All About the Money $$$

There is much more to a consignment sale like Just Between Friends than money, but it's time I mentioned the cash.

Consignors earn cash! As a consignor, you have choices as to how much money you make depending on hours of volunteering, whether you tag your own items, etc. I choose to volunteer 4 hours at the sale which makes increases my commission to 70% from 65%.  I also pay a $10 flat rate to consign and tag my own items.

What did I earn? The estimate for my payout is $468.80...woo hoo!! On the JBF website, you can check each evening which of your items sold and see an estimate of your payout. I sold a total of 126 items at an average of $5 per item.

And, did my extra 5% make a difference? I calculated my payout at $66 higher because I volunteered. It sure did make a difference!

Shoppers save money! You will save money on loads of everyday things you need for your kids. Clothes, shoes, toys, games, baby furniture and gear. Don't forget the full cycle I mentioned in a previous post. Not only do you get these items at a huge discount, when you are done with them, you can resell them. This can make your full cycle of those necessities very inexpensive (or possibly free if you are very savvy about your shopping).

Picking Up After the Consignment Sale

Chances are the you will have some things that don't sell at the consignment sale. You have choices on what to do with these.

• Donate - easy! As you tag each of your items, you can indicate whether or not you would like to donate them if they don't sell. If you do that, you're all done. The volunteers at the sale will make sure they are gathered for donation and you can get a tax receipt.
• Pick up - this is easy too. I had a ghastly vision of having to search through oodles of items to find all of my things. Nope. The volunteers on clean-up have this organized very well. There will be a sign with your unique consignor number on it and all of your items will be sorted there. Be sure to bring back your bins to pack things up and bring them home. There will also be a pile of hangers and you can grab a pile for next time.

Now what? Well, get ready for the next sale of course!

The Body Shop - Hot $10 for $20 Groupon

Groupon has the The Body Shop deal on again!! Pay $10 for $20 to spend at The Body Shop in store or online.

Want to save more??? Go through Big Crumbs for cash back. If you haven't already joined Big Crumbs, check it out. If you simply access your online retailer through Big Crumbs, you earn cash back. Different retailers offer different cash back incentives and Groupon is 5.6%!!

But wait...there's more!! If you also access The Body Shop through Big Crumbs, right now they are offering 10% cash back!!! If you use Big Crumbs for your Groupon and The Body Shop purchases, you earn $1.50 cash back total.

So, if you were headed out the door to The Body Shop and I said, "Here's a $1.50 off coupon," would you use it? Of course you would! This is how you stack up the savings.


Groupon: $10 for $20 Body Shop - On Location

Volunteer Perks at the Consignment Sale

These large consignment sales are operated by volunteers. I highly recommend it! Here are some of the perks:

• More $$ - for me an additional 5% payout on the items I have for sale
• Opportunity to shop early before the sale opens to the public and before the 50% off sale
• Sneak peaks at all the goodies
• Meeting new people
• Being part of a big effort to bring value to families and recycle toys, clothes, and more

First, sign up on the website for the time and type of shift you're interested in. You can choose the length of time (typically 4 hours will earn you the minimum incentives) and the type of work (set up, break down, sale, etc.). I always try to schedule my shift to coincide with drop off, pick up, or my shopping time so it saves me from an extra trip to the event.

Here's what to expect:

• Check in when you arrive - it may not be obvious where to go, but just ask
• There may be organized teams or just informal assigned tasks
• There may be snacks/water, but I also bring something
• Dress as you would for shopping - be comfy, carry essentials in your pockets (no purse)

You are there to work, but I do take an opportunity to sneak a peek at the loot. At one large sale a team of us was assigned to inspect as many clothes as we could. It didn't matter which clothes so I picked the size I would be shopping for my daughter. Then I had an idea of items to look for when shopping the next day :) Yesterday I was asked to clean up the shoe shelves - yippee!!! I had already scored big on the shoes at the presale, but I had a chance to thoroughly go through all the rest again.

I have done several different types of shifts and tasks and always enjoyed it.

Shop, shop, shop - first dibs at the presale!

When you volunteer at a consignment sale, this earns you certain privileges. One is the opportunity to shop before the public at the presale.

Here's how it works at my JBF. After all of the consignments are dropped off, volunteers and select groups (expecting moms, military, etc.) can shop the evening prior to the public sale. You get first dibs at the best deals! Really, there are plenty of deals to go around, but this is a little extra perk.

Be ready and be comfortable, it will be busy. Here are some tips:

• Wear comfy shoes and clothes.
• Don't carry your purse.
• Have pants with pockets for your cash/credit card, phone, and keys so hands are free to grab, feel, inspect, hold, carry, etc.
• Bring reusable shopping bags, a stroller or a wagon. Many sales have Ikea bags or carts for you, but they may be in use already. You still need to get your loot to your car too.
• Bring a list and know your sizes.
• Relax and have fun!!

My daughter was mostly in need of shoes and I scored big!! I found several pairs that she can wear now or grow into and I can resell them at the same (or higher) prices when she outgrows them:

• 2 pairs of lined Crocs @ $5 each
• 2 pairs of Pediped Mary Janes - $6 & $4.50
• 1 pairs of Stride Rite sandals - $4
• 1 pair of Keens sandals $8.50

I also got several quality pieces of clothing in great condition for a great price, a book, and a jewelry organizer (shaped like a dress...so cute!!).

Consignment Sale Drop Off - What to Expect

I have already mentioned community consignment sales as a terrific option for reselling kids clothes and toys. I go to two Just Between Friends sales in my area. The first one starts today and I'm excited!

Here's how it works. First you sign up for the sale and tag your items. I've covered this in a previous post and the JBF website has awesome tutorials.

Drop your stuff off:

1. Load up your vehicle and head to the drop off. There may be carts or clothing racks available to help you bring in your things, but you may have to wait for one. Be patient and give yourself time. If you don't have time for this, sign up for their Express Drop Off.

2. Your clothing will be inspected for stains, tears, etc. If you have less than 3 rejected items, you'll be on the list to skip inspection next time.

3. Put your items out on the sales floor. All done :)

It doesn't hurt to keep your eyes open for hot deals while you're doing this. You can't shop yet, but you'll be ready!

Next step, shopping the pre-sale...

Make Your Own 50% Off Sale

Here is another example of how I stack savings everyday. This example is with Dress Barn, but the store is irrelevant. It's the steps that are important.

I often buy business attire essentials at Dress Barn. Knowing this, I bought a discounted gift card for Dress Barn for 22% off the face value so I could have it handy when I needed to shop. For a $100 gift card, I paid $78. There are many reputable websites where you can do this. Plastic Jungle is one I often use.

Yesterday, I was ready to shop!

1. I looked for a coupon code. I use a coupon blog called www.ThriftyNWMom.com. www.Retailmenot.com and www.CouponCabin.com are also favorite places to look. I found a 30% off + free shipping code!!

2. I went to a cashback site. A couple of sites I use are BigCrumbs and Ebates.

3. I used my discount gift card.

Assuming I selected $100 worth of merchandise, here is how my savings stacked:

• $100 less 30% = $70 - this is what my receipt would look like
• Amount saved with the discount gift card 22% - $15.40
• Amount saved with 7% cash back - $4.90

Total savings - $50.30 - over 50%!!!

Now, if what I bought was on sale to start with, my total savings would have been higher. Regardless, I created my very own 50% off sale!!

The keys to this were some preplanning because I had a gift card ready (this is feasible with merchants you use regularly) and I looked for a discount code. Another key to savings is control. If I had been unable to find a coupon code, it would be better to wait and watch for one. Replace that instant gratification with the excitement of scoring huge deals! YOU are in control.

Sephora Earth Day Freebie!

Obviously freebies are the best way to save $$!! Keep an eye out for hot Earth Day freebies. Here is one for Sephora. Get a free full-size Origins moisturizer, when you bring is any empty cosmetic container!

'Like' Facebook Deals? One for Old Navy Now!

More and more organizations are using Facebook to get their deals to you. Usually you just need to 'Like' them on Facebook and the deal becomes available to you. This is one source I check before a shopping trip when I'm looking for a coupon.

Here is one example: Old Navy is offering a coupon in their Reveal a Deal section for $15 off a $75 purchase. This one is in store only so you can't stack it with a cash back site, but if you're already buying on sale or clearance, the savings start to add up!

Reselling at Community Consignment Sales

There are all kinds of creative ways to resell your kids clothes and 'stuff'. Large-scale community consigment sales are becoming more and more popular (and a great way to find good deals too). Google 'kids consignment sale' to find one near you.

I go to two sales each season in my area that are Just Between Friends franchises. Usually in the Fall and Spring, there is a scheduled sale in a community center or public venue and you can sign up to be a consignor for free. Once you sign up, you use their system to create tags that identify your items and you set the price (remember you want them to sell!). The websites have excellent guidelines and video tutorials that are quick to review so you'll have an idea of what sells and how to prepare your items. You will need some minimal supplies and I recommend this tagging gun because the fine needle is less likely to cause damage.

You canvolunteer at the sale and earn a better commission. I volunteer for 4 hours and earn a 70% commission on my items. Volunteers also have the priveledge of shopping early before the main sale and discount sale!

You'll see a schedule of when to drop off your items and they do the rest. You'll be able to login to your account and see what has sold (through your bar-coded tag and wait for a check to arrive in the mail in a week or two. You can pick up the items that didn't sell (and save them for the next sale) or just let them be donated.

Don't have time for tagging? You'll earn less commission, but many sales will do the tagging for you too. Easy breezy! How much time you spend on this is really up to you.

Reselling...you have options!

If you automatically think eBay and a lot of work, think again!

For kids clothes and toys, reselling is one of the final possible steps in the cycle. I'm not familiar with anyone who makes money on their kids toys, but if you have an item that is pristine or never opened and ends up hot and hard to find, you may be in luck.

Clothing...well, for my toddler/preschool-aged girl, she has a better quality/bigger wardrobe than ever before and I likely make money on it after I resell it. I've shared one tip for buying quality at deep discounts in my stacking blog with the Gymboree example and more tips will be coming. Reselling is an essential part of the cycle. There are endless options that are quite a bit of work or nearly effortless. You have plenty of options depending on the time and payback you want:

• eBay/Amazon/other online selling
• consignment: online or brick & mortar stores, or big seasonal sales
• garage sales
• tax deductible donations
• Facebook trading pages
• Craigslist and similar sites
• the list is endless...

Look for more details on options for each of these soon!

Only Buy What You Need

This is a quick and simple reminder to only buy what you need. To make the most of all these savings tips, you need to plan and be smarter than the advertisers who are experts at trying to entice you to buy things you don't need. It's also so easy when you see a great deal to think, "Wow, that's such a great deal, I should get it!" You hadn't even thought of getting it before you saw the deal and you don't really need it. So, you didn't really save anything...that was the advertisers candy and you were the baby!

Focus, keep your eye on the prize, remember you are paying special attention to these money saving techniques to be wise and savvy and benefit you and your family.

Work it baby, work it.... store rewards!!

Wherever you prefer to shop, rewards programs are the norm these days. They are also overwhelming. It's tricky to even find your card, let alone understand the intricacies of the system.

Out of your favorite stores, pick a couple and really get to know and use their rewards programs. Later you can check out a couple of other stores to compare. Keep it simple.

Let me give you an example. When my daughter was a baby, I would not even bother to walk into a Gymboree store because there was no way I was going to pay those prices. Now, it's hard to find anything in her wardrobe that isn't Gymboree!! The reason is that I understand their rewards program, use it to buy clothes at 70-90% off, and it's got good resale value (look for reselling in a future blog).

Here is how I stack up there savings:

• Sign up for their rewards card - instore or online, it takes two minutes, you'll get rewards vouchers, coupons, and advance notice/access to sales.
• Sign up for their Visa - you'll get an extra 5% off every Gymbo purchase (*Note: only do this if you can use a credit card and pay it in full each month. Interest charges negate any savings.)
• Always use a coupon - Family Fun, Parent, Parenting magazines.
• Always shop sales and clearance.
• Gymbucks - on a quarterly basis, you can earn $25 in Gymbucks for every $50 you spend and redeem them the same way during their 10-day redemption period. (Keep those purchases as close to $50 increments as possible to maximize savings.)

Let's crunch some sample numbers. Let's say I make a purhcase that would total $175 at full retail value. BUT...I never pay retail. So watch how the savings stack up:

• Brick 1 - I shop the clearance racks and average a 60% markdown (this is doable and you can do better) - $175 now will cost me $70.
• Brick 2 - I have a Gymbo Visa - additional 5% off - $66.50
• Brick 3 - I have a 20% off coupon - $53.20
• Brick 4 - I paid $53.20 and earn $25 in Gymbucks

So far I'm at 70% savings on my purchase, but have potential for more savings. Next, during the Gymbucks Redemption period:

• Brick 1 - I shop clearance for an average of 60% off - $140 in clothes on clearance - $56
• Brick 2 - I use Gymbo Visa - additional 5% off - $53.20
• Brick 3 (coupons cannot be used with Gymbucks)
• Brick 4 - Redeem $25 Gymbucks - pay $28.20

Now, over the past three months, I have purchased $315 in clothing for $81.40. That's 75% off!!!

Later I can resell it and likely pay $0 in the total cycle or actually make money. We'll save that for a future blog post.

Remember, I am sharing an example of how I stack different savings opportunities. Many stores have their own program. All stores, including Gymboree have policies that are subject to change so pick a favorite store and get familiar with the policies. You'll likely make a mistake or two in the beginning, but the savings really do start to add up.

How to get cash back on what you buy

Cash back tip. A cash-back site is where you access an online retailer via another website and that website gives you a percentage of your purchase as cash-back. There are several I use and Big Crumbs is one of my preferred cash-back sites.... Here's how it works. If you want to buy something online, go to Big Crumbs and see if the retailer is listed with them. Then click the link to go to the retailer's website. Periodically Big Crumbs will deposit what you've collected in your Paypal account. Too easy. Here is the link:
http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/landing.do?r=telljosie&s=93891

What this is...

With the turn in the economy, we needed to be aggressive in saving money on day-to-day purchases. Way beyond couponing, through trial and error and happy accidents, I have stumbled upon multiple ways to save on everyday stuff. Friends and family have asked me to share what I do, but their eyes glaze over when I reach the second step. You have likely heard of 'stacking' coupons. This is way beyond coupons! What this is: sharing my experiences with anyone who is interested. What this is not: a daily, comprehensive analysis of every coupon and sale, or financial advice. Enjoy learning about the savvy savings subculture!