The Green Frugal

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To make money selling books online, there are two major options: do it yourself, or sell to an online buyback company. Below are the ins and outs of selling your used books yourself one-by-one, versus selling used books to Cash4Books all at once.

Selling Books Yourself one-by-one:

• Selling your books individually generally nets you more money.  Although most websites will charge you at least a 15% commission fee, which will significantly cut into your profits.
• You must spend your time creating a listing for each of your books. This includes condition, comments, and price of each of the books you are selling.
• You will need to monitor your listing.  This means you must wait for the books to sell and you will need to constantly reprice your books so that the prices are competitive. And after all this, there is no guarantee your books will sell.
• After your book sells you will need to find, package, and ship each book to each individual customers.  You will need to repeat this step each time a different book sells.  This may mean multiple trips to the post office.
• You will need to provide the customer service to the individual customers that purchased your books.   This can mean multiple emails, like:  “Did you ship my book?”  ”Where is my tracking number?” “I want to return the book.” “My book is different than described.” “I want a refund”.

Selling Books to Cash4Books:

• You will know in advance how much money you will receive for your books. And, there are no fees for selling your books to Cash4Books.
• You will receive the money that was quoted to you.  We publish our condition requirements for you to read in advance so you know what to expect.
• We provide you with a prepaid shipping label directly on our website.  Or, if you need one sent, we will mail one to you free of charge.
• You can sell us all your books at once, saving the time and materials it takes to package your books individually.  Just one trip to the post office or FedEx location of your choice.
• Payment for your books is sent within ONE business day after we receive and process your books.  Whether you opt for Paypal or check–our payment process is fast!
• We keep you informed about your shipment every step of the way with email notifications: approved for shipment, received, and paid.
• Need more cash for your books? Sign up for our mailing list, and you will receive monthly promotional offers to get more for your used books (sign up form is in the right column).
• Selling to Cash4Books saves you time. What is your time worth?

We sometimes get the question of why our quotes are lower than used book retail prices (the prices you could roughly get if you sold the books yourself).  We are not able to quote at retail because the company has expenses to pay for.  These expenses include postage inbound, computer software, marketing, rent for a 23,000 sq ft building, utilities, payroll and benefits, and more.

Cash4Books offers value, first and foremost, as a convenient and time saving service. Secondly, we offer value as a quality service with an exception customer care team. We recognize that people live busy lifestyles, and Cash4Books is meant as a one stop shop for selling used books and textbooks online with a great experience.  However, if you have the time to try selling books yourself, that can be a great option as well.

It is also important to note that we do not buy everything.  In fact, we are sometimes criticized for how picky we are in what we buy. This is generally due to the laws of supply and demand, our current on-hand quantity, and the used book retail value of a book at any given time.

Thank you for stopping by our blog, and we hope you check us out and sell some books!

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How to Make Money Reviewing Products

There are a number of ways to make money reviewing products for a business. You may choose to do this as a side business to supplement your income or as a full-time job.

Reviewing products is a fun way to give your opinion while helping businesses cater to their customers’ needs and make relevant changes to products or services. Here are just a few ways you can get make money reviewing products.

Taking surveys is a great way for college students to earn a little extra cash.

Surveys
There are a number of legitimate websites that offer people compensation for taking surveys. Typically you earn points for every survey completed. When you reach a certain point threshold, you can cash in your account.

Students may want to try the website SurveyU to make a little extra money for college. They even give you extra points when it is your birthday! Money earned can be transferred to a PayPal account, Amazon gift card or an iTunes gift card. Surveyspot is another good site for paid product reviews and also runs on a points system. Once you have reached a certain amount, you can request your payment via check.

Taking surveys of products can be a good way to earn money, but keep in mind you may have to take many surveys before you actually get paid. Additionally, you may come across surveys that you are ineligible to take as you do not meet certain demographic criteria. This is normal and should not discourage survey takers. The company simply needs very specific data for that particular survey. Keep trying and eventually you will see your income grow!

E-bay and Company Product Reviews
Another way to make money through product reviews is to write them for specific companies. There are a number of websites, such as oDesk, where companies and individual E-bay sellers write job postings looking for product reviewers. You will earn an income and companies receive reviews and feedback to help them better serve their customers. Everybody wins!

Make money reviewing products on your blog! Credit: shimgray, Flickr.com

Blog about Product Reviews
You may also want to use your existing blog to make money reviewing products. You can directly approach companies about reviewing their product or service for compensation. In your pitch, include information about your blog to convince the company that you are a good fit and that your readers will be interested in purchasing the product.

There are a number of successful bloggers that frequently include product reviews on their websites. Many of them either receive the actual product as compensation for the review or a direct payment from the company. One product review site you might want to use for reference is TheWebReviewer.com.

Reviewing products online is a great way to get started making money. There are a number of additional resources online and at your local library that can help you get started on writing product reviews. Good luck and happy reviewing!

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How Students Can Save Money in College

College is an exciting time in students’ lives.  Students learn about new subjects and explore their career options in a safe, knowledge-based setting. However, it is important college students also begin to form healthy financial habits in college. Too often, students that start off on the wrong foot make poor decisions later on, especially when it comes to their finances. Here are some ways students can save money in college and use their money in smart ways. These methods have worked for a number of students and are a good way to usher in adulthood and responsibility.

Purchase Second-Hand Supplies & Textbooks

You'll probably have some of these items that you can bring from home. Credit: William Hook, Flickr.com.

Many students want all new supplies for their dorm room. This can cost students and parents a lot of money and frustration when the bill arrives.  Thus, consider borrowing and buying used as strategies to save money in college:

• Buy items like furniture, second-hand. You may find good second-hand supplies like coffee tables or lamps at consignment shops or garage sales. You might even have these supplies at home and can easily transport them with you to college.

• Talk to family and friends and see if they have any supplies lying around you can buy at a lower cost. You never know when an old desk can become a study companion at college!

• Bring materials and supplies you already have. Your pillow from home will work just as well at college and decorative items like photos or pictures you wish to hang up might be suited for your dream dorm room design. Additionally, bringing items you already own may help when you feel homesick at college. It is always a better option to add a touch of home to a dorm room rather than shopping for brand new items at stores.

• Read our post on how to sell textbooks back online for cash.

Use Meal Plans

Most colleges require students to purchase a meal plan as part of their room and board. Even commuter students that live at home or have an off-campus apartment may be required to have a meal plan in order to keep their enrollment status. Meal plans are often grandfathered into costs and are difficult to avoid. Here are some tips for strategically using a meal plan to help  save money in college:

• The meal plan is typically already paid for as a set number of meals per week or in points for food and beverage items on campus. The school may offer a combination of both of these options in their meal plants. Students do not have to spend extra money on meals with meal plan options, which is a benefit for those students that do not work while in school.

• Colleges have begun focusing on healthier meal options. This helps students avoid calories and unnecessary spending on unhealthy foods they might be tempted to buy off campus.

• Check your school’s policy on meal plans and any restrictions, such as times the cafeterias might be closed. This can help you plan your schedule better and make plans with friends to meet on campus for meals.

Check out even more advice on how to save money on food in college.

Avoid Using Credit Cards

Leave the plastic at home and save money in college. Credit: Andres Rueda, Flickr.com.

Credit cards are readily available on college campuses and can easily lead students down to a dangerous path of increased debt and frustration. Avoid using credit cards or being cajoled into signing up for one while on campus. The benefits the salesperson might tell you at the table will not outweigh the cost of high interest rates.

• If you come on campus with a credit card, use it sparingly. Students typically have a parent as a cosigner on credit cards, so overuse of credit might harm the parent’s credit score, too.

• Avoid using credit by leaving the card out of your wallet altogether. Store it in a safe place, such as in a small safe with a lock, so you are not tempted to use it on a regular basis. If you must use credit for purchases, pay the debt off immediately the next month.

It may be challenging for students to save money in college, but it is not impossible! Following these steps will ensure many dollars (and headaches) saved during your college experience!

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7 Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding Reception

The average American wedding costs around $30,000! When any bride takes a look at the cost of entertainment, food, the cake, and more, it’s not hard to see where those thousands go. However, it’s perfectly possible to have a beautiful, fun wedding reception without plunking down your life savings. Here are a few tips to save money on your wedding reception:

Do you really want Uncle Charlie at your wedding? Image credit: daryl_mitchell, Flickr.com.

1. Trim the guest list.
This is the simplest, easiest way to save money on your wedding reception. The number of guests you have to cut depends on how much you need to trim your budget; if your cost per head is $50, downsizing from 200 guests to 150 saves you $2,500! If you’re worried about insulting someone, go with a close friends and family only reception and visit with other guests afterwards, perhaps by throwing a small dinner party.

2. Simplify your decorations.
Decorations for a wedding reception can get pricey, so simplifying what you use can ease the strain on your wallet. This can be done in a number of ways. Use bigger tables so you need fewer centerpieces and tablecloths. Consider purchasing local in-season flowers and greenery. You can even try out non-floral decorations like candles or lanterns, which can be bought in bulk from a range of suppliers for as little as $1 apiece.

3. Don’t leave an unnecessary paper trail.
You’ve already shelled out a lot of cash for beautiful invitations and ceremony programs, so you don’t need to keep spending on unnecessary paper items for the reception. This can include menus, table numbers, escort cards, and more. Menus are overkill at a buffet dinner or simple hors d’oeuvres affairs, but if you really want one, consider placing a single sign near the reception entrance announcing the options. Have your favors double as escort cards by attaching a small tag with each guest’s name and table.

4. Plan for hidden costs.
“Hidden costs” are any costs that you don’t immediately think of, but which appear on your bill later and can completely blow your budget. They may be service charges, bottle-opening fees, gratuities, and cake-cutting fees. Before you sign a contract with your vendors, ask about these fees and make sure you can afford them.

5. Consider a mid-week reception.
Saturday weddings are popular but expensive. Just like hotels and vacation venues, booking an event in the middle of the week can shave a lot of cash off your bill. The same is true for weddings around major holidays and even peak times of the day. Just make sure you let your guests know well ahead of time so they can request enough time off from work.

Do you really need all of this? Image credit: D.L., Flickr.com

6. Don’t serve a full bar.
Open bars can get pricey when you’re charged by the bottle. Instead of having an open bar at your reception, go for one or two signature drinks, or skip the alcohol altogether. If you still want an open bar but need to save money, consider closing the bar for an hour sometime during the reception, such as during the hor’s d’oeuvres or while guests are seated during dinner.

7. Use some elbow grease.
With some careful planning, DIY-ing your wedding can save a lot of money. What you make or do yourself depends on your own abilities and how much help you have, but the possibilities are limitless. Make your own centerpieces, favors, wedding album, and more. This also works for saving money on the ceremony.

Whatever your budget, you can have a great wedding. Just follow these tips and use your own ingenuity to save money on your wedding reception. But don’t forget the most important part – enjoy your wedding no matter what!

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The Best Couponing Websites

The economic crisis has forced many people turn to a trusty old friend to save them money – coupons! If you look around in your Sunday newspaper you can find coupons left and right, but the internet has changed the game. These are not your grandmother’s coupons; let’s just call them coupons 2.0.  Here are some of the best couponing websites available to help you save money.

Groupon
It is hard to start any best couponing websites list off with any site other than Groupon. After all, Groupon is credited with reintroducing young people to coupons. The whole premise behind Groupon is both simple and fun; every day there are a few deals available for a limited time. If there is nothing that piques your curiosity today, just wait for tomorrow’s deal. Chances are, you’ll find an interesting deal soon!

Coupons.com
Coupons.com not only provides a great variety of coupon categories, but the site itself is also very easy to navigate. When you are trying to save a few dollars, the last thing you want to do is browse through countless of pages to find what you actually want. The fact that you can search for zip code specific deals makes it even easier to find the deals that appeal to you.

Tired of dealing with this every Sunday? Checkout the best couponing websites instead. Image credit: sdc2027, Flickr.com

CouponCabin.com
The staff at CouponCabin.com realizes that people do not need expired coupons and certainly do not want to spend their time on deals that are not timely. So they update the deals at least three times a day to ensure that the coupons are still valid. One of the benefits of this website is that it has a separate section for ‘favorite deals’ and ‘most-used coupons’ allowing you to find the hottest deals the instant you land on the homepage. They also have a handy newsletter that they send out every Monday.

RetailMeNot.com
RetailMeNot.com has a very dedicated community of users who provide updates on what coupons are still valid, where to find the best deals of the day, and explanations of the fine print. You can also sign-up to receive e-mail alerts whenever a new code or coupon is posted to your favorite store. By choosing this option, you will no longer have to constantly check the website to see if new deals have been posted.

CouponMom.com
CouponMom.com does more than just provide coupons; it also lists free samples and other types of discounts. The layout itself is very easy on the eyes and does not feel cluttered with banner ads. Like RetailMeNot.com, you have the option to sign up for e-mail alerts for your favorite stores so you do not have to worry about missing a deal.

These are some of the best couponing websites we have found so far, but we are certain there are more. What are some of your favorite couponing websites?