Thrift, Frugality, and Side Hustles-Not So Much
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I'm trying to be careful with money. There's enough needs to spend money on and not needs, but social expectations (baby gifts, work lunches family birthdays, holidays) that stretch my wallet and check book. I'd like to figure out how to keep more of my take home while still managing life via being extra savvy and maybe getting a bit of extra spending power through other means. The side hustle opportunities are sparse these days it seems.
I tried Thred-Up. That's the business that sends you a collection bag for gently warn garments and they resell online. They take a flat fee and a certain amount per item sold, you get the rest. I sent at least 20 what I thought were great items. Half sold, but I didn't even get to the minimum flat fee of $14.99. I was shocked that an item that sold for $20, resulted in only about $3 for me. That was the best one. My experience it seems was typical. I should have looked at a few forums on resell companies before using. But, the stuff was purged from my house and it didn't cost me anything. I don't think I have the interest in pursuing other resale methods but kudos to those of you who have great resale businesses.
I've starting doing the Microsoft Rewards again. Wow, it takes a lot of playing to get a $25 gift card. Where I used to get one every few months, I bet it'll be summer again before I can cash in points to get to the needed amount. Still, it's a bit of fun that costs me nothing. I have to look at it that way. I used the last earned card towards a baby gift.
Fetch has been changing up how many points are needed for gift cards. The big earnings are on name brand stuff, of which I buy very little. Everyone I know already has an account so the referral points have been a bust. Still, if you're one of the few not yet signed up, feel free to use my referral code.
Come save money on Fetch with me! Sign up w/ code DXREDD & get 2,000 pts: https://referral.fetch.com/vvv3/referraltext?code=DXREDD . See you there! 😁 It might get you nothing but camaraderie.
I guess I'm more a thrifty shopper kind of gal than a side hustle kind of gal to help my overall budget and saving plan. Though, I had a couple wins.
- Completed another Opinion Survey for a $5 gift card
- Completed the Wellness plan through work to get copays reduced by $60 for the year. I'm not sure how that will apply post retirement but I'll accept any relief.
Bailey sends the clothes she gets for free to Thred Up or clothes she gets inexpensively such as bag sales like $5 a bag and will ship them whole boxes of clothes then she saves all her earnings for Torrid gift cards where she buys herself new clothes. It’s not the best money maker but by giving them all the stuff she gets for free it makes it worth her time. Me, I would have been disappointed in only getting $3 for an item they sold for $20.
ReplyDeleteYou’re so right about Microsoft Rewards taking a long time to earn now. I stopped doing it for that reason.
I also do Fetch Rewards, but like you, don’t buy name brand very often, so it will take a long time to cash out.
I've decided MS Rewards is just daily trivia fun, so then not disappointed.
DeleteThat is a great way to look at it, Sam.
DeleteIs there a resell store there that buys outright? We have a chain called Uptown Cheapskate.
ReplyDeleteI'm zero good at chasing all these cash back programs. I use my Cap One CC for every possible purchase or bill (that doesn't tack on a fee for it) and I can use my points however I choose (I usually redeem travel).
Happy Sunday :-)
I'm not sure. With moving to retirement I doubt I'll have many resellable items. I like what I like to wear and will repeat. The consignment want pristine items. My cc gets me good points so I took use when it's no fee charges.i used points to buy out new TV before the Olympics after ours crashed plus got a weekend get away hotel and brewery tour with my sister's. I'm saving points now to defer a planned trip next November.
DeleteI've found a couple of sites that *may* be interesting. I can shoot you a referral if you're interested in doing user studies. I signed up yesterday & my power company asked me to join one that pays $125. So, it *so far* looks legit. I just pulled my side hustle numbers today & I was surprised by how much I made in 2024. Of course, I sold some jewelry, and that was 1/3 of the total for the year, I think. I'm spending some time exploring all of the various options, as I continue to look for an actual job, so I'll share any learnings! (Hawaii Planner)
ReplyDeleteYes please. I figure if it takes no time away from other things worth a try.
DeleteOh, and you use iBotta? I find it similar to Fetch on the name brand items (I rarely buy), although my favorite part is the CVS cash back. It's just a straight cash back, as long as you click the offer ahead of time. They also occasionally have generic "upload a receipt" type deals for $.25. Here's how I use it. I had to go to BevMo on Wednesday to pick up a few items for pomegranate martinis. I bought what i needed without reference to iBotta. When I got in the car, I did a quick check for the two liquor types I purchase & there was a cash back offer for $6. Clicked the offer, then uploaded the receipt. "earned" $6 for no extra effort on my part. I also like that iBotta allows you to cash out via paypal, so it's not a gift card. (Hawaii Planner)
ReplyDeleteI never got to enough points before they expired so stopped Ibotta. Without teens or college kids, just it enough money makers.
DeleteI'm sorry you didn't get much for thred up. Some of those cash back things aren't worth the trouble for me either. I tried Ibotta for a while, but most were for things that I didn't usually buy. I'm more of a thrifty shopper too. I will clip the digital coupons for Kroger and other grocery stores which saves a bit plus they give me fuel points on gas. Belinda mentioned a sale on Hulu for .99/month, so I think that I will get that since we enjoy watching "only murders in the building" and some other shows on there so that is cheap entertainment for a month. But I think you have to consider how much your time is worth vs how much you get back.
ReplyDeleteMy only tip on iBotta is that they have a standing CVS cash back offer. If you shop there, it's probably worth it. You just upload your receipt & you get the cash back. It's pretty straight forward. (Hawaii Planner)
DeleteI think my time learning to garden and cook more whole foods will serve me better. I'm amazed at the cost of a good load of bread when I can make a huge loaf of no knead bread for under $1.
DeleteYep as to Thred Up experience. I tried it once with some gifted really nice clothes and got back, oh, maybe (maybe) $4.00. I dont do the iBotta and Fetch apps for lots of reasons including my not participating in the app world (intentionally, that is). I do use Kroger digital coupons when it fits what I am buying and I have a CVS card so pick up rewards that way (I do a lot of my dad's CVS purchases, so rewards build up through that). I'm with you, Sam: finding ways to save $$ by what I make, grow, bake, at home.
ReplyDeleteI do well every so often with freebies at CVS. I used to at Target but I m there seldom now because my office and home are not near one.
DeleteSo here is how I see side hustles. They have to be low energy. I use MS Rewards to get a lot of my news in the morning. Some of the other things I have in Other income for 2024 are window washing, class action lawsuits, Swagbucks, cosignment payout (this is a small local store,) Ebay, Extra Care Bucks, and gold. I have a couple ladies that I wash windows for usually in May. I have also watered their flowers and pet sat in the past, both of these are not low energy. Class action lawsuit speak for themselves. However I got a settlement for my car that extended its warranty and it isn't in my total. I take things to the cosignment shop twice a year and get a payout for anything they sell. I did send 2 boxes to Thred Up and made less than you did; but it still makes me feel better than taking it to Goodwill. I dropped out of the monthly club and was still able to get Extra Care bucks savings. Right now it is 47 compared to 184 last year. BUT I still have enough Aveeno lotion for the next 3 years. Finally I had a small amount of gold that I sodl this year. IT is broken jewerly because I can be hard on my standard jewerly. I wear it like a uniform. I also have a plain Citizens eco drive watch which I have purchased 4 times. It still makes sense. But gold is high and I got $86 from it. In the past I use these things to declutter and try not to over think it.
ReplyDeleteI had a return from a class action suit...14¢. No kidding, that was the check!!
DeleteYes it is hard, yet I have confidence you will manage through.
ReplyDelete