All of the Sneaky Money-Saving and Making Ways!

"Hannah, you should really write a book about all your sneaky, money-making ways." 

                           - Several People

I've heard this several times over the last month and a half, so I figured I might as well throw together a little run-down of how I make a little spare cash.

#1 Goodwill 
(And other thrift stores, I suppose)

To locate the location nearest you, click HERE!

I don't care how much money you make - Goodwill should be everyone's best friend. I buy the majority of my clothing from Goodwill as well as housewares, decorating supplies, accessories, and shoes.

To be a winner at the Goodwill Shopping Game, there are some important rules:

1) Know Your Stores

Google the Goodwill's in your area and then visit them all at least once. What I've found is that for some reason, different Goodwill's are best for different types of items you are looking for. For example, I've found the "furniture" Goodwill, the "shoes" Goodwill, and the "sketchy" Goodwill. Figure out where you find the best deals on different things consistently so you know where to look for different items to suit your personal preference. 

2) Know the Sales

Who knew Goodwill had sales, right? They totally do. Inquire about them at a store and pick up a Calendar of Events. For example: At the locations in Lincoln, if you are a student and have an ID on Wednesdays you get 20% off of EVERYTHING YOU BUY. Awesome, right? 

3) DON'T BUY EVERYTHING.

This rule is really important, especially if you are discovering Goodwill for the first time. Just because everything at Goodwill is generally pretty cheap, don't buy a lot just because of the price. You can afford to be snobby - buy quality items. This is especially true for clothing. 

4) Shopping for Clothing

- If it is scuffed, torn, ripped, faded, sweat-stained, too big, too small,  or stretched out - do not buy it, do not try it on, just pretend you never saw it and keep looking.

- Plan to dedicate time to finding clothing. The key to good finds often lies in putting time into going through the racks. Sometimes ALL of them.

- Try on everything you are considering purchasing. If it does not fit  ANYWHERE ON YOUR BODY and you do not know how to easily alter it, I guarantee you will never fix it and therefore never wear it. Not a perfect fit - put it back, leave it there.

- Ask yourself a few questions while trying clothing on:

"Will I wear this more than once?"

"Am I going to regret if I don't buy this?"

"How many outfits can I make using this piece and others I already have?"

"Do I even like this?"

"Am I only buying this for the brand on the label?"

"Does this piece fit into my wardrobe style?"

"Do I actually need this?"

5) Know Risks

Be cautious when buying things that are used. Weigh the risks when purchasing bedding, mattresses  curtains, etc. Let me tell you - bed bugs are not a thing anyone wants to risk. I'm not saying Goodwill's items have bed bugs, but be an informed buyer, just in case.

6) Make Money Back

When you take items to Goodwill to donate, get a receipt and save it for tax deductible time. :)

#2 Plato's Closet

Click HERE for more info!

This is my number one source of cash-back flow. Plato's Closet is a store that buys and sells gently used brand-name clothing. Because most of the clothes I buy from Goodwill are in perfect condition and tend to be higher-end, popular brands, I can wear them a few times and then sell a lot of it back to Plato's Closet. Many times I have made more money selling the clothing back than I actually paid for it at Goodwill.

**This is not always true - PC is a picky, snobby place, so they don't take nearly everything. Be forewarned. If you want to become a millionaire, prepare for heartbreak. 

- Plato's Closet also has punch cards. For each $10 you spend or make selling clothes you earn a punch. When the card is full, you get 20% off.

#3 Free Stuff/Sheer Profit

Okay, I'm giving you insight on the grounds that you don't pass judgement on my money-making ways. A lot of times there are opportunities to make money selling stuff people give away, give to me, etc. for free and then I turn around and sell it for sheer profit through an alternate venue. My most recent trove of treasures came from dorm move-outs.

Every year, the last few days before the dorms close students realize 15 minutes before they have to leave that they have a lot more stuff packed in their room than they remember and don't have the time or space in the car to take it all. So they get rid of a bunch of stuff.

I collected a lot of that and sold it. My running profit total just cleared...$200. So keeping an eye out for those kind of deals can really add up fast!

I use Ebay and Amazon for selling items that Plato's Closet doesn't take. Amazon is my primary venue for selling textbooks and Ebay for clothing. Pay Pal is my best friend - if you are good at navigating the internet this could be the place for you!

My motto at a "real" store (i.e. the mall in general) is if it isn't on sale and isn't a basic piece of clothing, I probably should skip it. But sometimes it's okay to get something just because.

Also, there is no shame in garage sales and shopping clearance. Buying "pre-owned" and "used" items doesn't mean you're poor. It means you are a smart, fiscally responsible person. 

And who doesn't like being a fiscally responsible person?! 

No one. That's who. :)

  

"God Can't Use Me."

I've been a camp counselor out at Manna Resort since I as 13. I've got a lot of years of experience as a counselor and director out there and can say that Manna is the most significant source of impact for my relationship with Christ. Over the years, it has been my most sincere privilege to develop relationships with some incredible young people that have flourished over the years. Throughout the years, I usually receive a handful of messages from those campers seeking advice and/or encouragement, and I thought I would share my response to one of those with you all.

This girl in particular expressed feeling that God was hinting to her that she should apply to be a counselor, but she was telling me that she felt inadequate and like she wouldn't be a 'good Christian counselor." This is part of what I told her:

"Let me tell you how I feel every year when I counsel, and especially when I volunteer to teach and then try and make up a lesson:

"I am such a screw up, who am I to be telling people about God when I'm such a screw up? Who would even listen to me if they REALLY knew me - I'm the LAST person who should be telling anyone about Jesus. People will think I'm a hypocrite. Maybe I should counsel next year....I can clean up my relationship with Jesus and THEN next year I'll be a GOOD counselor."

Sound familiar?

My advice? During my life anytime I've felt like God was nudging me or anything I would do one of two things -
1) Ignore it, tell myself I'm being stupid and making it up.
2) Take a deep breath and jump out in faith that it IS God nudging me and trust that even if I feel scared and inadequate that God will take care of me no matter what.

Anytime I have followed through on those little nudges, GOD HAS BLESSED ME. Sometimes I don't realize it until later, but I urge you that if you feel like God is whispering to you to be a counselor this Summer to apply. I guarantee every counselor comes to Manna feeling inadequate and like a failure - that is Satan trying to keep you away by telling you God can't use you.

Think about the counselors who impact you the most at manna. Why is that? Is it because they were 'perfect Christians?' For me, it was the counselors that were REAL with me. The counselors who were like 'Hey, I'm a screw up. I screw up every day.' And the ones who shared with me those failures and things in their lives that make them feel like that - I have those too. I know about partying and relationships that suck, I've been through the eating disorders, the drugs, the family dysfunction stuff. I'm a messy person.

If you are honest with kids - you don't have to tell them all the dirty details in your life, but admitting to kids how you feel? They can tell you are honest, and they will STILL see Jesus in you.

Kids don't need perfect counselors. They need real people who care about them.

And every year, God has NEVER failed to use me JUST AS I AM.

You'll be amazed what campers will flock to you when you open your heart and are honest.

Love,

Hannah"

This is what I would encourage any of you who are experiencing these nudges to do - whether it's to apply to be a counselor, talk to a friend, examine a relationship you are in, taking a new job, whatever. You might feel like you are jumping blindly, but God never fails to catch you. If you feel inadequate  like you are too much of a failure and a mess for God to use and that if people saw 'the real you' that they would never want anything to do with Christ- that is a lie that Satan is planting in your heart and whispering in your ear. 

God uses all of your circumstances - both the ones you think are good as well as bad. 

You are not what your past has been, or what your current circumstances are - no matter how you feel, you are not worthless.

Interested in experiencing Manna?! It's an awesome place that has camps for the littlest squirts in your households and features Day Camps through High School Seniors who just graduated. Check it out HERE!   http://www.mannaresort.com/wp   OR TWITTER  & FACEBOOK!