As part of my effort to continue eating between one payday and the next, I've been listing some of my excess stuff for sale on Craigslist. Man, what a great site! Listings are free, including photo hosting, and it's mainly targeted to people in your own city who are likely to e-mail and then swing by and pay you cash if they decide they want what you're selling.
Over the weekend I sold a pair of PA speakers that I'd owned for 19 years but was no longer using, and I have a buyer lined up for a bunch of DVD sets. I also have an ad up for a chorus/reverb effects unit, but I haven't had any nibbles on it yet. It's starting to make me look around and ponder what else I might be able to turn into some cash.
I found this article very interesting: Living Paycheck to Paycheck Gets Harder. It seems that prices have risen drastically in recent months and even many middle income people (hello!) are struggling to buy groceries between paychecks. I'm almost relieved to discover that it's not just me, but it seems very alarming that things have reached such a state.
I know I sound like a broken record on this topic lately, but I'm just not accustomed to standing in the grocery store and deciding to get an unfamiliar brand of something I want to serve for dinner because it's $.50 cheaper than the brand I usually get.
Thing are not going well in this country right now and it won't be long before these economic problems reach so many people that they can't be ignored. I just wish I knew what could be done about it.
I agree on everything. Craigslist rocks, the economy sucks.
Fah.
Posted by: super des | October 24, 2007 at 08:40 AM
I haven't had much luck so far on Craigslist, but perhaps that is because the economy sucks and no one has money to spend on foosball tables and guitars.
Posted by: dee | October 24, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Don't worry, the economic cycle will return things back to normal. Hopefully soon!
Posted by: deedee | October 24, 2007 at 04:36 PM
I've had a pool table listed on our local craiglist for months with nary a nibble. Of course, with only 100k people, people interested in nibbling are few and far between.
Posted by: Huts | October 24, 2007 at 07:45 PM
I actually think we are in for a pretty rough road economically. People are in way over their heads and the country is too.
About prices: I buy pectin for my arthritis. 2 weeks ago it was $5.69 and yesterday it was $7.49 - WTF? Broccoli is $2 a pound! It is nuts. I found the pectin on Amazon - 8 boxes for $28, shipping included. So there, grocery store.
I am selling my old books on Amazon and sometimes doing pretty well. I sold an old Peg Bracken paperback for $25 the day after she died.
Posted by: Suebob | October 27, 2007 at 09:40 AM
I purchased my pool table off of Craig's list.
Dick Cheney said that the economy can absorb these higher prices and he was specifically referring to gas prices, which are $3.40 out here in Los Angeles. We stock up on food and supplies on the paycheck that doesn't go toward the house. It's a balancing act for sure.
Posted by: The Misanthrope | October 28, 2007 at 03:26 PM