grandma being code for eBay. I often wonder if people think it’s weird that "Grandma" plays with so many kids toys.

At least once a week one of my nieces or nephews will come with me with an object and ask “Do you think this will sell on eBay?” So we look it up on my app and they decide whether they want to part with it. They never actually want to part with their items but at least they are thinking about it. 

I would like to be able to say that I was frugal and resourceful at their age. But not even close. I was the youngest of 4 children and spoiled rotten by my dad. At that point in our lives he was making a really good living so I got everything my heart desired. I got a huge quinceañera (a Mexican version of a sweet 16 but at age 15), a brand new Honda Accord for my 16^th birthday, senior trips, designer purses, clothes. You name it, I got it. As much as I loved it I realize that I never want my Princess to grow up like that. I want her to appreciate everything what she has in her life. That you have to work for things. A budget is your friend. That life it’s about what you don’t have but what you do. Like a great family, your health, a roof over head, and a little something extra every once in a while.

I am very proud to be part of raising the next generation of thrifters!

Oh almost forget. Goal update:

Goal: Sell $250.00. So far I’ve sold $140. I’ve already surpassed last week. List 30 items. I’ve listed 18 so far.

I'm In a Rut

I started selling again on eBay almost a year ago. At first it was exciting. Everything I listed was auction. When I got a bid I would almost jump up and down for join. I have certainly lost that loving feeling.

I began selling the way I think most people do. I went around my house and got rid of things. I had a goal in mind (a new Iphone) so I was highly motivated. Once I reached that goal (much quicker then I was expecting) I had a new goal. I need to get my doggies fixed. That is one of my doggies on my profile picture wearing the cone of shame. The goals continued and so did the selling. I started looking for items to sell at yard sales and thrift stores and often got lucky.

I remember coming home from Savers with a bag of little toy figures. I had no idea what they were but for a couple bucks I was excited to find out. I opened the bag and after some research found out they were called Battle Beasts and they sold for $36.00. Not one of my biggest sales but certainly one of my favorites.

Since I began selling I have gone from selling mostly kids clothing, to toys, to jeans, to woman's clothing, to plush and now I'm selling mostly men's clothing. There is no guess work in it men's clothing. I know what brands to look for. I know about what they will sell for. No excitement.

How do you keep going every day? Do you ever get bored? Feel like quiting?

She's the reason I won't quit. I don't want her to ever need for anything. So off to measure some jeans and list more products I go.

Oh on a very positive note, the adoption papers have been sent! Hopefully my Princess will really be mine before the year comes to a close.

Maybe I Should Have Bought More

I’m sure we have all done this in the past. You see something and aren’t sure how well it will sell. Do you buy it or not? I usually do as long as the price is right. A few weeks ago I went to a garage sale. All clothing was 50 cents. Great price but none of it was name brand so I grabbed only two tops. I figured for a $1.00 investment I should be able to make something on them. I was planning on putting them in a lot but realized once I got home that the shirts were not the same size. So I listed them each for $12.00 and thought “these will never sell”. Well sell the both did and within a week of listing. I should have bought more. I didn’t make a lot of money but they were a quick sale. And that’s what I need right now. Here is the top that sold. It is really cheap material but a big size so I think that helped.

This past week has been the slowest I have had since I started a store on eBay. I only sold $77.00. It makes me so sad I could almost cry. Don’t buyers know that I have a vacation to pay for? Hmm maybe I can put that on my listings. "Please buy my items. I'm going to go party in Vegas in a month and need gambling money". Probably won’t help though.

So I am setting another goal this week. That always seems to help. Like somehow envisioning my goal makes it somehow happen. So here it is:

Sell $250.00 (need to make up for last week)

List 30 items

After the disappointing week I’m not very motivated but I have to keep trying. So far I have already sold $15.00 and listed 5 items. And it’s only Monday.

Free Listings ...

If you don't have a store. Here is the announcement from eBay. If you don't own a store it's a great opportunity to take advantage. Three days of free auction listings with BIN option.

Weekly Sales

I survived my birthday! It was touch and go there for a while. And I’m now over my pouting. I do have a great life and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

This past week I sold 7 items for a total of $163.00. And it’s all going towards my Vegas in July trip. I can feel my fingers itching to get to those slot machines!

My favorite sale of the week was definitely this Dragon Tales play set. I bought it at a garage sale in January for $1.00. It finally sold this weekend for $40.00. I didn’t have the complete set which probably had something to do with it sitting for so long. I was so happy to see it go.

This wonderfully fun John Severson collection by Kahala shirt is on it’s way to Japan. I’ve never heard of the brand but I liked the look. It has a cool Tiki drink look going for it. It’s sold for $29.00 within a week.

The only other interesting sale of the week were these Kidrobot Kozik figures. I sold them in a lot of 11.They are random household items that are smoking. I am not in any way promoting smoking. I am promoting eBay sales. I picked them up at a garage sale about a month ago for $3.00. They sold for $30.00.

My trip is in a little over a month so I better get listing. I need more sales.