Jewelry for Under $1 on Ebay! +Auction Tips

Read past my awesome find for tips on buying jewelry at discount prices on eBay!

Once in a while, I like to browse eBay for their jewelry. You can find chic pieces for $0.99 and free shipping ... that's crazy! (Of course, you will probably be waiting a month for it to arrive, but its still worth it!) 

As I was browsing, I came across an auction with about 10 minutes left for this cute leaf necklace. I stuck around and decided to bid. 

At the 30 second mark, two new bids were placed.

With 3 seconds lefts, I placed my bid for $1.24 ... and won the auction for $0.48!!!

Here are some pictures from the auction.

I am hoping the leaf is as cute as it looks. I have bought costume jewelry like this before that didn't look as nice coming out of the box. Fingers crossed!

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Tips

Time to share some tips for getting great buys like this one!

Tip #1

Know how much money you have in your PayPal and know what you are willing to pay. I will rarely pay over $1 for a piece of costume jewelry.

Tip #2

Keep an eye out on other sites to make sure you are getting the best deal. Sites like shopmissa.com and buyincoins.com are two fantastic places to get cute costume jewelry for $0.99 and under.

Tip #3

Browse eBay also to make sure the item you are getting is at the lowest price. Hundreds of re-sellers have the same items.

Tip #4 

Don't be afraid of auctions. If you have the time, auctions will save you plenty of money. (For instance, this same necklace was available as a Buy-It-Now for $0.99)

Tip #5

Always have Free Shipping checked when doing a search. Shipping is an unnecessary expense when buying costume jewelry. (Especially since so many people offer the same items!) The only exception to this might be if you are utilizing Tip #6 and #7: buying multiple items from the same seller. MAYBE.

Tip #6

Keep an eye out for sales. Lots of eBay users will have "Buy 3, get 1 free" sales, etc. If you come across an item like this, check out what other items the seller has to offer!

Tip #7

Combine shipping. Whether you decide to look for free shipping or not, you will save time and money by ordering multiple items from the same seller. The items will be packed together, and most sellers offer combined shipping.

Tip #8

Set a budget. There are so many awesome items that can be found, make sure you aren't over spending. Also keep in mind that PayPal will allow transactions to happen when you don't have money in your account! PayPal will simply pull it from your bank... which also allows it. (I learned the hard way).

Tip #9

Buy only what you will wear. Be sure to buy things in your style and not just because they are cute. (Also guilty)

A lot of the pictures portray the items as larger than they actually are. Make sure you read all the measurements and look at all the pictures. 

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Do you have some awesome tips to share? Put them in the comments!

10 Tips for Driving in Snow

The first snow of the season has snuck up on us here in Idaho! That being said, there are some TERRIBLE drivers made worse by the weather. I am talking about life-endangering idiots who think that a four-wheel drive vehicle means they can gun it on the same road as you and your children are driving on. That's why I decided to offer some tips: to help everyone be a safer driver, whether you are a seasoned snow driver or not.

1. Go slow.

You don't HAVE to go the speed limit. If there is ice on the road or snow blowing across it, slow down. It will give you more time to stop in case you slide, and your sliding won't be as destructive.

2. Be mindful of others.

No, we aren't the only people on the road. Stay focused on the task at hand (driving), and pay close attention to every car around you. Try to avoid trucks that want to go way too fast; they may spin out and endanger you. 

3. Give everyone extra space.

In drivers education, we are taught to leave a car length's space between us and the car ahead of us. Double that when you drive on icy roads in the city. It will also give you more time to stop, in case of a spin-out or if the person in front of you starts to slide.

4. Take the time to warm up your car.

A warm car will help you keep your car in good shape and make it easier to keep your eyes on the road. You shouldn't be rubbing your hands together while trying to drive! If there is snow on the ground, give your vehicle at least 10 minutes of idling to warm up the engine before leaving the house.

5. Keep all windows clear.

This is very important... and required by the state. Use a scraper to clear the snow off of all windows and mirrors. A single snowy window is a blind spot, which can be terrifying in a storm, when trying to pull out in an icy parking lot, or when trying to change lanes. Wear gloves, and scrape!

6. Avoid the roads after dark.

I know this isn't possible for everyone every time. But. When at all possible, leave home or work early. The temperature drops when the sun goes down, and all that melted slouch on the roads will quickly become black ice. Be especially careful and watchful if you are driving after dark.

7. Don't text or accept calls while driving.

First off, you shouldn't be texting and driving ever. When the roads are snowy, don't answer your phone, period. Even a moment of taking your hands off the wheel and your attention from the road can make it so you aren't able to avoid collision with the car ahead of you.

8. Keep the radio on low.

This has to do with staying focused. You will want to be aware of the sounds your car makes, as well as the sounds of cars outside. There could be horns blaring, sirens wailing, crashing of vehicles ... and you didn't hear any of it over the sound of your music. So, please keep the tunes on low! If you have kids in the car, give them a quiet game to play, like Eye-Spy.

9. Always have your defrost on.

The defrost setting in your car sends heat to the windows. It melts the ice so you don't have to scrape it off. It also keeps your windows from fogging up while you drive. Your body produces heat, and having the heater on does, too, but the windows are still cold. The heat will cause the windows to fog up suddenly, which means you won't be able to see where you are going. Don't worry, though. Most cars have an option for defrost and bottom heat.

10. Dress warm.

You never know when you will be in an accident, when you will have to walk 4 blocks to the nearest gas station, or when the heater will go out suddenly on the way home. Hats, scarves, gloves, boots, coat. Don't leave home without them.

Bonus tips! (Because I thought of them AFTER having made the picture)

11. Keep blankets in the car.

Refer to point number ten. Blankets will keep you warm if you have to leave your car. They will also keep your kids warm if they have to stay in the car.

12. Leave 15 minutes earlier than you normally would if there is snow on the ground. You don't want to be in a rush to get to work when you are driving on ice. It's not safe for you or anyone else on the road.

13. Give yourself time to stop.

Normally, you can halt to a stop if you need to. When the roads are snowy, that won't work. Give yourself time to stop slowly, that way you won't be sliding all over the place!