Krazy Coupon Lady

The first article I ever wrote with my own byline was on Krazy Coupon Lady. It was an article discussing 3 ways to switch up your wardrobe without spending the Benjamins. I have included the text below, but it's owned by Krazy Coupon Lady. 

I’ve always been an extremely frugal person. Every time I consider purchasing the latest and greatest thing, I always consider the cost, the pros and cons to owning it, and how much I really want it. In college, I started being extra careful with my money. As a huge fashionista, I’ve been a frequenter of thrift stores, but many girls had the same idea when I was in school. I needed a new way to get fabulous clothes on the cheap. I took to the Internet and found some of the best websites that allow you to do just that!

1. Rehash Clothes

The first platform I encountered was Rehash Clothes. It’s a very tight-knit community that allows you to interact with fellow members and engage in discussions related to both fashion and everyday life. The vibe was great, so I signed up.

Here’s the 411 on Rehash:

• Money absolutely cannot change hands, you may only trade.
• Every item has a description, pictures, and condition of clothing—including shoes and accessories.
• You’re given more information such as the fit, how it lays on the body or what the material actually feels like.
• If you want to trade, simply send a request. The seller will be able to negotiate, accept, or reject your offer.
• If the offer is accepted, all you need to do is head to the post office!

I’ve found this website to be extremely fun to peruse. You can search for something specific like “D&G bag” or just “shirt.” On the other hand, you can browse everything that’s available for trade on the site. Both features are a great way to bolster your closet. Through my multiple trades, I’ve learned that the best way to trade with someone on the site is through a multi or “bulk” trade. This is by far the most cost-effective to you and you will receive more bang for your buck!

2. Poshmark

After spending a great deal of time on Rehash, I found Poshmark.

What you need to know about Poshmark:

• This website is different in that you can buy, sell or trade.
• You must post pictures and a description of each item.
• You can place a selling price, as well as a shipping price.
• Your Poshmark account is connected to PayPal, so you can withdraw your money whenever you want.
• If you find something you’d like to add to your closet, you can always contact a seller and request a trade in much the same way as Rehash.

I really enjoy the user interface of this website, but I think my favorite thing is that they’ve released an app! If I have a few minutes, I can check on sales and browse any new items that have been listed. I love that I can actually make some money for my gently-used clothing…so I can go buy some new pieces!

3. Listia

Many of the members on Rehash talked about their other favorite website, Listia.

How Listia works:

• It works much like eBay, yet no money is actually exchanged. This auction-style website allows users to bid points to win an item.
• You earn points by putting up your items up for auction. You choose the length of the auction, a starting bid (if you’d like one), a “Get It Now” price, and whether or not the shipping will be free, flat rate or exact shipping.
• Most of the bidding activity occurs within the last 12 hours of the auction, so don’t worry if you’ve posted something expensive and the bids don’t seem to be moving.
• You will have 7 days from the end of the auction to send off your item.
• If you’re interested in only bidding on items, you can choose from one of the many categories, such as arts and crafts, recipes, clothing, and health & beauty—yes, this website isn’t just for clothes!
• You don’t just have to post auctions to get points. You can also answer surveys or complete tasks.

I’ve found that clearing out my closet is much easier when I know I’m getting something in return. Sometimes I wait months between bidding on auctions because I want the perfect thing, while other times, I’ll just bid willy-nilly. This website is fantastic for de-cluttering your house and being rewarded in the process. One thing I’ve noticed, however, is that you receive far fewer credits when you list your auction without free shipping. If you’re looking to keep your costs at zero, though, you certainly can make a decent amount of credits with free shipping. Just make sure that you provide fabulous pictures and an extra-detailed description!

This is a guest post by Becca C. from Steamboat Springs, CO.

Check out the original article here!

BMW of Champaign

I've written a slew of articles about vehicles. Here's a sampling of a few I wrote for BMW of Champaign (they own all rights). All articles can be found at www.BMWofChampaign.com

Shuttle Service

We understand how frustrating servicing your vehicle can be. Oftentimes you are stuck sitting in a waiting area for hours or bumming a ride off of a friend. These constant inconveniences just make you more frustrated with having maintenance done on your vehicle. This is exactly why we offer a complimentary shuttle service for all of our customers!

Did your car break down on the day you were planning on shopping for your child’s birthday gift? Not to worry! Our shuttle service will take you to the mall, so you can pick out the perfect present. Your time is extremely valuable, which is why we want to help you in absolutely any way we can.Are you nervous that you may be asking us to go out of our way to drop you off at a specific place? We will drive anywhere within a reasonable distance! Do not worry about requesting a frivolous place like the yoga studio, hair salon or pet food store. We want to make your day run as smoothly as it would have if your car was not in the shop. As long as your desired destination is within a reasonable driving distance, we will be happy to accommodate any request!

At BMW of Champaign in Savoy, Illinois, our shuttle service is nearly on demand! We can pick up and depart at almost any time to help you reach your desired destination. Please remember, though, that we do not do any crazy party busses at night. Keep the timing within reason!

Sitting in a waiting room as your car is fixed can be a boring, hunger-invoking experience. We always have snacks on hand to satiate those hunger pangs. If you dropped your vehicle off before work, snag some food and we can drop you off at your place of business! 

We are here to help you! We love our customers and want to ensure that when someone is out of a vehicle, we are here to assist in absolutely any way possible. Stop into either one of our dealerships today and schedule your next luxury service appointment!

Body Shop

Were you recently in an accident? Have you worried about where to take your vehicle? Have no fear, BMW of Champaign is here! We have an outstanding body shop that can assist you in any of your cosmetic or collision needs. 

We understand that choosing the right body shop can be not only a hassle, but an unnerving process—this is your car, after all! Our body shop has been in business for over 20 years and has continued to produce incredible results on any vehicle that has come into our shop. If you are still unsure of choosing our business, not to worry, as we offer free estimates any time you visit! We strive to ensure a clean business practice and a smooth experience for all of our customers.

You may not drive a BMW, but that is not an issue in our eyes! We repair every make and model on the market. If you drive it, we can fix it! When your car is damaged, we understand how important it is for it to be up and running in a timely manner. That is why we will work with all insurance companies and guarantee that we can mend your vehicle!

While we do repair every make and model on the market, we specialize in foreign models. BMW are certainly at the top of our list, but other makes such as Hyundai, Toyota and Audi are also frequently fixed in our shop. Do not fret, though, if your vehicle is not foreign we will repair it in the best manner possible!

Our body shop is 100% PPG Certified. This means that we must fulfill a stringent quality requirement that always complies with the absolute highest standards in the automotive industry. The certification assures our customers that we do our best to meet these conditions in our work procedures, training, equipment and the environment. Our employees must possess expertise in the latest technology for the industry to receive this prestigious recognition.

At BMW of Champaign, we feel that not one, but two certifications are necessary to ensure the best quality work for our customers! We also possess recognition from I-CAR, also known as the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. This coalition aims to advance the auto body repair industry’s vast knowledge base through development and technical training. Additionally, I-CAR supports dialogue amongst member groups to encourage the spread of new techniques and ideas. This educational boost is imperative to a body shop’s ability to successfully repair any vehicle on the market.

If you are in need of a body shop, BMW of Champaign provide an incredibly well-ran business, as well as an amazing track record of vehicular repairs. Our extensive know-how is unbeaten in Central Illinois! We promise we will fix all of your car woes!

Here We Go....

I've always dreamed of being an entrepreneur. My favorite book as a child was called Better Than a Lemonade Stand, wherein it provided ideas for kids to start a business outside of the typical lemonade stand. I was constantly coming up with new business plans, going door-to-door with my latest product, and asking my Mom for a bit of startup funds.

College was well spent as a Philosophy major and Entrepreneurship minor (eh? eh?). I learned the necessary pieces to starting a hopefully successful business. Since my graduation in 2012 *gasp* (I know, I'm so old!) I'd toyed with a lot of business ideas, but had yet to strike gold. Then it struck me like a pigeon dropping a bomb on my head: freelancing.

It's too perfect. Not only is my time and effort directly reflected in my work, I'm in charge of my own schedule and dress code. I mean it's a literal win-win situation for me personally. I really enjoy working, but I always dreaded having a boss micromanaging, or attempting to butt in on a perfectly managed project. Freelancing will provide me with the ability to create my own destiny on my own time. I will be blogging to keep up on my writing skills and to share any great articles I have published. Cheers!