Look for Deals
Now, nobody is suggesting that you stop spending money altogether, but perhaps it is time to look at becoming more frugal. Do you need to pay full price for everything? Probably not. You can use coupons at the grocery store, and use restaurant vouchers to enjoy a treat for half the price. There are excellent bargains to be found on eBay.com, and don’t dismiss getting items for free from freecycle at freecycle.org. It really is true that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so shun your preconceptions and consider thinking outside of the box when you need new items for your home and family. By being more frugal in your spending, you are freeing up dollars that can be directed into that savings account.

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If you can’t find any takers or you just don’t want to bother with selling them, you can always give them away. Freecycle’s Gilroy group is incredibly busy with people requesting things or offering items. You can browse through recent postings to see if anyone has requested the item you no longer need, or offer it to the group.

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If you have special items, such as children’s clothing or women’s business outfits, consider targeted programs like Samaritan House or the Career Closet. If you have more than you want to load into the car and deliver as a tax-deductible donation to any local shop, consider using Freecycle (it’s great for giving things to your neighbors, as well as finding items they offer for free).

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Don’t forget to be friendly, have enough small bills and change on hand and lower your prices at the end of the day to avoid putting things back in that remote corner of your garage. When the sale ends, take the unsold items to Goodwill, a local charity or post them on Freecycle. And remember how many signs you put out and where you put them so you can take them all down.

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