I got included in my first e-book! It's a sweet one too >> "52 Ways to Make Extra Money" by Phil over at PT Money. If you click over by Friday you can download it free of charge (there's a download link at the bottom) with no strings attached :) After that you have to sign up to his newsletter to get it. Which is still cool, he's a great blogger, but might as well get it while it's hot. I'd tell you to at least check out my contribution in it, but I'm about to copy & paste it below!

So how and why did I get to participate? Well, he asked, and I accepted - along with some others :) I wasn't sure how I could contribute at first, but then the glorious Craigslist name popped up and I was like, Aha! I can pimp that. My Sell-O-Meter hasn't been updated in a while, but CL is still one of my favorite avenues to make some extra cash. In fact, besides this blog it's really the only one. That and freelance design, but I just haven't had much time for it.

Okay, so wanna see what I wrote? Here we go........
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Selling things on Craigslist is like crack (not that I'd know what that's like). You unload a whole bunch of stuff you could care less about, and in return get cold hard cash! And if you're real good, usually within 24 hours. I've sold cars, beds, jackets, and even random art I've found on the street. The trick is spending a few minutes and getting a formula down. In fact, it's a lot like blogging:

1. You have to come up with a killer headline! One that's packed with both umph! and a lot of searchable keywords. If you're selling a bike, for example, don't just put up, "Bike for sale". Try: "Mongoose Maxim 24" Mens' Bike for Sale! Green, Awesome, and Barely Used." Just enough details to get someone excited, but also friendly to the searches.
And, naturally, killer content. Put all the biggies in the first couple of sentences, and then add another paragraph or two to show WHY it's such a great bike, and why you're getting rid of it. Is it because you're moving? Won it as a prize? Let people know you're human and you can be trusted. Throw up as many details as you can - even if it makes it look long. By adding in measurements and characteristics (which you can often find on google) you've now opened it up to those who might not have originally wanted it. And if the item is broken/scratched/worn out? That's fine too - just be 100% upfront and honest. You'll be amazed at the things people will buy off you.
Add in pictures (max out the #)! People want to see pictures!!! We want to see what it looks like at all angles, good & bad. We want to get a feel for what shape it's in and how pretty it is or isn't. Even if it's all dingy and dirty - highlight it! Humor and honesty can go a long way here ("The dirtiest bike you've ever seen! It could be all yours for just $___!". It may sound counterproductive, but again it's all about honesty and not wasting anyone's time. If it's jacked up, they'll find out sooner or later believe me.
Price, Price Price - The same as location, location, location - it matters. List how much you paid for it, but DON'T try and sell it for that! You're not tricking anyone, price it for what you think is fair and they will come. Search around for similar listings and then go off those.

You're bound to sell stuff 10x faster by following these rules. And if you REALLY want to impress your buyers, copy & paste the questions you're asked right back into the post! It may take a few more minutes, but it only helps your cause that much more. And by "cause", I mean "more money in your pocket!"

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There you have it - I'm no longer an e-book virgin! Or at least un-kissed. I know it wasn't MY book per se, but I at least got to 2nd base right? As soon as I find a topic that won't bore you to death I'll even come out with one of my own. Perhaps with some e-condoms thrown in ;)

To download the other 51 ways, click here (and look for the link at the bottom).

Labels: advice, craigslist, money hacks, one of my lists

OMG I haven't read anything this funny on Craigslist since I last tried to sell my Humpty Dumpty plate for a $1! A Lil Wayne Impersonator? Hah! It just goes to show what money can buy you...or in this case, all the doors it can open. A+ for effort dad, we hope you find your lil rapper for your party.


(Whaaaaaaaat? Okaaaaeeeeeyyyyyyy!)

Labels: awesomely awesome, blown money, craigslist, in the real world, randomness 3000

I have a tendency to forget things every now and then (usually more NOW than then) and unfortunately my Fun Fund is usually the first to fall through these mental cracks.

So in honor of it, I am starting a page where I detail all of the items I've sold in order to keep the juice flowing and full of life.

If I have a place where I can see all of my success, then it'll be THAT much easier for me to carry on and keep doing my thang! For those of you unfamiliar w/ this "Fun Fund", think of it as some sort of Rainy-Day Fund. It's basically an allocated place to hold all side monies earned; to be spent on anything my heart desires, no questions asked.

It's not so much the items on the list, though, that's important, but rather the main concept behind it - Motivation.

In the frugal world we've create around us, you can imagine the importance of such a thing! It's the one "safe" place where we can let loose and do as we please. But where does this money come from? Well, that's the creative part my friends :)

I go around the house looking for things to sell! I wrote a detailed post on how i do this a while back, but that's really the jist of it. I look for things that i don't ever use, or even want anymore, and I sell them on Craigslist or eBay. I then take all proceeds and throw it into the pot! (anything that doesn't sell goes straight to our local Salvation Army)

And so far i've done a helluva job spending it :) But isn't that the point? I've picked up kayaks, artwork supplies, kitchen tables, dryers, and loads of other stuff - mainly from the Craigslists and such! haha.... it's all about that "treasure" out there.

To keep up the motivation, here is my master list of all things purged Since July, 2007 - Grand Total and all:

• 1993 Cadillac DeVille (w/ dead brake system) - $600.00
• My lot of 32 used (and old) CD's - $20.00
• Abercrombie & Fitch denim jacket - $45.00
• GAP corduroy jacket - $20.00
• Puma track jacket - $20.00
• Etonic track jacket - $6.00 (*tear*)
• "Tiki" picture frame - $2.00
• All-in-one Brother printer (ink-less) - $20.00
• Adidas track pants - $5.00
• "Cuba" track jacket - $4.00 (sucky)
• 50+ LP records - $30.00
• Masonic Nights Templar sword - $45.00 (holler)
• Sammy Sosa baseball jersey - $4.00
• Funky ugly gag gift - $1.00 (ROCK!)
• Express sports jacket - $25.00
• Antique looking wooden desk - $45.00
• Semi-new running shoes - $15.00
• 2005 Toyota Highlander - $18,900.00 (not including as I owed on it)
  
• Grand Total: $892.00 $907.00

My goal is to keep it updated as time goes by, so hopefully I stick with it! And why not create a similar list yourself? It'll take a few minutes to put together, but then all you have to do is add to it every now and then. Hopefully it'll remind you how good it felt to rid your house of nonsense too ;)

Labels: craigslist, fun fund

So we are having some pretty bad luck w/ dryers lately. I don't know what it is, but we're now onto our THIRD one since we moved in last year! I know they don't last forever, but man hook a brother up for at least an entire year, ya know?

Here's a quick synopsis of our pain so far:

1st dryer - inherited when purchased house. seemed normal, until it started taking longer...and longer...and longer to dry. we replaced w/ sister's dryer after she picked up brand new ones. (yay for free!)

Sister's dryer - worked perfectly for a good 6 months or so. then all of a sudden started making this horribly awful screeching noise as it dried. it was so bad you could hear it on the 3rd floor! This is even w/ our doors closes and it being in our basement. i'm sure our neighbors love us.

And now we're onto our 3rd dryer. This part could get me REAL fired up, so i'll try and get through it quickly before i start slamming these keyboard keys....after many weeks of failed Craigslist searching, we decided to use our home warranty again and pay the $100 to have someone come out and fix it. I mean, it REALLY dries well, it's just the awful noise that comes out of it.

We got the standard, "we'll have someone out there between 4-7" and roll with it. And although the company they source out to looks pretty damn sketchy (took me 6 calls to get a live person, their voicemail isn't set up, and their website is shoddy), they were willing to come out on a saturday!

Sooo...off we go:

• we rush home after Mrs. Budgetsaresexy's wedding shower, to hurry up and get it done, so we can go back and hang out with her nephews up from NC.
• 4 rolls by - nothing.
• 5 rolls by - nothing.
• 5:30 we get a call! "we're on our way, be there in 35-40 mins". Not the best news, but at least they'll be here shortly,and we can run back to have dinner w/ everyone.
• 6 rolls by - nothing
• 7 rolls by - nothing

This goes on, and on, and on...NOTHING! why the F do you call saying your'e on the way, and then NOT show up, NOT call back, and NOT answer your damn phone? I was fired up. I left them a calm, yet very stern message every hour on the dot until 10. And to this day? nothing.

I called back our home warranty people and asked for a new company, but they don't do weekends or evening hours. we were stuck. And then, as if a flash of light appeared through the clouds and the Almighty one himself looked down upon us, we catch a HUGE break on Craigslist!

A perfectly working dryer for only $45! I call this one the "Richie Rich" dryer, as the place we picked it up last night was fairly richie rich, and the thing looks brand freakin' new. Mrs. Richie Rich had just replaced her set with some new super duper futuristic ones, and couldn't get herself to haul it way. Fine by me!

So now we have our third dryer in less than a year. And i swear, if this one doesn't last at LEAST 6 months, i will consider washing everything by hand. i mean it, don't tempt me! ....haha...nah, that's a bit extreme. plus i'm too lazy :) but i WILL blog about it! so take that.

Labels: craigslist, home ownership