The Green Frugal

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Sell Used Video Games Online with GameRevive

March is well underway, and here’s a way to put aside some money for your Spring Break getaway or get some cash toward the most anticipated video game releases of 2012: sell used video games online to Cash4Books.net’s new website, GameRevive.com.

I don’t have to tell you that it’s spring cleaning time, and here at the Green Frugal, we are big fans of clearing out clutter and making a few extra bucks in the process. We’ve been buying and selling used books at Cash4Books and MKZBooks.com for years now (and developed a loyal following too), and now we’re offering the same great deal and same great customer service to all of the gamers out there (we know how college students love to play video games–doesn’t everyone?). At Cash4Books, we’ve been buying your used textbooks for years, and now we want to do the same with your used video games.

Do you have a pile of used video games that you have already conquered (and are now just collecting dust)? Looking for a way to sell your used video games in order to offset the high cost of new video games? Or do you just need extra cash deposited into your account?

Here are the 7 key reasons why you should sell us your used video games:

Reason 1: Easy checkout process

Simply enter the title or UPC code in the search box, and you will get an instant quote for your game. When you’re done, you can print a free shipping label–voila!

Reason 2: Online convenience

Just like Cash4Books, you can go through the whole process online, so you don’t have to lug a big box of stuff out to a brick-and-mortar store.

Reason 3: Gives you fast cash through PayPal instead of sticking you with store credit

When you sell your video games to brick-and-mortar stores, you often have to choose store credit to get a competitive price, but GameRevive can give you what you really want–cash–to do with as you will.

Reason 4: Free Shipping

That’s right, I’ll say it again: we pay the cost of shipping.

Reason 5: You’ve conquered the game, now get reimbursed with cash through the GameRevive website

Get some cash for the used video games you’re not playing; it’s as simple as that. Use PayPal so we can quickly and efficiently deliver that electronic payment to you. After we inspect the game, it only takes about a day.

Reason 6: Use the money to offset the cost of new games

Here’s a secret that voracious book buyers know: the best way to afford the cost of new books is to sell back your used books that are just sitting around on the shelf. Now gamers have that same opportunity with GameRevive.

Reason 7: Wide variety of games

We are currently purchasing hundreds of used games for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii games. Check out the homepage at GameRevive to see some actual sample quotes that we’ve offered customers.

We are very proud of our new website and checkout process at GameRevive (we think it’s a very handsome website, indeed), so please come and visit us to find out why we earned a stellar reputation as the go-to place for selling textbooks online and sell us your used games today. Easy process, free shipping, and fast cast deposited into your account. Check it out and tell us what you think.

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Groceries: few people like shopping for them and even fewer enjoy paying for them. While there isn’t a way to get your groceries for free (short of dumpster diving), you do have options. Check out these tips on how to save money on groceries.

Save money on groceries with these easy tips. Image credit: cooksaid.com

Tip #1 – Plan your meals in advance

One recent study showed that 20% of grocery store purchases are unplanned, impulse buys. You can avoid this trap by planning your meals in advance and sticking to your list. Not only will you save money on groceries, but you’ll waste far less food.

Tip #2 – There is nothing wrong with generic 

Most people don’t end up buying generic brands because of perceptions of lower quality. However, you might be surprised to learn that blind taste tests have shown that some customers actually prefer the taste of generic brands. Make a point of giving generic or store brands an honest chance. If you don’t like them, it’s not like you spent an arm and a leg and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Tip #3 – Prepared foods cost extra

If you’re in a hurry, prepared foods are admittedly a great way to save time. However, as prepared foods are generally more costly, a better alternative if you’re short on time is to cook meals in advance and freeze them. While preparing a meal, it’s easy to double a recipe and freeze the leftovers for a later date. As an added bonus, homemade meals are generally healthier than prepared foods. If you need some freezer friendly recipe ideas, a great place to start is Life’s A Mom or Martha Stewart’s Freezer Friendly Foods.

Don't go shopping while hungry. Otherwise you might try something like this. Image credit: funnypicture.in.

Tip #4 – Avoid shopping hungry

This is an oldie but goodie. If you’re hungry while you shop, you will buy more. Everything looks appetizing when you’re ravenous. Make sure you eat a meal (or at least a snack) before shopping and you will find that a lot less ends up in your cart.

Tip #5 – Bend down or tippy toe

Grocery stores and supermarkets usually place the items with the highest markups around chest level. This makes these higher cost items easier to see and more accessible to shoppers. Resist the temptation to reach for what is nearest to you and kneel down or reach up for to find cheaper alternatives.

Tip #6 – Put a little effort into it

Did you know that there are plenty of supermarket chains that offer coupons if you visit their website? Not just that, but if you clip coupons and pay attention to the weekly deals that supermarkets have, you can’t help but save money. A smart shopper saves money on groceries simply by going where the deals are. There are also entire websites dedicated to the art of couponing. Check out Money Saving Mom or Frugal Living NW for daily sale and coupon updates.

Tip #7 – Price match

If you read about a particularly good deal in a store that’s far away, see if one of their local competitors will match the price. This not only saves you money on groceries, but also reduces gas consumption.

These are just seven of the best ways to save money on groceries that we have found, but of course we want to learn about what ways you have found that worked for you. Whether you saved ONE dollar, or twenty bucks, we want to know!

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We love that you want to sell your books to us! It’s a winning situation all around: you clear space and get cash and we sell your books to others who want to read them.  Less waste is sent to our landfills as the lifecyle of each book is expanded. But have you ever thought about all of the other things lying around your house that you don’t need? What about those used electronics?

This would also be a cool way to recycle your electronics. It might take a bit more time than selling them to BuyMyTronics.com. Photo: Ross

Well now thanks to our friends at BuyMyTronics.com you can recycle your electronics for cash. BuyMyTronics is an electronics buyback company where you can sell your used electronics including iPods, iPads, smartphones and digital cameras. Check them out here and earn some cash for living green.

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Say you and your special lady/gentleman friend want to go to Paris in May. Bing travel (formerly Farecast) has a flexible date search tool that will allow you to find the lowest prices. Being open with your departure date could be the difference between paying $900 vs $1700 per round trip ticket. A bit of planning ahead can save you and your sweetie a (rather shocking) $1600 on airfare.

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As we trudge through the murky, watery depths of winter here in the Pacific Northwest, we are made all too painfully aware of the increased living costs associated with the season.  Here are a few ways to save a buck or two, some of which you may have heard but bear repeating:

Clothing

• Wear sweaters and warm socks indoors so  you can lower the thermostat temperature.
• Buy for next year – hit up the end of season sales to save upwards of 50% off winter clothes for next year.
• Did your child just have a growth spurt and grow out of their winter clothes? Take them into a consignment shop and get store credit for trading up. You get some money back on the old pair and obtain a new pair at already frugal prices.

Health- Eat healthy and be healthy!

• Getting sick costs you money in increased healthcare costs and possible lost wages.  Load up on that vitamin C, and here in the Northwest where we get so little precious sunlight, Vitamin D.  And don’t forget the greens!
• Use a humidifier – heated indoor air is constantly drying out leading to dried out sinuses, which can lead to illness.
• Keep your air filters cleaned or replace regularly.

She's smiling because she got her lift ticket for a 40% discount.

Activities

• Are you a frequent skier/snowboarder? Save dough by taking advantage of reduced prices on season passes, frequent skier programs, locals-only pricing, late season ticket deals, student pricing, active military discounts, or join a ski/snowboard club
• Check online:  liftopia.com, skicoupons.com, and thesnowjunkies.com specialize in deals on lift tickets. Also, check out craigslist.com for people reselling tickets they can’t use. You can always just search for: [your ski resort] + “coupon”.
• Look local: check out coupon books like the Entertainment Book.  There are usually promos going on through local businesses. For example, a local car dealership was giving away a free lift ticket if you test drove this year’s model. A local Shell gas station was also offering a free lift ticket when purchasing 10+ gallons of gasoline.  Local ski shops often have some sort of deals to offer as well. Keep your eyeballs peeled for other local businesses with lift ticket offers. There are deals to be had!
• Want winter sporting goods but not that serious? The used gear at second-hand sporting goods stores will do the job. Craigslist is also a great resource.
• Tip: go during non-peak times, you’ll get better deals.

Home Energy Bill- Pretend that your indoor air is a hazmat zone and you can’t let the air escape.

There are entire websites (and businesses) dedicated to making your home more energy efficient and thus way more information than can be repeated in a single blog post. Don’t be afraid to investigate more.

• Close up those heating vents and doors to any infrequently used rooms in your home. Likely candidates are studies, dens, basements, laundry rooms, and guest bedrooms.
• Make sure your home is energy-proofed. Here’s a good place to start: http://www.energysavers.gov/tips/
• Turn down your water heater by 10-20 degrees, you probably won’t notice the difference, but you will notice your bill drop.
• Keep lots of warm throws handy for when you’re lounging about the house.
• Take it to the next level. Hang sheer curtains over an open doorway to the hall keeps heat in the living room where you want it in the evening. Pressure rods are inexpensive and easy to remove and store until next winter.
• Put plastic film over your windows and use curtains to trap in the heat. Windows are huge heat sinks. Keep the curtains open during the day to allow solar heating of your house.
• Turn off vent fans – over your stove or in the bathroom – these just spew your heat outdoors.
• Have a fireplace or woodstove? Close the vent! But take advantage of it as a heating source during the winter. It may be more cost effective depending on the cost of wood, pellets, etc. in  your area.
• Want a DIY project? Make your own solar heater!
• Patch the holes – make sure your attic and/or basement/crawl space is properly insulated, cracks are sealed, and holes are patched.
• Make sure your heating units are operating at peak efficiency – get them checked, maintained, and cleaned. You can replace the air filter yourself (every 2-3 months).
• Keep the thermostat as low as you can possibly stand. Gradually lower it over the course of a few weeks as your body gradually adjusts to the colder weather.
• Leave the thermostat alone! Changing it up and down could cost you as much as 4% of your bill for every degree change. Try not to vary more than 5 degrees. Or better yet get a programmable thermostat to reduce your fiddling and maximize efficiency.
• Bake …a lot – it serves as a psychological trick to make you feel warmer from the inside out and it also actually heats up your house (a little.)
• Check and make sure all the heating ductwork and pipes in the basement are properly insulated to prevent heat loss. Leaky ductwork often accounts for 10-30% of your total heating and cooling costs.
• Always fill up your oil and gas tanks before the cold weather hits as the costs of oil and gas are typically higher during winter due to a surge in demand.
• Check the caulk and weather stripping around your doors, door sweeps, and windows. Install new caulk if they are not caulked or the caulk is old. Examine the door weather stripping and replace it if it is old or light can be seen seeping in-between the door and door jambs.