For Those Amazing People Who Make Crafts at Home

Christmas is coming up fast. If you make crafts that you want to sell, have you considered selling them online? I’m not talking about eBay. eBay is great, but it’s not for everyone. You may also have heard of Etsy, but Etsy just changed its policies to allow mass-produced goods, and that has scared off many small sellers. Here are four sites that are low-cost for sellers, and could help you make some serious money this Christmas, and all year. Oh, and here’s a hint if you’re looking for a big seller. Last Halloween alone, Americans spent $350 million on pet costumes. If you’re crafty and have a little time on your hands, get sewing and check out these websites.

1. Made-it-myself (http://www.madeitmyself.com/default.aspx). This is one of the most affordable sites, and appears very user friendly. They focus on low-volume sellers.

• Membership is free.
• No listing fees for sellers.
• No limit to the number of items you can list at one time.
• The fee is a flat 3% commission on every sale.
• There’s an optional negotiation tool that lets buyers haggle, but again this is your choice.
• If you do have a website or blog of your own, it’s easy to put a link on with your products. 

There’s also a negotiation tool, which is optional.

• The site will promote items for you if you wish, for 49 cents per product listing.

2. Supermarket (http://www.supermarkethq.com/browse/everything) focuses on unique, high quality products made by individuals or small firms.

• This site vets all sellers, so you’ll need to apply with them, and of course, produce quality goods.
• They operate on commission-only, generally around 10% but the rate is negotiated with each seller.

3. iCraft (http://icraftgifts.com/) The site focuses on fine arts and crafts, so the items you can sell are limited. All items must be handmade, created by the seller, and the items must be new.

• Charges no commission fees.
• The customer base likes specific crafts, like handmade birthday cards or finger puppets, that might be hard to find elsewhere.
• Sellers pay a one-time registration fee of $25.
• Also, there’s a monthly subscription fee based on a seller’s number of products. $5 per month for up to 50 items, $10 for up to 100 items, and $15 for unlimited items.
• Beyond the subscription fees there are no listing fees or commissions on sales.

4. Artfire (artfire.com). Artfire categories sellers by type and size. The pricing model is easy-to-understand.

• You can sell your stuff on commission-only, which allows you 24 active productive listings at a time and costs you 9% per sale (including shipping and processing).
• Or for $10 a month you can pay a lower commission of 6% and 500 listings.
• $20 a month offers a 3% commission and 1,000 listings.
• The website provides sellers a toll-free number for support from an actual human being.

(This information came courtesy of this article: http://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/online-store-and-retail/4-online-marketplaces-to-sell-handicrafts-that-arent-etsy)

Where to Find Low Cost or Free Legal Help
    
Do you know a senior who needs legal help but can’t afford an attorney? There are many sources of low- or no-cost legal help, depending on your financial situation and where you live. Here are four.

1. Legal Aid is available to low income people of all ages. The programs differ by community and will require you to prove your income. Find a program in your area here: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
2. Senior Legal Hotlines can be found in many states and the District of Columbia. This source offers free legal advice over the telephone to persons over age 60. You can find their toll-free phone numbers at legalhotlines.org.
3. Senior Legal Services is through the Administration on Aging. It may offer free or low-cost legal advice, assistance, or access to legal representation for those over 60. You can find out what’s available in your area by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging. Call 800-677-1116 to get the local number.
4. Pro bono help may be available through the American Bar Association at apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm or through lawhelp.org.

If all else fails, your state or local bar association may be able to help you find low or no-cost legal help. Go to this website, americanbar.org and type in “state and local bar associations” in the search field to find their state-by-state directory.

Another alternative is called “unbundled legal services.” This is when you hire an attorney only for part of the work, and do some of it yourself.

Did You Know?

You can get prescription pet medications for less than your vet charges. Many medicines your vet prescribes for your pet are the same as prescriptions for humans, but they cost much less. If you can’t afford the medicine your vet is prescribing, ask the vet to give you a prescription so you can shop for the best price. Ask for the generic version if there is one, and you’ll save even more. Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kmart, Rite Aid and Target fill prescriptions for pets generally for less money, as long as the medicine is also prescribed for pets. Some pharmacies even have pet discount savings programs.

There are also Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, like 1-800-PetMeds (1800petmeds.com), Drs. Foster & Smith (drsfostersmith.com), KV Supply (kvsupply.com), and PetCareRx (petcarerx.com).

But please… do not give your pet medicines meant for people unless your vet says it’s okay.

Birthday Freebies and Freebies Just for Joining

Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to keep these freebies updated. But just to be sure you don’t waste a trip, you might want to check with the restaurant before you go to make sure the deal is still offered. Many of these require that you print a coupon. Just think… if you have a ton of friends or a slew of grandkids, you can treat each one to a freebie on his or her birthday. Every month I post a few birthday freebies. But you can view the whole list here:
http://www.heyitsfree.net/birthday-freebies/

TCBY

http://www.heyitsfree.net/tcby-birthday-freebie/

Signup Freebie: Free waffle cone.

Birthday Freebie: Free small cup of frozen yogurt and $3 off a cake or pie.

Texas Roadhouse

http://www.heyitsfree.net/texas-roadhouse-birthday-freebie/

Signup Freebie: Free appetizer.

Birthday Freebie: Free appetizer or sidekick of ribs.

TGI Fridays

http://www.heyitsfree.net/tgi-fridays-birthday-freebie/

Signup Freebie: Free appetizer or dessert.

Birthday Freebie: Free dessert with purchase of an entree.

Tony Roma’s

http://www.heyitsfree.net/tony-romas-birthday-freebie/

Signup Freebie: Free onion loaf.

Birthday Freebie: Free entree up to $15.99.

Teresa Ambord is a former accountant and Enrolled Agent with the IRS. Now she writes full time from her home, mostly for business, and about family when the inspiration strikes.

Meet Teresa