This list is for both young and old. I love reading and want everyone to love it as well. So I hope you will find at least one thing helpful in this list and that it will inspire you to come up with some of your own.
1. Vist the public library if you cant get to the library you can also find some of the great authors works online. Just do a search online for "public domain books"
2. Keep a basket of books in an accessible place for everyone in the family. Put a variety of books in that the various members in your family will enjoy.
3. Make your own library. Keep your eye out at yard sales, thrift stores, online auctions ,etc for books then bring them home clean them up and put on your bookshelf. You can even encourage your children to "check out" the books. Simply seal a business size envelope and then cut the envelope in half and tape or glue one half in the back of a book and place an index card inside. Then the child places their name and the date they got the book on the card and the card is put into an index card box. Children love playing library. They can even let their friends check out books.
4. Read aloud to your family, if you live alone read aloud to yourself.
5. Start a book club among your friends.
6. Do a project that goes along with the book. This could be a craft or a recipe.
7. Make or buy pretty bookmarks as a special gift to your children or yourself.
8. Simply enjoy reading and all the places you can go through books and all the things you can learn.

About The Author

Angela Billings is a stay at home wife and mother who publishes an online newsletter Home and Family Ezine.

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

Junk. We all have some of it lying around the house. Whether its boxed items cluttering the attic or everyday items that just dont fit with the rooms decorating theme anymore, many of us have more than we need. At some point it all gets to be too much and in a fit of energy we decide that our place needs to be cleaned. Then the junk gets moved, typically to the nearest trash can. But wait. Before you throw out all that stuff, it pays to take head of the saying "one persons junk is another persons treasure."
If you are about to throw out something because you think it has little value, you may come to regret it later. Those things that you consider to be trash many times have great value to collectors. If you have an item and have no idea if it has any worth, a quick first step is to head to the online auction sites like eBay. Input the item you have into their search engine. If similar items come up and there are bids on them, then someone out there thinks that the item you were about to trash has some worth.
If you are trying to get rid of a few select items, the online auction sites may be the perfect place. Simply place the item on auction for a minimum price and let others bid away on it. This is where you may find that old, ugly toy you could no longer stand the sight of looks like a perfect jewel to somebody else. You dont even have to know how to list the items yourself anymore since sites like eBay offer services that will match you with someone who will list the auction for you for a small fee.
Even if the item doesnt sell at auction, it still may be worth some money to you. If you have a large number of items that didnt manage to sell on the online auctions, having a garage sale or heading off to sell at a local flea market for a day may bring in some extra cash. This is also a good way of getting rid of those everyday items that still have life, but you are certain are not worth a lot of money.
If you have an item that you suspect has some value, it pays to do a little research before placing it on auction. While the auction sites are a good place to see if something may have worth, they are not a good place to determine what the true value of something. Auctions can easily turn more emotional than sensible, and items may go for far more than their true worth. In the same vein, unique items that may not be familiar to those frequenting the online auctions may sell for far less than their true worth.
If you want to find the general true worth of something, the least expensive alternative is to head to your local library and check out collectible books and price guides on the subject. You can also search for Internet sites dedicated to the particular item in hand that can give you a good approximation of what the item may be worth. Another low cost alternative for those who dont want to take the time researching is to take it to a pawn shop and see if, and how much, the shop would be willing to give you for it. Pawn shops will buy the item for a fraction of its true worth, so if you are offered a decent amount, you know that you have something of value.
For items that you believe may be worth quite a bit such as antiques or if you have a lot of items and want to make sure the gems dont get accidentally placed with the ordinary items, it may be worthwhile to hire an appraiser. Appraisers charge between $150 and $300 an hour and you want to make sure that you get an independent appraiser that has no interest in purchasing the items you are having appraised if the appraiser is interested in the items, he or she will be tempted to lowball their true worth in order to get them for a good price. You can get references for appraisers from organizations like the Appraisers Association of America: http://www.appraisersassoc.org
Even if you are not willing to put in the time and effort for any these events, there is always a better place than the trash can for most items. Simply load them up in your car and take them to a local charitable organization or the larger nationwide organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Not only will you be extending the life of the item, your donation will entitle you to receive a tax deduction for it if you itemize your tax return, and thats certainly better than getting nothing at all.
Copyright c 2004, by Jeffrey Strain
This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, authors information and an active link where possible are included.
A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the site where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated.

About The Author

Jeffrey Strain has published hundreds of money saving articles and the creator of the Daily Money Saving Challenge Program. He is the co-owner of http://www.savingadvice.com -- a website dedicated to saving you money.
savingadvice@gmail.com

It is rumored that the top affiliate at eBay made over $1 million dollars in January 2004. Who wouldnt like to know his eBay secrets In fact, it is estimated that the top 10 eBay affiliates all earn over $100,000 per month.
In a world where average men and women commute to jobs they hate, knowing eBay secrets to generating extra income is of major interest. If at least 75% of people hate waking up to an alarm clock and commuting to work, then learning to make extra income part-time from home with online auctions is a big deal.
Can you really make extra income learning eBay secrets Over 25,000 people make their FULL TIME LIVING with online auctions like eBay, Google, Yahoo and more. A whisper number of part timers is over 250,000! Imagine, a quarter of a million people are putting extra income in their pockets with online auctions.
Raise your hand if youd like to join the ranks of the thousands of smart people making extra income in their own home-based business thanks to online auctions!

About The Author
David Ledoux is a freelance writer for http://www.best-online-auction-links.com and http://www.free-palm-programs.com

If you operate a small business, you may feel that your income potential is quite limited. However, you can increase and diversify your income through international trade.
1. Importing
Retail store owners can find additional products to sell from foreign manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers.
Advantages of importing include increased product selection, lower costs, and increased income.
You may even decide to go exclusively into the import business and become a wholesale distributor.
2. Exporting
Manufacturers can find new customers for their products in foreign countries.
Perhaps consumers in your country have lost interest in your product. It may have become obsolete because of technological advances. A foreign market, however, may be desirous of that very product.
Maybe there is an economic slump in your country. Another country may be experiencing a boom. Sales from customers in that country may help stabilize your income.
Exporting can also help smooth the peaks and valleys of your income. For instance, if you sold winter sporting goods, you could sell to both northern and southern hemispheres to help offset the seasonal nature of your business.
Of course, you might also consider selling sporting goods for all the seasons and still export to other countries to increase and diversify your income.
You could also become an Export Management Agent. Arrange for other domestic companies to sell their products to foreign corporations and earn a ten percent commission.
You would think that selling to foreign customers would be quite risky. However, use of letters of credit can protect all parties. An Export Management Agent might actually arrange for ninety percent of the sale to be paid directly to the domestic supplier and ten percent to be paid directly to himself.
3. Licensing
Consider becoming a licensing agent. Earn royalties by arranging for foreign corporations to manufacture and sell the products of domestic companies.
To learn more about making money as a licensing agent, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/licensing.html
4. Finder`s Fees
Imagine the possibilities for earning finder`s fees in international trade!
You can earn fees from domestic companies for finding foreign buyers or for finding suitable imports from foreign suppliers. You can also earn fees from foreign companies for finding domestic corporations that will buy their products or for finding suitable suppliers and products from domestic corporations.
To learn more about how to earn finder`s fees, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html
5. Drop Shipping
Visualize receiving an order from a customer based in a foreign country and not having to be bothered with shipping and handling the product. No customs declarations or brokers are required by you. This is because your drop ship supplier is handling those details.
You might collect $100.00 plus shipping of $15.00 from your foreign customer. You then simply send your customer`s order to your drop ship supplier with your payment of $65.00 consisting of $50.00 wholesale cost plus $15.00 shipping. Your drop shipper will now fulfill the order. Congratulations! You just made fifty dollars.
To learn more about how to make money drop shipping, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html
6. Mail Order
Add a mail order service to your existing business operation. Manufacturers, retail stores, and other businesses can increase their sales by using this additional method of selling that is very conducive to international trade.
To learn more about mail order, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/mailord.html
7. Internet Marketing
You can also extend your reach to worldwide customers by means of the Internet. Methods of obtaining foreign business include affiliate marketing, online auctions, online stores, and websites.
To learn more about Internet marketing, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/netmrktg.html
Yes, to increase and diversify your income, consider international trade.
To learn more about international trade, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html

About The Author
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

One of the most important purchases consumers make is a car. The average consumer purchases another car every several years. With the High Cost of new cars millions of people are opting to purchase affordable used cars.
There is a Massive opportunity to earn an excellent income. Help fill this high demand for quality used cars at affordable prices. When starting out you should focus on cars under the $4,000 range.
Do some research and find out what the most popular best selling cars in your area are. By staying in the lower price ranges with these popular vehicles you will be in a higher demand market since more people can afford these vehicles than higher priced more expensive cars, this will make it much easer to sell quickly for a profit.
You make your money when you buy, this is an important key to your success. You will need to pay wholesale price or below less the cost of any needed repairs, and other expenses ie: detailing, newspaper ads, etc. Once you know the wholesale price, less repair costs and expenses, you will know how much you can pay for a car. If you buy it right you wll be able to sell it at a profit and still give the buyer a great deal.
One of the most important things you can do to purchase a used cars at bargain prices is to do your homework. You should check your local classified ads and see what the asking price is for the type of vehicle that you are in the market for.
Make sure to get the high and low Blue Book and wholesale prices on the vehicle that you are interested in. Here are some excellent sources for getting pricing:
NADA GUIDES - www.nadaguides.com
KELLEY BLUE BOOK - www.kbb.com
EDMUNDS - www.edmunds.com
Other resources to check with is CARFAX. They can supply you with the vehicle history report. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a research area to check recall history on cars. We recommend that you have the vehicle you are interested in purchasing be inspected by your own mechanic prior to purchase.
Newspaper Classified Ads are an excellent place to find cars at well below retail prices. Many of these people will be happy to sell their used cars for several hundred dollars more than what was quoted by the dealer and you will end up with an EXCELLENT BUY!
Online Auctions can be a great place to find bargains. You can shop right from the comfort of your own home. Look for auctions with no reserve, these auctions don

You should always buy Ty Beanie Babies from reputable dealers or from sellers who you know how to contact. These dealers and sellers should also have many references and/or feedback from other people they have done business with.
Most counterfeit Beanie Babies are easy to spot if you know what to look for. If you dont know what to look for then you will probably have a hard time telling most counterfeit Beanie Babies from authentic Ty Beanie Babies.
Beanie Baby shows are a good place to check out expensive Beanie Babies. Try to handle them if you can. Get to know the feel of the fabric and their overall appearance.
Some counterfeits are excellent reproductions, but regardless of how good the counterfeits look, they usually have many mistakes. It is never just one mistake.
If you are buying expensive Beanie Babies, then you should educate yourself on the counterfeits or at least know where to find the information when you need it.
Here are two websites that have information on counterfeit Beanie Babies along with photographs of many of them:
About Beanies Counterfeit Information http://www.aboutbeanies.com/fakes/index.html
Ms. Janies Beanies Counterfeit Page http://www.msjanie.com/fakes/fake_page.html
Your other option is to have the Beanie Baby authenticated which is inexpensive to do. You can get your Beanie Babies authenticated at these websites:

http://www.pbbags.com/

http://www.peggyg.com/

Most of the mistakes on the counterfeits can be found on the tags. Become familiar with the different generation hang tags and tush tags or know where to look to find this information.
You can find information and photographs of all the different generation hang tags Ty has produced here: http://www.aboutbeanies.com/tags.html
Below are 17 ways to determine if a Beanie Baby is counterfeit:

Many of the counterfeits have spelling errors on the tags, but keep in mind that so do some of the authentic Ty Beanie Babies. So you usually have to look for other mistakes beside just this.
Check the tag dates and the addresses to make sure they are correct. Many of the counterfeits have the wrong date on the tush tag.
Compare the tags of the suspect Beanie Baby with the tags of another Ty Beanie Baby that you know to be authentic.
Is the type on the tags too light or too dark Is it the right typeface
Compare the tags to an authentic Ty Beanie Babys tags and determine if the tags are smaller or larger than the authentic tags.
Compare the stock color inside the hang tag to another hang tag. Is it too white Authentic tags have an off-white color.
Are the color of the hang tags identical Or does the red and yellow on the hang tag look muted or too light or too dark The hang tag should be blue red and not orange red.
The yellow star on the hang tag should be a bright sunshine yellow, not a mustard color.
Some of the counterfeit Beanie Babies have a yellow star on their hang tag that have points that are too "pointy." The points of authentic hang tag stars are slightly rounded.
Check the gold edge on the hang tag. It should have a nice clean line and be a light bright gold color. It shouldnt be brassy.
Check the overall size and shape of the Beanie. Some of the counterfeit Ty teddy bears have ears that are either too small or too large or perhaps the legs or arms are too short or are shaped strangely.
Is the teddy bears head too large or overstuffed
Check the eyes to see if they are too close together or too big or too small.
Are the eyes a solid color Some Beanie Baby eyes are a solid color and some are not. Humphrey the camel has solid black eyes but most of the counterfeit Humphrey have eyes that are two-tone.
Check the fabric and see if it is rough or if the color is too dark or too light.
Does the fabric nap look right Is the fabric rough, stiff or the wrong color
Most authentic Beanies have nice plush fabric that "flows" in all directions and doesnt get "wrinkly."

One place you should avoid buying expensive Beanie Babies that are not authenticated, is online auctions like eBay. Odds are that if you buy enough of these expensive Beanie Babies that are not authenticated, that you will eventually end up buying some that are counterfeit.
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You have permission to use this article on your website or in your newsletter, but you must include the resource box along with an active link for the BarrysBeanies website URL address.

About The Author

Barry Stein has been a Beanie Baby dealer since 1997. You can visit his website at http://BarrysBeanies.com/, where he sells Beanie Babies retail and wholesale.

There are multitudes of ways to purchase used clothing for your baby. In this article I will cover only the online options available in the hopes that it will help you to maximize your spending money with the least amount of hassle, stress or risk. I hope to cover some of the key issues of buying used clothes online such as private sales versus online stores, the use of PayPal and other forms of payment, purchasing through ebay and non-ebay auctions or non-auctions alike, online classifieds and more all in the hopes that you will benefit from some of the things Ive learned and avoid the mistakes that I as well as others have made.
First of all lets talk a bit about where to find used baby clothes online from private sellers. There are some areas on the web which allow you to post used clothing ads such as ebay and classified sites. Some classified or "for sale" sites are even specialized in either family or baby related items. Ebay, for those of us who are familiar but not necessarily all knowing about it, is a giant online auction with items being posted constantly in all possible fields and topics. Those selling can choose to list their items in an auction format in which the skys the limit. Bids can start as low as one penny or they can choose to invite people to purchase the items out right by using a buy now feature in which they set a price for their items. As a general rule the buyer pays all shipping costs on top of the selling price and most payments are made through PayPal, which I will cover later.
Baby clothing on ebay tends to be mostly new with or without tags attached and is either sold in batches of items known as "lots" grouped by gender and size or individually as outfits. Since I am focusing on used baby items lets discuss those. Batches of baby clothing on ebay tend to get bid very high as there is a seemingly large number of people wanting to buy in this way and very few meeting the demand. I have found that items and batches of clothing of any note on ebay tend to sky rocket in price above what is reasonable for used clothing -- particularly if they toss in a few name brands such as Gap, Osh Kosh, Gymboree etc... and more often than not a bidding war ensues and you are inevitably outbid or worse you get caught up and spend more than youd originally expected for items you havent even seen and have no quality guarantee!
Auction and classified or selling sites other than ebay can be very chancy -- since ebay is established it has the ability to set down rules which keep most dishonest people out while the smaller sights havent the same pull with those posting. Quite often these sites this doesnt really apply to local purchasing are riddled with people who are no longer allowed to post on ebay for one reason or another. I have had experiences myself in which items promised ended up being fewer than what Id paid for and set a price based entirely on quantity! I cant tell you how upset that made me, and what was worse -- I was informed that three of the items had small stains when in truth about 50 fell into the stained category. So what had originally been a good deal turned out to be very disappointing!
There are of course no guarantees with a private seller, no return policy or customer service after the sale is closed and once the sale is complete you must find a new seller down the road when you need clothing again and you run the risks of stumbling across a swindle or a sour deal every time.
One rule to follow in all private sales is to use a traceable method of payment like PayPal. PayPal is a third party which will ensure payment and receipt of product from both parties. Do not use Western Union in any online transactions, or any other non traceable forms of payment! There is no guarantee youll ever get the items you paid for when you use this method as it is meant to be untraceable!
So now lets discuss the second option of buying used baby clothes online -- the non private sellers or online used baby clothing stores. There are over 50 stores currently running online who specialize in selling used baby clothing. As with all things online there are stores which are shabbily run due to poor web design skills and such to no fault on the part of the store, they just dont have the skills to make the process simple and enjoyable for you. They have great items and competitive prices and if you dont mind a little extra effort when placing an order they do have more security than the average private seller -- especially since you know where they are going to be when you need them. There are a handful of sites which are a little better for service - for example you do not need to email them detailed descriptions of the items youd like, mail them a money order or some such and then wait for them to receive it before they even send you the items these sites often have PayPal as an option and some even have shopping carts if a little confusing to use. There are an even smaller number of high service sights who offer credit card payment options, low shipping costs and things similar to those offered by online stores in general. Quite a few of all three levels of sites have quality guarantees for a week or so after youve received your order -- one even offers a full year quality guarantee! This ensures that the items you buy from them have been inspected thoroughly by people who have a more universal understanding of the words "in great condition" and it is in their best interest to satisfy as they ideally would like you to come back and tell others! Shopping with these stores can be fun and you can save tons while getting the quality you are looking for!
Should you choose the more dangerous route of shopping through private sellers with ebay and non ebay sites please take care and remember to never use a non traceable form of payment, dont be afraid to ask numerous questions -- if something seems off in their responses trust your gut -- there will always be another seller. Should you choose to explore the option of purchasing through an online used baby clothing store I wish you all the fun of shopping for baby clothes at bargain prices doesnt that mean you can buy even more! with none of the hassle or risks associated with private sellers and the added benfit of quality guarantees! Happy Shopping! I will cover more on this issue in later posts.

About The Author

Sharlene Rollins owns and operates a unique second hand online store www.gentlylovedclothing.com. Her email address is shar@gentlylovedclothing.com.

Writing good sales copy is not an art, it is a science. There is no reason to get creative here. You want to follow the formula that has been proven to work.
Nevertheless, I am always surprised at how many sales letters on the internet can be improved upon.
Here are a list of some helpful tips when writing your own sales copy:

Make your Unique Selling Point USP very clear. Separate yourself from your competition. What is it that makes your product stand out from the other

Shop at a flea market in Oaxaca, Mexico. Trade with a vendor in London, England. Or sport your wares to collectors in Geneva, Switzerland. You can virtually do just that when you shop or sell goods at an online auction site. You know those global auction Web sites, the ones that allow you to bid on thousands of items against millions of other competitors. Sure, they allow you to expand your world and uncover cool knickknacks from around the world. But these very same sites also open the door to you getting ripped off by someone four thousand miles away. More than 8 billion dollars were spent on auction sites in the last three months of last year, but how many dollars were lost along the way
Aside from these global auction sites, there are the LOCAL classified sites that are transforming the Web into the spot for neighborhood shopping. These local classified sites offer convenience, selection, and low prices that would expect to find online, along with the safety and privacy of local shopping. Best of all, you can feel good about buying from--and also selling to--your neighbors.
Wheel and deal on collectibles, vintage clothing, sporting goods, even real estate-all with people you know and trust in the comfort and privacy of your living room or study. The benefits of these local classified sites dont stop with these intangibles. They have concrete advantages, such as:
Spontaneous delivery.
Package deliver in your neighborhood may not be instantaneous, but you definitely wont have to wait two to six weeks if you buy something locally.
What shipping
You can agree to drop off or pick up the sale item at one of your homes, or meet at a convenient middle-of-the-road spot. You also wont need to worry about finding those shipping peanuts under your couch, your sheets, and in your fridge two months later.
No frazzle.
Tracking codes are supposed to help you locate your packages in transit, but sometimes they can be more of a headache-especially when they dont help find your lost package.
A friendly face.
Local classified sites let you meet the person whom youre doing business with. Of course, you control if, when, and where this happens.
The test drive.
Whether youre dealing with a car, a mattress, or a tennis racket, you can actually touch and try out your item before you put down cold hard cash. For sellers with product as promised, that makes closing the deal that much easier.
Simple switcheroos.
Local shopping opens up the possibility of refunds and exchanges if you and the person youre doing business agree.
More ample assortment than auctions.
Imagine buying a refrigerator or a couch at an auction site. Then imagine receiving that package at your door! Not very realistic, right These sorts of purchases and sales, though, become a definite possibility with local online classifieds.
No tax tests.
You open a can of worms buying and selling across national and international borders when it comes to taxes. Who owes what And whom Local commerce simplifies the whole issue, if taxes are applicable at all.
A step ahead of scams.
Knowing whom you do business with, face-to-face transactions, simpler lines of communication-these qualities of local classified sites all reduce your risk of getting with shysters and scam artists.
A stronger community.
Shopping around your hometown not only gives you a warm, cuddly sense of community. It also provides the practical economic support that keeps communities and businesses vibrant and healthy.
So there you have it. There are no losers when it comes to online classified sites that allow you to do your shopping locally. Buyers and sellers enjoy an old-fashioned sense of community, while enjoying the high-tech benefits of convenience, safety, and comfort that come with Web shopping. Let those auction risk takers have their Oaxaca, London, and Geneva. Youve got your Houston, Texas

About The Author

Donald Lee is the public relationship manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. Please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds.

Online auctions are big business. But they can be big headaches.
During the past year, trading in online commerce was valued at $60 billion, according to *Business Standard.