Keep your fingers crossed and maybe this holiday shopping season will mark the beginning of the economic recovery. I was visiting eBay's pulse (the section of their website that shows what people are watching) and noticed that items for babies and bridal lingerie seem to be hot items right now.
I looked up one of the top sellers for a hot baby item (she makes them) and noticed that she only had the one listing but was selling about 6 or more of them a day @$8.99 each. So she was making a minimum of $53 a day. What was she making? A strap that kept baby from losing their pacifier. I wish her well in her business.
Let's hope people that have money to spend, will spend it and help create jobs for people that need them.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Contest announcement
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TravelPro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I am always on the look out for great bargains and money saving deals, so when a great contest with a huge prize comes along, I take notice. It is even better when that contest asks me to let my readers know about it. I feel honored that the TravelPro sweepstakes people asked me to let you know about their contest.
The Grand prize is 500,000 travel miles from Delta Airlines and 2 Travelpro Rollaboard bags. How's that for a really nice prize?
The best part about this contest is the fact that it is free, yes FREE, to enter. There is only one prize, the Grand prize. The contest ends on December 2, 2011 so don't waste any time entering. The winner will be notified by December 31. 2011. Just go to the link above to find the entry form (it is real easy) and don't forget to read the rules. You should always read the rules of anything you sign up for but you know that already because you are one of my internet savvy readers.
Again, I would like to thank TravelPro for letting me make this contest announcement.
Go and enter and good luck.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Trying to think of unique gifts to give this year
I have been trying to think of some unique ideas for Christmas gifts this year that won't brake my bank account. Of course everyone wants those fancy new electronics but I simply cannot afford to spend $200 - $300 a person on electronic gifts. So here is what I came up with so far:
Food:
Yes everyone loves food and they have to eat. But I thought about making up something like those gourmet thank you baskets that you see in the expensive grocery stores. The coffee lover get coffee mugs with gourmet coffee with a Starbucks gift certificate thrown in for good measure. Or maybe a dog owners gift basket with a packet of dog food coupons and a pet themed picture frame so they can put their dog's picture in it.
Coupons:
I even thought about giving out a fancy envelope filled with coupons that the person I was giving them to would use. I occasionally get some great coupons for free stuff (mostly food) that I never use but someone else might be able to. Then I said to myself that our local soup kitchen might be able to use them.
A gift of time:
One year I made gift certificates up on my printer that were good for "a day at the movies," "walking your dog," "babysitting for one evening," and other assorted ways that I could help out friends and family.
The bottom line is, a gift should be something that shows your love and caring.............but make sure that it will be appreciated first. Some people hate home made gifts but will go for having someone help with their housework or need a ride somewhere. Be creative and think your gift through before you give it.
Food:
Yes everyone loves food and they have to eat. But I thought about making up something like those gourmet thank you baskets that you see in the expensive grocery stores. The coffee lover get coffee mugs with gourmet coffee with a Starbucks gift certificate thrown in for good measure. Or maybe a dog owners gift basket with a packet of dog food coupons and a pet themed picture frame so they can put their dog's picture in it.
Coupons:
I even thought about giving out a fancy envelope filled with coupons that the person I was giving them to would use. I occasionally get some great coupons for free stuff (mostly food) that I never use but someone else might be able to. Then I said to myself that our local soup kitchen might be able to use them.
A gift of time:
One year I made gift certificates up on my printer that were good for "a day at the movies," "walking your dog," "babysitting for one evening," and other assorted ways that I could help out friends and family.
The bottom line is, a gift should be something that shows your love and caring.............but make sure that it will be appreciated first. Some people hate home made gifts but will go for having someone help with their housework or need a ride somewhere. Be creative and think your gift through before you give it.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Online finanical tool
If you have ever sold anything online, especially on eBay or Etsy, you have to keep track of your expenses and fees. If you don't then the IRS might get a little testy about your earnings. Just selling one or two items is not going to get you in trouble but say you found something that was really a hit and you were actually making a good living. Then you would have to report your earnings and the IRS would want to know if your really made a profit or a loss. In fact you might have made a loss because you did not keep track of everything.
So what can you do? You could keep an extensive Exel spreadsheet. Or you could try a free online accounting program or bookkeeping software. Yes they are out there. Some are made just for eBay and Etsy sellers. The programs will cover current fees for PayPal and even take into account your shipping costs that are not tracked in your payments, like the cost of paper and boxes. Have you ever sent out a package that only costs $2.50 for postage but the packing material cost $5,60? I have and ended up losing money on shipping.
Yes if you try to make money online you have to keep track of all your expenses otherwise you might be losing money in the long run rather than making money.
So what can you do? You could keep an extensive Exel spreadsheet. Or you could try a free online accounting program or bookkeeping software. Yes they are out there. Some are made just for eBay and Etsy sellers. The programs will cover current fees for PayPal and even take into account your shipping costs that are not tracked in your payments, like the cost of paper and boxes. Have you ever sent out a package that only costs $2.50 for postage but the packing material cost $5,60? I have and ended up losing money on shipping.
Yes if you try to make money online you have to keep track of all your expenses otherwise you might be losing money in the long run rather than making money.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The seasons are changing
It is fall back day today. Setting the clocks back was not much of a chore anymore since most of the computers and appliances do it automatically. What doesn't change too easily is my internal clock.
It just got dark outside and it was only 5pm. The sunset at 4:30pm. My body is rebelling. I don't want it to get dark before 6pm. I want to be able to do things outside after everyone gets home from school or work. It maybe colder but I could always put on my North Face jacket and still go outside and still have some daylight to do stuff.
Who's bright idea was it to keep changing the clocks around anyway? The farmers don't care but the rest of us do. Knock it off already.
It just got dark outside and it was only 5pm. The sunset at 4:30pm. My body is rebelling. I don't want it to get dark before 6pm. I want to be able to do things outside after everyone gets home from school or work. It maybe colder but I could always put on my North Face jacket and still go outside and still have some daylight to do stuff.
Who's bright idea was it to keep changing the clocks around anyway? The farmers don't care but the rest of us do. Knock it off already.
What do you think about the Occupy Movement
I think almost every state in the union has at least one city with the Occupy Movement underway. With signs, funny t shirts, marches and blocking traffic, they are getting noticed. I have noticed that most people support them in spirit but really lack the knowledge of what a protest is all about.
I saw one woman on TV that said, "they (the protesters) made their point.....now they should go home." WTF is that woman's mind at? My guess is that she has no clue what protesting is all about. She was much too young to remember the Vietnam War protests and the draft protests. Come to think of it, there has not been much in the way of major protesting in the last 20 years. Maybe the time is right for it to begin again.
As Obama said, we need change, but it looks like the people are going to do it and not the politicians.
I saw one woman on TV that said, "they (the protesters) made their point.....now they should go home." WTF is that woman's mind at? My guess is that she has no clue what protesting is all about. She was much too young to remember the Vietnam War protests and the draft protests. Come to think of it, there has not been much in the way of major protesting in the last 20 years. Maybe the time is right for it to begin again.
As Obama said, we need change, but it looks like the people are going to do it and not the politicians.
Friday, November 4, 2011
How early did the stores put up the Christmas decorations in your area
I could always tell when retail stores are in panic mode - they start putting up the Christmas decorations early. I remember when I was about 18 or 19 (around 1979ish) there was one year that the Christmas decorations showed up before the back to school stuff was in the stores. We are talking late August!!!
This year our local Walmart had the Christmas decorations section fully stocked and ready to go about 3 weeks ago. That is sad statement to make to us shoppers. I also wish that the stores would quit pushing those large ticket items like triton wedding bands and the LCD TV's. Most people are worried about having a job to pay for it after Christmas.
It is strange how retail and the economy is based on buying rather than helping one another. Maybe that has to change.
This year our local Walmart had the Christmas decorations section fully stocked and ready to go about 3 weeks ago. That is sad statement to make to us shoppers. I also wish that the stores would quit pushing those large ticket items like triton wedding bands and the LCD TV's. Most people are worried about having a job to pay for it after Christmas.
It is strange how retail and the economy is based on buying rather than helping one another. Maybe that has to change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)