How to $ave Money on Books

Buying the latest books and novels can cost you upwards of $15.00 each. Here are some tips on how to save money on one of your favorite pastimes.

• Download classics from Gutenberg.org for free.
• Amazon.com will sell you used paperbacks for about a dollar.
• Check with your local library. Mine has a "Friends of the Library" store where you can pick up hard covers and paperbacks at ridiculously low prices.
• Use the free app "Classicly" on your ipod or iphone to read classics for free.
• Hit local garage sales, I pick up books when I travel for .50 cents to $1.00
• Trade books at the airport. Some vendors have baskets where you can leave your read novels and  pick up a new one.
• Check with the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
• Trade with your friends, especially on series books.
• Ask for gift cards to Barnes and Noble or Amazon for Christmas or your birthday.

I bet you could save over $200.00 a year by following some of these suggestions!

Ta ta for now...

Money in Your Attic

A New Year is coming up quickly, and new Christmas gifts coming into our lives signals us to clear out the old. There may be gold hidden in those dark closets, under beds or in your attic!  Helping elderly relatives clear out their attics could also be quite lucrative if you are familiar with values. Here are some hints on what used items are hot and popular right now and which ones you should just donate.

1. Furniture: Modern furniture from the 50s and 60s is very popular, so bargain hard to get the best price. Everyday furniture like couches, chairs and light wood furniture sells well, but take the best offer. Give away entertainment centers, mattresses & bedding with other purchases.

2. Clothing: You can expect to get good prices on brand names such as Chanel & Gucci, and vintage clothing from the 40s and 50s. Take the best offer for 60s & 80s clothing and give away mass produced items from chain stores.

3. Books and Records: First or limited edition books or books signed by the author should be appraised before placing out to sell.With old LP's look for  obscure albums by the Beatles or Rolling Stones in original sleeve to fetch top dollar. Take the best offers on individual leather bound books, classics and LP's by jazz greats, and popular bands from the 60's, especially if the are in good shape and in original sleeves. Give away most paperbacks, badly scratched records, old cassettes and cd's.

4. Collectibles: Best dollar for porcelain dolls, tin toys made between the 20s and 40s and many items popular with baby boomers. Vintage movie posters, coin collections (especially those with gold coins) and vintage cameras in good condition are hot sellers. Contemporary art and posters along with complete coin collections are worth selling, but give away dated collector's plates, velvet pictures and 80s art.

5. Other high demand items fetching best prices are: sterling silver flatware, silver plate flatware, tools and old bicycles.

If you can't have a yard sale, look into selling your items on Craig's List or on Ebay. Don't forget to get a receipt when you donate your items to the Goodwill or another charity to use as a tax deduction.

Ta Ta for now...