I sold an entire dining room and everything I thought I could live without and don't think I even made $500.

We have now lived in our present house for 12 years. In the past 10 years I have contributed to the annual church garage sale because all I had to do was put things in boxes and let someone else do all the work. It forced me to find things to get rid of and helped the scouts, so I was happy to do it.

Then someone introduced me to eBay. I have a pig cookie jar that was given to my parents when I was born, so I decided to do a search on "pig cookie jar." I couldn't believe it when my own little pig showed up in an auction for about $100. I printed off the information and tucked it inside the pig so that my kids would not NOT to throw it away after my funeral!

I recently reviewed a program to help people reduce their debt and find "multiple income streams," at home. The first thing they discussed was selling on eBay. They recommend that you start out by elminating unwanted things you have at home and discovering your niche.

Maybe you're into computers or antique glassware. Find out where your interests lie and earn money on it from home.

Advantages to eBay include:

• listing your items 24/7
• ability to reach the world and not just your neighborhood
• getting more than a quarter for each item
• not having to wrestle with your kids
• not having to haggle
• not having to make change!

• a kneeling chair that was bought for me by an employer. When our office closed, they told me to just take it home. I got $90 for it on eBay and the buyer paid another $30 shipping.
• silver and leather belt I hadn't worn in years. Shipped it to a buyer in Italy who paid more for the shipping than the belt.
• a pair of new golf shoes that had to have the dust wiped off the box before shipping.
• McDonalds collectibles that were just pieces of sets. I was happy to help someone else add to their collection.
• computer software that had become outdated for me, but found a new home with someone who was searching for it.
• jean jackets I couldn't fit into anymore!
• golf clubs and bags that weren't being used
• designer handbags that cost way too much originally to just be given away.
• children's clothing that were gently used and came from a smoke-free home.
• backpack luggage that never quite made it to that trip to Germany (neither did I!)
• books, videos, DVDs that were no longer being used but taking up space.
• cameras that didn't work but were purchased by someone who either knew how to repair them or used them for parts.
• exercise programs & equipment that I had become boring brought almost the original price.

It's important to have a digital camera so you can take pictures of your items, and it's equally important to give an accurate description. If it doesn't work, be honest about it. Your reputation on eBay is what is important. When you win an auction, you pay for it and you expect to receive what you bid on. When you sell, you expect your buyer to pay. It's a system built on trust among fellow eBayers.

If you've never used eBay before, what's holding you back? It doesn't cost you anything to set up an account. Go to www.ebay.com and find the link to get started.

You'll also need to set up a PayPal account to be able to collect money from your buyers, but it's free, too! It couldn't be easier.

Take the time to browse the eBay site and learn all you can. See what's selling and what's not. Look up some of your own things and see if other people are selling anything comparable. The search bar makes it very simple.

I've been able to get rid of my credit card and am now using a PayPal debit card that is funded by these eBay sales. When I want extra money for something, I look around and see what I can sell. It's become a game with me but it's a great way to put things in perspective.

What are you willing to part with to reach a goal? I may like owning a particular item, but if selling it is going to allow me to do something else, I'm usually willing to make the sacrifice.

About the Author
Joyce is a freelance writer and owner of Emerson Publications. She publishes the Family First newsletter weekly and has opportunities for others to work at home. Visit her website for more information.

Related Resources:

Bizy's Guide To: Making Money With Online Auctions
For Beginner Auctioneers
By Colleen Wallace

Everyone enjoys going to flea markets and experiencing the thrill of finding treasures, haggling with the dealer to get the best price, and going home to find the right spot for the purchase. Have you ever wanted to be selling instead of buying, but did not want to have to sit in the hot sun all day? Do you have items in your garage, basement, or attic that you want to sell but do not have the time or energy to have a garage sale? Let's face it—having a garage sale is hard work and most of the time we worry that we do not have enough items for a successful garage sale. With the birth of Online Auctions, you can sell those items. Better yet, you can sell as much or as little as you want and chances are you will sell your stuff at a better price. The amount of stuff you have is not as important as what you have. The great thing about selling on the Online Auctions is that you can decide how much time you wish to spend selling your items.

Bizy's Guide To: Your Online Auction Business - Advanced Tips to Become an Experienced Seller
For Experienced Auctioneers
By Valerie Lemke

Do you see other auctions that look much more professional than your own? Do you wish that you had the skills and knowledge to do the same with your own listings? Would you like to know the tips and secrets of the veteran online auction seller? Then, it sounds like you are ready for the next step. Whether you want this to be a full-time or a part-time business, this book can help you to succeed!

How To Start Your Online Auction Business for Beginners
Instructor: Valerie Lemke

Are you interested in starting a business in Online Auctions but you don't know how or where to begin? Does the thought of shopping for bargains, and then selling these same items for a nice profit interest you? Have you felt intimidated by the all the experienced sellers on the auction sites, and you are worried because you are a beginner? Well then this is the class for you!!

In this four-week class, you will learn from Valerie's first-hand experience how to start your business from the very beginning. We will go step by step, and by the end of the class you will have an item up for sale, and possibly sold! You will also have all the skills you need to begin your own online auction business!

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How to Buy, Sell, and Profit on eBay : Kick-Start Your Home-Based Business in Just Thirty Days
The field of eBay how-to books is a crowded one, and I've read most of them. This book is one of the best, because it combines lots of practical advice with a motivating personal story.

The author doesn't promise on the back cover that you'll become rich overnight, and that is your first tip-off that this book is for real. Instead, the author says up-front that being a successful seller is hard work -- on eBay or anywhere else. But if you're willing to consider and apply some of the time-tested principles here, you can learn to work *smarter*, not just harder.

I especially liked the way the author told his own personal story -- how he developed his offline work (selling top-quality pool tables) into a successful online business. That is the number-one lesson of this book, in my opinion -- if you're going to be a successful online seller, you've got to start with a passion you already have. Whether it's collecting postcards, pottery, Beatles records, antique furniture -- whatever it is -- that's where you're going to be successful, because that's what you know and love. If you're doing it only to make money (or to quit your day job), it's not going to be fun.

I read this book with the perspective of having been a full-time online seller for five years, so I can say it's definitely not a rehash of the information that's available on eBay's help files and many other places. This book's section on "Tips, Tricks, and Advanced Techniques" can help you take your business to a higher level even if you've been selling for a while.

Also included are sections on getting organized (so you'll know where your sales are coming from) and how to get legitimate tax breaks from running your business.

So this book is a good combination of an inspiring personal story, along with a bunch of good nuts-and-bolts advice for online selling. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

(Review courtesy Steve Weber of Amazon)