Sydney’s teenage high-rollers

WALKS in carrying a skateboard, wearing jeans and a hoodie, and walks out with $3 million. Welcome to the new era of high-roller gamblers.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1RnU25j

Wayne Bank offers cyber security tips to thwart ID theft

The number of attacks on mobile devices is growing, in part, as a result of the increased popularity of mobile banking.According to a report by the Federal Reserve, 51 percent of smartphone users say they have used mobile banking in the past 12 months. “The rise in the popularity of mobile devices has certainly made them a target for cyber-criminals,” said Lewis J. Critelli, President and CEO of Wayne Bank. “Banks work hard to protect customer [...]

Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/1jGATjX

Longstanding business rescues last-minute alterations

Clive Cato had a dream of dong clothing alterations as he did as a teenager in Montego Bay, Jamaica before migrating to the United States in 1989.After managing a laundromat and dry cleaner in East Stroudsburg for eight years – RBB Laundry – he got the opportunity to achieve his American dream when he took over Judy’s Alterations across the borough on 39 Washington St. with his wife, Janet, after the owner there retired 11 years ago. They renamed it Clive’s [...]

Source Business - poconorecord.com http://ift.tt/1jGATjT

(No heading)

Chestnuthill TownshipKal-Tac Inc. to Abelli Properties LLC, Land containing 1.28 acres, more or less, from Brodheadsville to Effort, $299,000Coolbaugh TownshipMoe and Freddy Realty Inc. to Center Rock Realty Company, 3 Tractst: Route 169, Route 940, Haney Road, $700,000Middle Smithfield TownshipFannie Mae (By Atty, A/K/A) Federal National Mortgage Associates, McCabe Weisberg & Conway PC (Atty) [...]

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Taking the tax bite out of rental homes

Owning the right rental real estate can be a profitable endeavor, and often even with a property that’s making money, the tax bite can be minimal or even provide you with a deduction.Of course not all properties will be money makers, and while no one likes losing money on an investment, saving tax dollars softens the blow if you are eligible to take the deduction. Keeping up a rental home comes with many - and more - of the expenses of maintaining your personal home, [...]

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Do cage eggs have a future in Australia?

IT’S a controversial practice many consumers claim they want to see the back of — but their behaviour says otherwise.

Source NEWS.com.au | Business http://ift.tt/1M8mLXA

Inspiration from Sketchnotes, Fountain Pens, Voltaire, Ralph Waldo Emerson and More

Once a month (or so), I share a dozen things that have inspired me to greater personal, professional, and financial success in my life. I hope they bring similar success to your life.

1. Barry Schwartz on how the way we think about work is broken

From the description:

What makes work satisfying? Apart from a paycheck, there are intangible values that, Barry Schwartz suggests, our current way of thinking about work simply ignores. It’s time to stop thinking of workers as cogs on a wheel.

Barry Schwartz is a psychologist and author whose writings have made me think deeply over the years. His most recent book, The Paradox of Choice, is a book I have actually read twice; it makes a great case that having an abundance of choice often causes us to make worse decisions.

Here, he argues that most menial jobs are only menial because they operate with the assumption that most people are lazy. The truth is that most people are not lazy and if you appeal to them with something beyond exchanging menial labor for a paycheck and give them opportunities to feel empowered and to use their creative side, they’ll go far beyond what you might expect. If you give someone a soulless job, they’ll give you soulless work.

If your job is not fulfilling and challenging you, spend your spare time finding things to do that fulfill and challenge you and then seek out ways to make money from that. You don’t have to quit your job or radically change your life to do this. You just have to use your spare time a little differently.

2. Sketchnotes

As I’ve mentioned many times, I am an avid journaler. I use it to write down the events of my life, walk through complicated ideas I’m struggling with or thinking about, organize my plans and goals, and so on. I’ve found that I prefer to write these down by hand.

Over the years, I’ve experimented a little with colors and layouts in my journals, but I’ve never really committed to it per se. I would mostly just prefer to write in my same old handwriting style with black ink.

Last month, I found myself inspired by the concept of sketchnotes. In a nutshell, sketchnotes are about making notes and personal writings as vibrant as possible, using doodles, colors, sketches, different writing styles, and other things in order to fill a page with ideas.

I’ve started experimenting with this in my own journal and I’ve found it to be a blast. I’ve found that I can express a lot with colors and little sketches alternate fonts and doodles that would be difficult to express in words.

While I still use a lot of writing in my journals, my October journal so far has seen an explosion of color and different things and, for some reason, it feels more alive and vital than it has in a long time. Part of me actually wants to show these pages to my friends and family, something that I’ve never wanted to do with these before.

If you like to journal or you take a lot of notes for various purposes like I do, take a look at sketchnoting. You might find it inspirational.

3. Voltaire on the measure of a person

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” – Voltaire

In other words, don’t judge a person by the conclusions that they’re drawing, but by what they’re actually thinking about and what they actually care about.

I have conversations all the time with people who have certain feelings about political issues that are different than my own. I don’t agree with their conclusions and sometimes their conclusions sadden me.

The thing is, though, that they actually care about the issue in some way. I find that time and time again, if I sit back and ask people why they care about an issue, we can quickly find common ground.

When I ask people about why they’re upset about, say, welfare fraud, they’ll usually say that they find it unfair that their tax dollars are being misused. Fine, I tell them, but wouldn’t it make sense to start off with the biggest frauds on the tax system and eliminate those first, then move down the chain? That’s something that we almost always agree on. We both care about fraud against the government.

You can do this about almost any issue. If you keep backing up on why people care about an issue, they almost always reach a point where there are some fundamental agreements. If that doesn’t happen, you’ll find that the person actually has some truly repugnant views on the world that are really incompatible with most of society. Why does this work? Because, for the most part, people agree on truly fundamental values.

Try it sometime. You’ll be surprised how quickly you come to an understanding with people who seemingly disagree with you.

4. Yves Morieux on how too many rules at work keep you from getting things done

From the description:

Modern work — from waiting tables to crunching numbers to dreaming up new products — is about solving brand-new problems every day, flexibly, in brand-new ways. But as Yves Morieux shows in this insightful talk, too often, an overload of processes and sign-offs and internal metrics keeps us from doing our best. He offers a new way to think of work — as a collaboration, not a competition.

The single best experience I have ever had in a workplace came when I was in an office with just one other person for about nine months. It was just the two of us, assigned on a project that was seemingly set up to fail. We were on a one year contract and basically left over there to see whether or not we could come up with anything that might solve a rather difficult problem.

We were basically unmanaged. We didn’t have anyone measuring our productivity. We didn’t file reports. We just knew that if we didn’t come up with something, our jobs would vanish at the end of the year, but if we came up with a good solution, we likely had jobs for a very long time.

Our one direct supervisor would occasionally pop in, mostly to ask if we needed anything, and left us almost entirely alone.

What happened? We worked incredibly well. We had a limited functional prototype in about six weeks when a review board had basically said that it was impossible. We had a full functional prototype at about the five month mark and then met with that review board and they were so impressed that they recommended that we be employed for the long term to work on this.

Eventually, our group grew and then went under new management. What happened? The magic somewhat faded. We had to file reports and go to seemingly pointless meetings. The rate of development actually slowed down, even with more people.

If you want good people to do good work, take the reins off as much as you can. Let them do good work. Often, they will.

5. Ralph Waldo Emerson on books

“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Without looking at my journals or other lists, I can probably name about 100 books that I’ve read during my lifetime, which is a surprisingly small amount considering I’ve read more than 100 books in a year before.

Have I forgotten those books? I can’t recall the titles or the authors.

However, what I can recall are some of the ideas they gave me, some of the scenes that challenged and changed me, some of the trains of thoughts that those books placed me on.

I don’t remember the names of all of the books I’ve read. Without help, I don’t even remember the names of a majority of the books I’ve read – not even close.

However, most of those books changed my life in some way. They made me see things in a different way or just think differently about life. I’m a better person for having read them.

6. Writing with a fountain pen

A few months ago, I received a beautiful handwritten card from an old friend. The card used an orange red ink and the writing just flowed across the page in a way that gave an impression of real time and thoughtfulness. I emailed my friend and asked about it and he told me that he had used a fountain pen to do it.

For those of us born after about 1960, a fountain pen is a predecessor to the ballpoint pen, used for writing purposes. There are a number of mechanisms to fountain pens, but they all use an external ink source and draw some of that ink into the pen. The ink then flows down in a very thin trickle down to the tip (called the nib) and thus onto the page. It’s a bit archaic, but it has a few advantages, the biggest of which is that such pens work incredibly well for cursive and calligraphic writing. It’s perfect for things like handwritten cards for people, for instance.

My friend had used a TWSBI 580 fountain pen along with iroshizuku yu-yake ink, which just looked gorgeous.

Inspired by this, I requested a fountain pen as a gift for my birthday and received a Lamy Safari fountain pen, which is considered a very good entry-level fountain pen. I didn’t have a chance to use it immediately and set it aside until recently, when I had to write a number of thank you cards. I felt that it was a perfect time to bust out this fountain pen, and so I did.

What I found is that the pen itself encouraged me to write a little bit slower than before, but as I wrote the lines across the page, the pen flowed so incredibly smoothly. The curves weren’t bumpy as they often are with a ballpoint pen – they just flowed, which makes sense because of how the pen works.

While I wouldn’t suggest everyone go purchase a fountain pen, what I realized was that certain tools just work better for certain things. A fountain pen is clearly matched very well with cursive writing, for instance.

I wrote several cards with my Safari and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the experience and wanting to try other pens just to see how they worked and see how other inks looked on paper.

7. Mitch Albom on things left unsaid

“Nothing haunts us like the things we don’t say.” – Mitch Albom

When I look back at my life, there are very few things that I regret. Almost all of them fall strictly under the category of “things left unsaid.”

There are several people who have passed away that I never got the chance to say goodbye to, at least not in any proper way. In particular, my grandmother and my favorite uncle come to mind here.

I had one very close friend who I have been unable to contact for many years because of a willing lack of use of the internet and some extreme care with identities.

I never regret negative things that I left unsaid. Often, those negative feelings were far better left unsaid.

I regret the positive things left unsaid. I regret not telling people how much they meant to me.

Never leave those things unsaid. That person might not be there tomorrow and you’ll find the unsaid words leave a hole in your heart.

8. The Avett Brothers – Bring Your Love to Me

Never mind the beautiful song – it’s an Avett Brothers song, of course it’s beautiful, they’re probably my favorite musical group of the past ten years – but simply watch the video. The video is done using shadow puppetry, showing what kinds of things can be done with this simple art form. The puppetry is done by Hobey Ford.

I love this type of art. You can imagine similar things done hundreds or thousands of years ago, around a campfire in a village where the light is directed one way, and someone standing there making art for the gathered people.

This video is just a taste of that, along with a beautiful song.

9. Fyodor Dostoyevsky on lying to yourself

“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

We want to be the heroes of our life’s stories, but often we’re not the heroes. Sometimes, we lie to ourselves a little bit in order to maintain that myth, but that myth doesn’t really get us anywhere at all.

It is far better to be honest with ourselves, to accept that sometimes we don’t do the right thing, that sometimes we are in fact the villain.

The best thing any of us can do is to wake up and try to be a little bit better than we were yesterday. If we believe ourselves to be the hero of the story, always making the right moves and never wronging others, only being wronged, then we can never become better.

We can only become worse.

And that is a truly sad outcome.

10. Pumpkins

We already have three small pumpkins that we have sitting on our front step. By the end of the month, those pumpkins will be joined by others, as well as a few gourds. It’s a tradition of decorating the home for the harvest season, a tradition dating back for many, many generations before my birth, likely back to my ancestors at the birth of civilization and agriculture.

The arrival of those pumpkins often comes with the end of summer. The nights begin to turn a bit cooler. Things like apple cider begin to seem a bit tastier. The long sleeved shirts are taken down from their summer hiding spots and moved into dresser drawers.

During this month, I’ll carve a few pumpkins with my children. We’ll make some pumpkin pies and some pumpkin smoothies and some pumpkin bread. We’ll decorate a beautiful jack-o-lantern, and I plan on doing some tricks with lighting them this year. Our children will select costumes for beggar’s night and the better ones will be handmade by a collective of parent and child.

And so the big beautiful cycle continues.

11. Kurt Vonnegut on pretending

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

The internet makes it so easy to put on a disguise and express our true feelings underneath a cloak of anonymity. We no longer have to feel the negative or positive ramifications of our words, so it becomes easier to say things that we wouldn’t otherwise say if we were actually facing those ramifications.

In other words, we become our true selves. We no longer have society’s guidelines holding us back. Many people become something different than what they seem to be in their everyday life. Some become cruel. Some become kind. Some explore ideas that would be anathema in their daily lives.

I’m going to propose a challenge to you: when you’re under that garment of anonymity, why not try to pretend to be the best possible person? Try to be the person you wish everyone in the world could be, the type of person that your friends might see with incredulity if they saw those words and actions, particularly if they came from you.

What would the world be like if, when we put on a cloak of anonymity, we became the best possible people?

What would your world be like if it were only you that did that?

12. B. J. Miller on what really matters at the end of life

From the description:

At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, it’s simply comfort, respect, love. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients. Take the time to savor this moving talk, which asks big questions about how we think on death and honor life.

I watched this video twice, all the way through. Then I went downstairs and baked some cookies with my family. Watch this video, and you’ll understand why.

The post Inspiration from Sketchnotes, Fountain Pens, Voltaire, Ralph Waldo Emerson and More appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Guide to Consignment Shops

Photo: Don Gunn

It’s a classic quandary: You have way too much stuff, but your wallet is empty. Selling your items on consignment can help solve both of those problems. You’ll get rid of things you don’t use while getting a little extra cash in exchange — a win-win.

We’ll cover the basics of consignment shops and sales, including how they differ from thrift shops, how you’ll get paid, what to expect from the process, and tips on boosting the chances that you’ll be able to sell your items.

And if you’re interested only in buying from consignment stores, we’ve also got you covered with a tip section toward the end (jump to tips for buyers).

How Do Consignment and Thrift Shops Differ?

Right off the bat, let’s differentiate consignment shops and sales from thrift stores. Though some use the terms interchangeably, there are big differences in how the stores obtain items, the quality of items you can expect, and the price you’ll pay, among other things:

	Consignment Shop	Thrift Shop
Merchandise	Purchased outright from seller, or profit split upon sale	Donated by public
Quality control	Items inspected thoroughly for condition, style, age, etc.	Items only lightly inspected; some flaws and out-of-date items typically acceptable
Price point	Varies widely according to merchandise, but usually at least 40% to 50% off retail	Very cheap, usually at least 75% off retail
Type of business	Usually private (some consignment sales are run by nonprofit groups)	Charity or nonprofit
Staff	Mostly paid staff (some sales run by volunteers)	Mostly volunteers

 

As you can see, thrift stores have bargain-basement prices, but they won’t put any money in your pocket if you unload your items there (although getting a receipt for your donations can help you come tax time if you itemize). Consignment is the way to go if you actually want to make a little money in exchange for your gently used goods.

How Do I Make Money Selling on Consignment?

Typically, you’ll make money one of two ways when you sell items on consignment: Either you’ll be offered a percentage of the profit when your item is sold, or you’ll be given a set payment before the item is sold. Note that depending on the venue, you may pay a small consignor’s fee ($5 to $10 is common) to cover costs related to selling your items.

Percentage of Profit

Some consignment stores don’t offer any money for your items up front. Instead, they take the items they want, assign a price, and give you some of the profit when they sell. So if the store prices your designer jacket at $120 and agrees to give you 50% of the profit, you’ll get $60 back in your pocket when that happens.

The major pro here is that you’ll probably get more money this way since the store doesn’t have to pay you unless your item is purchased. Of course, the big con is that you have to wait around to see whether your item sells. That may take awhile — and it may not happen at all. In that case, after a set period of time (usually a couple of months) you’ll be allowed to reclaim your item. If you no longer want it, some stores may donate it to charity on your behalf.

Flat Upfront Payment

When you sell to a store that offers upfront payment, you’ll be offered money right away for each item the store decides it has a good chance of selling. For instance, you might receive $30 for that designer jacket, and you’ll be able to immediately walk away with cash in hand.

This can be nice because you get something even if the item doesn’t sell — and you don’t have to wait around, either. The downside, however, is that the amount you’ll get will probably be relatively small.

In our example, you only get $30 for your jacket — even if the store is able to sell it for $120. That’s because the store is compensating for the risk that the item might not sell after all, or that they might have to discount it to sell it. Note that if you go this route, you might be able to get more bang for your buck if you’ll accept store credit instead of cash.

You may run across a consignment shop that uses both methods. A favorite haunt of mine from college, Mustard Seed in Bethesda, Md., pays up front for most clothing but holds back payment for some higher-end items such as handbags and shoes.

Consignment Shops vs. Consignment Sales

Consignment shops are pretty self-explanatory: They’re open year-round for set hours and you can bring your items any time. They are usually independently owned and operated. Depending on store policies, staff members will either sort through your items immediately, or you may set up an appointment with them to do so.

But in my area (Knoxville, Tenn.), consignment sales are even more popular, especially for children’s clothing and goods. These sales are seasonal — usually popping up in the spring or fall — and typically run for only a few days.

Some consignment sales are independent, while others are sponsored by churches, nonprofits, or other groups. Many of them set up shop in vacant big-box stores that have plenty of room for a quick flood of merchandise and people.

That’s a good thing, because the most popular consignment sales can attract big, intense crowds of bargain hunters. Some will even have special private-sale or preview days that give sellers a chance to buy before the general public.

Consignment Sale Preparation

At their core, most consignment sales work the same as many consignment shops: You’ll get a cut of the profit when your items sell, and you can pick up or donate anything that doesn’t sell after the event.

However, there is a difference in how much work is required on your behalf when it comes to prepping items. With consignment shops, little is required of you beyond bringing items that are in good shape — the store does the rest.

With consignment sales, items flood in during a very short period. That means organizers typically depend on participants to make sure their items are ready to sell as soon as they’re dropped off. Procedures vary from sale to sale, but this checklist from one of the largest consignment sales in my area, Duck Duck Goose, is fairly typical.

When you participate in a consignment sale, you may be required to:

• Bring clothing items on your own hangers
• Tag items using your own supplies, such as index cards
• Print barcodes or use markers, stickers, or some other method to categorize your clothes and identify you as the seller
• Price your own items according to the sale’s guidelines

How should I price my own items?

Depending on your perspective, being able to price your own items is the biggest blessing — or curse — of consignment sales. Most sales will give you guidelines on pricing your items to ensure they sell. For instance, Duck Duck Goose advises sellers to charge no more than 25% to 40% of what they paid for clothing and children’s goods, depending on the condition.

Here are a few rules of thumb on pricing your own items:

• Be realistic. Be as detached as possible and ask yourself what you’d be willing to pay for something if you were the buyer. Don’t charge more simply because a particular item has some sentimental value for you — it certainly doesn’t for the buyer.
• Be willing to discount. Consignment sales often discount items at the end of the event in order to clear out merchandise (50% off is typical). You may be able to opt out of this, but you probably shouldn’t, especially if you’re just going to donate any unsold items in the end.
• Name brands and new items can fetch more money, but only a bit more. Yes, you can charge a little more for in-demand clothing brands or items that still have their tags, but (in the case of clothing) that might only be a couple of dollars. Remember, there is a huge number of items at consignment sales competing for buyers’ attention.

Consignment Shops or Consignment Sales: Which Is My Best Bet?

In general, consignment shops are a better pick if you only have a few items, or if you have some particularly high-dollar items. That’s because your merchandise typically won’t be competing for space with a huge number of other items. Depending on the store, you may have to be patient enough to wait up to a few months for your item to sell, though.

On the other hand, if you have a lot of stuff that you would love to unload quickly, consignment sale organizers and buyers may be less picky — and buyers often come ready to throw down some serious cash in exchange for good deals. Just be sure you’re willing to put in the work preparing your items for sale and pricing them realistically.

Alternatives to Consignment Selling

If consignment shops or sales aren’t quite right for you, consider a few other ways to get rid of items you no longer want or need:

Yard Sales

An old-fashioned yard sale or garage sale can be a great way to get rid of clutter quickly, and you don’t even have to leave home. However, your town may require you to get a permit to hold one legally, and prepare to be low-balled for just about everything you’re selling: Yard-sale hounds expect rock-bottom prices.

Because of that, the time you spend organizing items might not be worth the money you make unless you have a wide variety of things to sell. Consignment may be a better choice if you have a narrow range of items, or things that are more valuable.

Sell Online

Just about everyone knows about Craigslist and eBay, but there are several other options to sell your stuff online.

One increasingly popular alternative is to use a Facebook resale group. You can find one in your area for just about anything that you would sell via consignment, and you might be better off selling collectibles and brands with a big, devoted fandom online, too. You may also be able to get a bit more cash for your items compared to consignment since you’re doing the work yourself.

Just keep in mind that mailing items or meeting up with buyers can be time-consuming, and you should always conduct meetings in public to minimize safety risks. If you’re pressed for time, consignment might be a better fit.

Donate Your Items

No, you’re not going to get any extra spending money in your pocket, but there are still several perks to donating to thrift stores instead of selling on consignment.

First, there’s the feel-good factor — you could be helping out someone in need. Donating also means you can get rid of your unwanted items quickly, which can be a huge relief if time or clutter is an issue.

Finally, don’t forget about the tax write-off. Just be sure to determine fair market value so you don’t tick off Uncle Sam; if you need help, the Salvation Army’s Donation Value Guide can offer some guidance.

Tips for Consignment Sellers

Ready to try your hand at selling on consignment? Avoid some rookie mistakes and boost your chance of making a few bucks by heeding the following tips:

• Don’t bother unless it’s in good condition. If your clothing has flaws like rips, stains, or missing buttons, it’s not ideal for consignment. Toys and electronics should be in full working order with batteries. You have a bit more leeway with furniture, since buyers often intend on refinishing less-than-perfect pieces, but be careful with upholstery — it should be clean and odor-free.
• Know the difference between vintage and out of style. There’s a big market for truly vintage items: Buyers may love that mod 1950s swing dress, but they’re probably going to bypass your scratchy early ’90s blazer with its huge shoulder pads.
• Don’t get offended if a shop or sale rejects your items. They know their market better than you, and if they don’t think your items will sell, they’re probably right. Ask what flies off the shelves so you have a better shot at making more money next time.
• Stick to stores and sales with an established clientele. More well-known consignment stores and sales that have been in business for a long time will have more foot traffic. They’ll also have a better sense of what their shoppers want to see, and they’ll know how to make your items look good and boost the chances they’ll sell.
• Focus on specialty shops if you can. Most consignment shops or sales focus on either clothing, books, or furniture and home goods, and some specialize within those categories (for instance, children’s clothing or antique furniture). Taking your items to a place with a more narrow niche will give you a better shot at connecting with a buyer who actually wants what you’re selling.
• Get everything in writing. Make sure you know all the important details: exactly what cut of the profit the consignment store or sale will take, whether there are any fees on top of that, how long your item has to sell, what happens if it goes unsold, and when you’ll see your money.

Tips for Consignment Buyers

If selling via consignment sounds like a pain, you can still reap the benefit of big-time savings as a buyer. You can buy all manner of things on consignment, including books, sports equipment, and even musical instruments.

Here are a few things to keep in mind, especially if you’ve never bought from a consignment shop or sale before:

• Target consignment stores and sales in wealthier neighborhoods. It sounds obvious, but if you want higher-end stuff, you’re more likely to find it at shops and stores in areas where people have a bit more to spend in the first place.
• Inspect items thoroughly before buying. Most consignment shops or sales worth their salt will make sure items are clean and in working order before selling them, but this is still your ultimate responsibility as a buyer of secondhand goods. Most sales are final, so you’re out of luck if you buy a dud.
• Be careful of recalls or other hazards. Consignment shops and sales are bound by the same laws that prohibit the sale of recalled items as other retailers, but some might not be as up to date as others. If you’re shopping for children’s goods, be particularly aware of potentially dangerous items such as drop-side cribs and expired car seats.
• Get the inside scoop. If you find a consignment shop or sale you like, make friends with the owners or organizers. Sign up for any mailing lists or follow them on social media. This way, you’ll be among the first to hear of any desirable new items or sales. A retro furniture shop may not have your perfect mid-century modern dresser now, but they might be willing to give you a buzz as soon as one comes in.
• Be realistic about what you’ll wear or use. Buying at consignment shops and sales means you’ll be saving a healthy chunk of change over normal retail, but don’t lower your standards just because the prices are lower. Paying $3 for a shirt you’ll never actually wear or $20 for a funky mirror you’re not sure you really like is just as wasteful as overpaying for something at its normal retail price.

Where Can I Find Consignment Stores Near Me?

Ready to sell (or buy) on consignment? You’ll need to find some great local stores or sales to tap. While an Internet search may yield decent results, don’t ignore your own network of family and friends, who may be able to point you to a store in the corner of a strip mall you never knew about.

You may also want to join Facebook resale groups or scour Craigslist, since consignment shop owners frequently advertise on both platforms.

If you’re more concerned with buying quality, upscale goods, check out our past advice on how to find the best thrift stores in your area to get started.

The post Guide to Consignment Shops appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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How This Woman Bought a Boat for $1 on Craigslist — and How to Score Your Own Deals

Once upon a time, my friend Roxy and her husband were looking to buy a boat. So, off they went to Craigslist.

They found used boats in all shapes and sizes. One caught their eye and a few weeks later it was theirs. And they only paid a dollar!

I bought Roxy a cup of coffee in exchange for the details of this insane transaction. Here’s what I found out about getting serious deals on big-ticket purchases on Craigslist.

The Story

After trolling Craigslist for a few weeks, Roxy and her husband, Tim, headed out to see a bunch of potential boats in person. They liked one of the options, which was listed at $3,500.

Tim wanted it; Roxy wasn’t so sure. It needed some work and had outstanding slip fees (the rent owners pay to keep their boat at a marina). They decided to pass.

But Roxy kept stalking the boat on Craigslist, watching the price drop. As the end of the month neared, Roxy knew the owner would be in a hurry to unload the boat to avoid accruing another month of slip fees.

So, she offered him $1 for the boat. And, to her surprise, he accepted. He was relieved to be free of the boat, and she was happy to be its new owner.

Roxy and Tim put in a couple of weekends fixing up the boat to get it in useable condition. Luckily, they both have experience with automotive repair and were able to do the work themselves.

And as part of the deal, they paid the owner’s back slip fees, which totaled about $1,000. So, yes, the boat cost $1 but it look some elbow grease and a bit of cash to get things in order.

After a year or so of boat ownership, Roxy and Tim sold the boat for $3,000 and upgraded to a full-on houseboat. I’m still hassling her to invite me to hang out on it.

Roxy’s 5 Tips for Scoring on Craigslist

Want to score your own sweet Craigslist deal? Here’s what she recommends.

1. Be Patient

Good deals come along, but not every day. Roxy was surfing Craigslist for weeks before she set her sights on a specific boat. By that time, she knew what was out there.

Take it slow and get a feel for how much things cost so you recognize a good deal when you see it.

2. Don’t Wait Until You’re Desperate

If you’re looking for a new car, don’t wait until your current model is kaput. When you’re out of options, you’re at the mercy of what’s available at that moment.

Instead, start looking a few months ahead of time so you can afford to be choosy. For Roxy, a boat was a recreational purchase, so she wasn’t in a rush to make a choice. If the $1 boat hadn’t worked out, she would have kept looking.

This lack of urgency isn’t always possible, but if can make it happen, it will go a long way toward scoring you a good deal.

3. Set Up Alerts

If you’re looking for something specific, set up Google Alerts to let you know when something pops up. Be liberal with the alerts — they’re free!

Roxy set up alerts for each model of boat she was looking for, and got an email each time a boat matching that description was posted to Craigslist in her area. This eventually led her to the $1 boat.

4. Haggle

Personally, I’m awful at this. It makes me feel awkward. But Roxy maintains you have to haggle if you want a good deal.

She suggests starting with, “Would you take [this amount]?” If not, they will likely come back with a counter offer. Even if they don’t take your first offer, you’ll still get a better deal than if you hadn’t asked.

Of course, don’t be afraid to walk away. Roxy and Tim looked at more than 10 boats before they decided on the one, and they were prepared to walk away if the seller didn’t accept their (insane) offer.

5. Timing is Key

People often list things on Craigslist in an attempt to get rid of them ASAP. Align your interests and help make that happen.

Especially when there are competing offers on a listing, the seller might pick the person who can head over that same day.

As Roxy discovered, timing is everything. She and Tim were able to swoop in and take possession of the boat because the previous owner didn’t want to pay the monthly slip fee.

Your Turn: What are your top tips for finding a steal on Craigslist? What’s the best deal you’ve found?

Lyndsee Simpson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. She’s on the prowl for a Craigslist Patrick Townsend orbit chandelier. Her budget is $1.

The post How This Woman Bought a Boat for $1 on Craigslist — and How to Score Your Own Deals appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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