Retail, retold
A shopping story with a hopeful ending, followed by some DIY links.
By D. Baratta, Local CorrespondentSun, Dec 20 2009 at 11:29 PM EST
There once was a girl who liked to buy old lady purses.
She bought them secondhand, of course. (This girl was very, very good.) And she saved the rest of her money to do responsible things, like pay for in-between-job health insurance.
Luckily, because of the balance that comes from carrying one bargain bag per arm, she never slipped and fell and therefore never paid insurance premiums either. She lived simply, this girl.
Well, then she got older and "busy" and wasn't so careful, and spent money on all kinds of things. She even spent money she didn't have and eventually went so broke that not even a pile of old lady purses could cushion her fall.
The poor girl was all "woe is me," until a friend showed her how she could get back up. Back up with the help of other old-lady-bag-lovers out there, in fact. She got online and sold like heck. She sold some of her old purses, old books, old shoes and other goodies.
Now, though she isn't completely back on her feet, she will soon be a chic bag lady once again. Except this time she may be a sturdier one. And perhaps one backed by, heavens to Betsy, a public option! But that might be too storybook ...
So ... the end.
Check out this appendix of economical, eco-conscious ways to make good on your goods. And please post a comment to share others.
For money*
Clothing
Selling your frocks to places such as Plato's Closet can get you some quick cash. But the fashions should be brand name or otherwise trendy enough for the 20-something set. You can also check out scores of other small consignment shops across Chicagoland. Or, for truly vintage items, try opening up your own e-store on Etsy.
Textbooks
If you missed the boat on selling back textbooks at school (perhaps even by 10 years), you may still qualify for payback. Booksintocash.com, for instance, asks for the book's ISBN number and then tells you if it still has a market and how much they'll offer. If you accept, they'll provide you with a printable mailing label so you can ship the books for free. Then, simply wait for a check in the mail.
Bling
Gold could bring a rush of cash, too. Even that old ring or necklace from your teenage boyfriend could yield $10+. To get the best exchange rate, visit a jeweler in your neighborhood. Here's one near Peoria, Ill., that brought me about $35: Jones Bros. Jewelers.
* Of course, Craigslist and eBay are no-brainers when it comes to peddling your old stuff. But some of these other avenues offer a more targeted market for goods and thereby a higher return.
Simply for good
If you're less worried about the cash and just want to clean house in 2010, try donating items to Goodwill, offer them up on Freecycle or gift them to non-profit organizations like Willowbrook Wildlife Center who have posted wish lists online.
Photo: Suat Eman, freedigitalphotos.net
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