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Health & Fitness

Thinking Outside The Big Box Store

You can get more for less by thinking outside the box for your household and family needs!

To make your money go farther, there are a variety of ways to acquire the things you need for free or less-than-retail prices before heading to the Big Box store.

Here are a few of my recent bargain experiences in Pleasanton:

My favorite! Freecycle is a local Yahoo email group (usually organized by town or region) that exchanges things for free! Members love the idea of getting something for nothing or want to be "green" by not purchasing the product and using something that's already out there. Check out freecycle.org to see if there's a group in your area.  

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How does it work? Members create an email "ad" of what they want - a moderator sends out these emails in batches to the members. Be specific with details about what you want (and don't want); another member might have that very item in a closet or garage and is happy to pass it along.  

Thrift Stores like Discovery Shop (American Cancer Society), Goodwill, Hospice Thrift Store accept donations and sell the items to support their organizations' mission. 

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These stores have a variety of products and the selection changes constantly. Take some time to stop in and browse their selection. Prices vary by store - I found the same type of item for $1 at one store, $1.99 at another, $2.99 another, and 3 for $4.  

Timing is key to finding the right thing. Many have sales at the end of the month or season to help make room for more items & senior discount days.

Used book stores are great resources for discounted books. Our local store (The Book Store at Hopyard and Valley roads) will keep a "wanted list" for me and contact me when that title comes in. 

Garage Sales are on the rise according to the number of signs out every Saturday.  For the best selection, browse the paper or online community websites to find the sales with items of interest.  

For the best bargains, show up as the sale is closing.  Last Saturday afternoon, we stopped at a home where everything was free because the family didn't want to deal with the items that didn't sell. (Some families will list all their garage sale leftovers for free on craigslist.org!)

Consignment shops hold many treasurers.  Many are specific to certain demographics like Plato's Closet for teens or Once Upon a Child for the wee ones; Thred Up is an online store for used children's clothes.

craigslist.org is another website to find things for free or at a greatly reduced price. There are categories to browse categories or the free section, and you can even set price caps for your search. You can use the 'wanted' category to place a free ad. Many sellers will require cash or some may accept PayPal.

With families constantly on the move, furniture is typically listed as free or very cheap because it's not easy to move. 

Online options:

ebay.com isn't just for collectors any more. Many brick-and-mortar stores also offer their products on ebay, along with the individual seller. Each seller has ratings from prior sells to review. 

Amazon.com is more than new books. Used book prices can be very low along with variety of items.

Plastic Jungle is a website to purchase discounted gift cards. 

Restaurant.com is popular for purchasing discount gift certificates (there is a required minimum purchase and some fine print). Get on their email list to know when the gift certificates are 70 percent, 80 percent, and even 90 percent off (I only purchase at 80 percent or 90 percent off).

Groupon, LivingSocial, ScreaminDailyDeals deal sites are becoming more popular. Daily deals are sent out by email, with the deal expiring within 24-48 hours. Check the fine print and expiration dates of what you are purchasing.  

Warning: Don't let the deal get the best of you! (This is becoming a serious problem for some - with resale sites popping up to sell unwanted Groupons.) Only purchase what you know you are going to use anyway without blowing the budget!

On the other side of the coin.......

The ideas described above are also great outlets if you suffer from Stuffitis - having too many things. 

For items you'd like to sell: ebay (basic ads are free), craigslist (free ads), garage sales, and consignment shops (call ahead for policies) will get you cash for things you want to sell.

For items you'd like to donate for a tax deduction or charitable mission: Drop off your clean, usable items at your local thrift shop. Watch your mail for postcards from organizations for the days some organizations will pickup items off your street.

For items you just want gone: List items for free on craigslist.org. If you don't want to deal with answering ads, have a "first come, first serve" deal on a Saturday where you put everything out on the porch or driveway.

List items on Freecycle and get your exchange Karma going.

Give items to your neighbor that's having a garage sale or put out a big FREE sign to catch the eye of the garage sale customers cruising the street.

With a little bit of research and scouting, you can make your hard-earned dollar go farther! Where do you find amazing deals?

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