The Frugal Files: Free Avenues for Sales Part II

Hey people!!

I hope you're ready for more selling advice because The Frugalicious Diva is back to give it to you!! Did you use any of last week’s suggestions and make some extra bucks? We ran out to time last week, but I'm happy to be back to share my best selling secret with you!!

Similar to the Yahoo Groups avenue I told you about last week, I use one last way of selling online. This is my sales tool of choice: Craig’s List. It is just like YG, but has worldwide exposure without subscribing. You can even post to multiple cities and ship your items. It’s fast, easy to use and I’ve made the most money using this method.

First, read the CL rules. Then start posting your legal items for sale. Take pictures, as you can post up to four per advertisement. When you sign up for a FREE seller’s account, CL will keep track of all your posts and you can edit or delete them any time. Describe your item accurately and concisely. People want details but do not want to read a book about your item. List the name, sizes, colors and price. Once you post, sit back and wait for emails.

Same rules apply; be prompt and courteous. You might find potential buyers are not as polite, but be professional anyway. You will get spam, “interested” people who don’t follow up and others who will begin bargaining, asking for prices way less than you posted. It’s up to you how you deal with them, but make sure you are get what you want.

Next, be safe. If you call to make arrangements, block your number, by using *67 before dialing. If they don’t answer, leave a message and tell them you will try them again at a specified time. You can also opt to use a public phone. Also, when you meet up with the buyer, do so during the day at a public place and take someone with you. Use the same advice if you decide to buy from a Craigslister too. I have been to many parking lots for a successful and discrete exchange. I let them examine the object I’m selling then payment is made. You are done and everyone is satisfied. They have their item and you have your cash!!

My last courtesy is thanking them for the sale once I’m back to my computer. This act of gratitude goes a long way. It makes people smile and it opens the door for them to be a repeat buyer. I have had a few people purchase the same type of items from me repeatedly. It’s all about customer service; it still matters and it counts.

One more thing. I thought I might give some honorable mentions. They are not all free ways of selling, but have very nominal fees. So here's the list, thanks to both my experience and some friends of mine who shared their experiences.

If you have clothes or accessories, then go consignment. Beware though, no matter what the commercials say, don't be fooled into thinking they pay top dollar; but it’s something. They usually take a percentage, and usually in their favor. But for those that don't watch them count out money to you. Check out Plato's Closet for all things Teen, Once Upon A Child for kids’ items and for those with high end women's fashions, sell at Clothes Mentor. If you have sellable things, they will pay you.

Have CD or DVDs you no longer love, check out Second Spin or http://www.half.com. The latter allows for you to sell all media including movies and books.

Lastly, one of my very FRUGALICIOUS friends mentioned she loves to sell her unused stuff on Amazon. She researches the values and posts. She told me she easily receives payment with the click of a button and has never experienced any issues. The best part is that they only take a small fee ONLY if the item sells, so you can adjust your asking price accordingly.

Now, you should be convinced, that even in this economy, there is money to be made!! You can do it easily from the comfort of your own home and computer. You pick, you click, you post, they buy!! All the best to you and Happy Selling!!

Frugalicious Diva

The Frugal Files: Free Avenues for Sales

Hey folks!!

Frugalicious Diva here!! So, I just wanted to tell you my adventures with selling items online. It is a great way to make some extra cash while decluttering your life. It’s nice to donate items, especially when you know someone who can use them. However, I also understand wanting some return on the many trinkets you’ve purchased over the year. I hate that I've bought something and never used it, even though I had the best intentions at the time. It’s now too late to return it and it’s just sitting there, wherever “there” is, collecting dust.

What can you no longer use? Or no longer want? Or no longer love? Sell it. You can use ebay if you are seasoned and don’t mind the fees. I’ve never been able to master ebay and it upset me to not sell my item and I was still responsible for the fee. Now, I only utilize the free avenues and stay away from fee-based selling as much as possible. Here’s what I’ve found worked for me:

Facebook is not just for socializing, it can bring in some spare cash!! If you have enough items, I suppose you can set up a like page and sell to the people you invited to “like” your page. Otherwise, just simply post your sellable items on your personal page. When I was selling bulk items, I set up a photo album, posted pictures of what was for sale and the prices. Then I would announce on my wall I was selling it and people would inbox me to make a purchase. It worked out great and it’s easy for people to spread the word.

Now, I have posted some sales items on Twitter too, but it really didn’t yield many results. Twitter moves so quickly, your post can get lost in the endless tweets of a minute. It’s not my avenue of choice, but if you are selling the right products, this can give you favorable results. It’s definitely good promotion and that can leads to future sales of both products and services.

These last two free ways of selling have given me the greatest results and I continue to use them today. They are easy and because I use the same advertisement format, much of the work is just copying and pasting.

Yahoo Groups – Yes they still exist and are going strong. I belong to several buy/sell/trade Yahoo Groups. I decided to streamline mine to my own geographical area, but you can choose whatever groups work best for you. Go to the home page and search for garage sale and buyer/seller groups. You’ll want to join the buy AND sell groups, so you’ll have people there willing to purchase what you’re offering. Learn the following abbreviations:

FS: For Sale

WTB: Want to Buy

ISO: In Search Of (Please specify if you want to buy it or get it for free)

SOLD: This is a courtesy, letting everyone know the item you posted has been sold.

OFFER: This means the item you are offering is FREE

INFO: This means you are just sharing info, perhaps about a sale, etc.

These are helpful, courteous tips that keep the environment nice and simple. Most people will abide by the rules and will keep in touch with you. Also, these groups tend to have high traffic email, so one tip is set your mail preference to Digest. This means you get one email per day with the listing of all the mail that was sent to the group that day. If you are interested in something, you simply email the person requesting the item you wish to purchase. People will do the same for you. If they want your item, you will receive an email from them. Always be professional and prompt with your replies, so they don’t lose interest.

Similarly, I use one last way of selling online. This is my favorite sales tool and it has helped me make the most money online. It’s none other than…Oh, sorry, we’re out of time for today!!

Please tune into The Frugal Files next week, where we will explore the last Sales Tactic to Sell More. Until then…stay frugalicous!!

Frugalicious Diva

Beautiful You Monday: Style File: Just As You Are

Greetings folks! Welcome to another edition of Beautiful You Monday here on Belle-Noir.com. For those of you who are new, Beautiful You Monday is where we discuss everything fashion, beauty & style!

Our Facebook fans & Twitter Followers might recall my speaking about being invited to the Plus Model Magazine Blogger Conference a few weeks ago. Held at the absolutely GORGEOUS Hudson Terrace, the event was to announce the launch of a new line of plus size outerwear, Just As You Are. This post is all about the fabulousness that is the Just As You Are Fall/Winter 2011 line.

Plus size ladies--particularly my ladies who are like me, sizes 24+, and live in cold weather states--can relate to this experience: you know the winter is coming and you begin the search for a winter coat that will survive the wind, rain, snow, and everything else winter can throw your way. Some might just be looking for something sleek and stylish they can wear with office wear. Others might be looking for something that will stand up to busy fall & winter weekends. What usually happens (at least in my past experience) is one of the following:

• I will find a coat that I absolutely adore, but it stops at a size 24 (often times, much smaller).
• I will find a coat that I absolutely adore, but while it comes in my size, the only color options are black, black, and did I mention black?
• I will find a coat that I absolutely adore, but it is so expensive that I find it hard to justify the purchase. Not to mention that the fit is just not quite right.

Ladies, Just As You Are has heard these, plus many more of the common complaints that we have as plus size women looking for stylish outerwear. What they have created is a line of outerwear that is completely about fitting your shape and helping you walk away with a coat that will "embrace your shape" make you look fabulous "just as you are".

First, there are no sizes when you shop with Just As You Are. Your perfect coat shopping experience starts with your measurements. By entering your chest, waist, hips and height into the measurements form, you will then be given the coats that are recommend as best for your shape! Browse the selections, fall in love with your new favorite coat, add it to your online shopping cart and viola! So simple, yet genius!

As I always say, we must support the designers who are designing clothing that is especially for us. What I also love about Just As You Are is that there is no mention of  a coat's "slimming qualities" or other phrases that assume that I am looking for something that is going to make me look smaller.

Here's a look at some of the coats from the collection that were debuted that night:



Accra wrap $159
Photo credit: LucasPictures.Net




Angola wrap $219
Photo credit: LucasPictures.net



Aurora jacket $249
Photo credit: LucasPicture.net



Aspen jacket $269
Photo credit: LucasPictures.net



Alabama jacket $169
Photo credit: LucasPictures.Net



Arizona jacket  $179
Photo credit: LucasPictures.net

What do you think ladies? Will you give Just As You Are a try? Be sure to check out the website and follow them on Facebook.

Special thanks to Madeline Figueroa-Jones, Editor-In-Chief of Plus Model Magazine, the Just As You Are team, and everyone else involved in making the Blogger Conference a great time.

The Frugal Files: Creative Cooking

Hey everybody!! It's The Frugalicious Diva and today in The Frugal Files, we're going to talk about Creative Cooking!!

When I was younger I despised even the idea of cooking, but my parents LOVE to cook!! In fact, I come from families that take great pride in their culinary skills. I can confidently say my Mom and aunts, maternal and paternal, are cooking and baking Divas!! Let’s not sleep on my Dad and the family men either, because they are the greatest fryers and bar-b-q-ers this side of the Mississippi.

Every family function is filled with delectable treats and concoctions from someone’s kitchen. Every potluck brings on unforgettable aromas that water your taste buds upon entrance. There is always a table covered in Aunt Tina’s famous 7 layer salad, macaroni and cheese and homemade ice cream, Aunt Gloria’s tasty fried chicken or Mom’s delicious dirty rice, 7UP cake or sweet potato pie.

I had to describe some of the vittles in order for you to get the idea, because with all that home cooking training, it is blasphemous for me to not want to follow in this rich tradition. But, it was true. I would have rather cleaned the toilet bowl than do anything with that oven.

Even though I disliked cooking, it didn’t mean I didn’t know how to do it. Since I’ve always been a people watcher, I know now that habit started right at home. For years, I observed my Mom make side dishes, cakes and pies, all from scratch. I marveled at how she was such an expert that she no longer had to measure the ingredients, how she knew the degrees each dish needed and how long it would take to cook. Side note ladies: don’t let men tell you they don’t cook. My parents shared the cooking, but my Dad has always (and still does) cooked breakfast.

So, although I did not enjoy it, cooking was buried in my soul. They were resurrected when I purchased my first home and got a kitchen of my own. I had to cook then, because my daughter and I had to eat. So, I asked for cookbooks for my housewarming and along with ordering Angel Food Ministries monthly, I learned that cooking is actually exciting. It is a joy for me to witness my daughter eat something new that I’ve created. With the variety of food in the AFM Signature Box, it was easy to create new recipes weekly for my family.

Now, my challenge for you other frugalicious divas and dons, is to create meals using what you already have at home. Many times we’ll purchase food from the store when we’ve depleted just a few. If you are not careful, you will find duplicates or items you did not know you had because you just kept buying more food. Take a 30-day grocery free challenge. Look through your cookbooks and online to aid you in finding recipes for what you have in your refrigerators and pantries.

Here are a few suggestions from my own personal challenges:

     

      Use the condiments in your refrigerator

-          When I may stir fry or fried rice, I use my soy sauce packets

-          In spaghetti or pastas, I add spice with hot sauce packets

-          Need ketchup? Use leftover fast food ketchup packets instead

      Pull out foods you hardly use and create a new dish

-          Instead of the same ol’ pasta, half it and make two dishes: a casserole and pasta salad

-          Have browning apples? Cut them up, add cinnamon and nutmeg and fry them in butter. You’ll have a great dessert.

-          Tired of cornbread, add bacon bits, jalapenos and cheese to the batter. Spicy bread for chili.

      When you don’t have it, improvise

-          Don’t have lemon, use another fruit instead. Create a new flavor.

-          No onions, use garlic or a crunchy veggies like celery or carrots

-          Add as many veggies to any dish you like. I now sprinkle my frozen vegetables in every dish I make. Great way to get in the veggies and use what’s in the house.

The next time you get bored with your kitchen, use a few of these tips and get some creative cooking going on at home!! You will rejuvenate your interest in cooking and your family will rave about your skills. Here’s to happy, creative cooking and finger licking good recipes!!

Frugalicious Diva

The Frugal Files: Abundantly Thinking!!

Hey there folks!!

It's The Frugalicious Diva again and one of the things I really wanted to share with you today is about changing our mindsets. So the kids are off to school, starting a fresh new year, so the adults in their lives should do the same. Let me share one thing with you: we have all we need to be who we have been created to be and because of this, we can and are in position to receive all that the Universe has for us. However, we have to be willing to release all limiting beliefs about money, prosperity and abundance.

Many times we get caught up in “life”; the struggle and stress of work, home, family, health and of course money. We get so caught up in the hustle and bustle, we do not take the time appreciate or even truly see what we already have. More importantly, we don’t understand that our feelings about being stressed simply cause more stress.

Just like we make a conscious effort do our jobs well, we have to use that same drive to create or enhance our financial lives. This same principle applies to all parts of our lives, but the Frugalicious Diva, is just going to address healthy finances. It begins with your mindset about money.

One of my favorite financial gurus is Suze Orman and I remember watching one of her older videos, where I first heard the idea of having respect for my money. She mentioned if you take care of your money, then your money will take care of you. She even went so far as to mention the way you placed your money in your wallet was significant. If you line the bills up neatly and orderly in your wallet, then you were respecting your money. It's easier to find and use when needed. Likewise, if it is crumpled, tattered and thrown in your wallet, it meant your financial situation was typically not in order. How can you keep track of your money when it is in that state?

Also, how can we expect our money to grow if we do not plant the seed and water it? This means being accountable for all our financial matters. First, we should pay bills joyfully and pay them on time. Have an attitude of gratitude that you have the means to pay what you owe. Try this affirmation: “I pay my bills with love and happiness!”

Next, we should owe less. We can owe less if we spend less. Take control of our desires and recognize what we need vs. what we want. Needs first and if there is a surplus, then get what we want. We often do this backwards and justify it by saying we deserve a treat. Remember back to your childhood. Treats were only once in a while and because we did something to deserve it. If you're having a hard time, then try this affirmation: “I know that all my financial affairs are being blessed and I am prospering beyond my wildest dreams.”

Lastly, we want to see growth in our financial lives. This includes saving for the future and even investing your money so that you are securing yourself and your family in your later years. By sacrificing something we want now, we can save for something we want more later. By learning to discipline ourselves, we can stave off feelings of instant gratification. This will also encourage a change in mindset. Set your goals, get to work and say this aloud: “I give thanks for all my prosperity that is rapidly multiplying.”

Looking to grow your finances and create an abundantly life? Then let go of the poverty mentality and begin to give of yourself. Give your time, talents and yes even money. Whatever you want more of that is what you give. Sow into someone else’s dream as a seed for your own. Say this affirmation with me…”I am sharing my prosperity with others because I know that it is better to give than to receive.”

Trust and believe you are already creating a life for yourself with your thoughts, so shouldn’t they be positive thoughts of abundance instead of lack? Say these affirmations day and night and believe them when you say them. You will see the results and attract more abundance to you. Let me leave you with one more affirmation to use:

”I release any limiting beliefs about what I can have and what I can accomplish financially.”

Last thing, write an Abundance Check. Pay to your name and in the spaces where you would normally write the dollar amount, write “PAID IN FULL”. Sign the check “The Law of Abundance”. Don’t bother dating it because you do not want to limit when and what is in store for you. Place it in a safe place, forget about it and watch abundance come to you!!

Frugalicious Diva 

Beautiful You Monday: All Eyez On...Domino Dollhouse

Greetings everyone & Happy Labor Day! So, with it being Labor Day, it means that Summer 2011 is unofficially over.While it makes me sad that Summer 2011 went by so fast, there is something very refreshing about Fall. The days are starting to get cooler, but it is still warm enough to dress in sexy layers-blouses, jackets, skirts, boots--oh my! Another great thing about Fall is Halloween, which while by calendar days is still a little less than 2 months away, it is never too early to get those costumes ready for all of the plus size Halloween parties coast to coast.

Today's All Eyez On... featured designer has you covered for both great Fall Fashion and some great dresses perfect for you to play with for your Halloween Costume. Meet Domino Dollhouse!

I received a press release in my inbox from a lovely woman named Tracy Broxterman with photos attached of the cutest dresses! Although you may not know it, I am a dress girl, so it immediately made me want to check out the website and find out more about this new plus size brand.

From the website:
"Plagued her entire life by drab clothing choices, owner Tracy Broxterman has always worked towards adding style and glamour in the plus size fashion world. She started in 2009 with her own personal style blog, Chubble Bubble, and continuing now with this unique online plus size shop, Domino Dollhouse! While the choices for sizes 14 and up are expanding, Domino Dollhouse strives to bring exciting, charming, and fun clothing and accessories to a market thirsty for more. While others give you water, we  give you fruit punch!"



Fruit punch indeed! Domino Dollhouse's most recent collection is the "Delectable Dresses Collection":

 

Wow-termelon Dress

 

Cupcake Cutie Dress

 

Berry Beautiful Dress



 

About the Delectable Dresses Collection:

"This mini collection was designed and produced by Domino Dollhouse. It is available exclusively through our web boutique. Using yummy treats as our muse, each dress evokes the playful spirit of food, something plus size women are often told not to do. Embracing the adorable, these dresses are not only perfect for everyday wear, but would make FABULOUS Halloween Costumes. The pieces are available in sizes 1X-4X and the retail prices range from $69.99-$79.99."

I can completely see using the Berry Beautiful Dress to be a sexy plus size Strawberry Shortcake (note: while this dress is currently sold out on the website, Ms. Broxterman expects a new shipment of them within the next 2-4 weeks, so stay tuned to their website for when it is back in stock!) And what lady who loves sweet treats couldn't picture themselves as a Cupcake Cutie?Add this adorable necklace from the Domino Dollhouse website, some tasty homemade cupcakes (or a dozen from your favorite bakery if you aren't the best baker) and voila! Someone could find herself into a pretty sweet situation!

Besides loving the entire Delectable Dresses collection, I also happened across this dress from a previous line that made me swoon. I'm always on the look out for a great LBD (Little Black Dress) and this one is quite sassy!



Tail Feather dress from the Make Out Circus Collection



Do you see the cute "tail feather" ruffle? Love it! And at $39.99, definitely a "buy now/ wear later" type of dress. Be sure to check out Domino Dollhouse online and on their Facebook page. Tell them Belle-Noir Mag sent you if you do!

What do you think of Domino Dollhouse? Do you see yourself wearing one of their dresses--for Halloween or otherwise?