Spring Break
Makin' the dough
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
10/02/08 - With prices going up for almost everything in sight, people have been desperate to make a quick buck. Luckily for college students, places like Craigslist and eBay exist.
Almost everyone has junk lying around the house, whether it be a couple of old paperbacks or clothes you've had since 2004.
You might think that no one would like that ugly desk lamp your mom bought for you as a freshman, but as they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Though there are more adults and businesses on Facebook than ever, the social networking forum is still made up of mostly students. This makes places like the Marketplace on Facebook a better alternative for students wanting to make a profit.
On the flip side, students who are looking for cheap textbooks and a deal on an old Coach bag are more likely to find what they're looking for at the Marketplace.
Facebook also makes the exchange of product and payment easier; a student who's living in Aldrich Hall can easily find another student from Browning Hall who is selling a Boston Red Sox blanket.
The only downfall to the Marketplace, along with forums like Craigslist and eBay, is that they are sometimes infiltrated by scams. People will send e-mails in regards to a posting and offer a fake money order or check.
It's important to read each forums' warnings carefully before proceeding with a post. If students feel uncomfortable posting online, there are safer alternatives.
There are plenty of thrift shops and consignment stores in South County where students can make a profit. Although Ancora doesn't have a home in the Kingston Emporium anymore, there are plenty of other places in South County that will take your clothes, and some will even take your furniture.
Consignment shops are places where you can bring old clothes and furniture that are in relatively good shape and sell them through the shop for a discounted price. Policies differ among each store but after a certain period of time, the price can be marked down. But it can add up.
Places like One More Time and Consignment, Ltd. in Wakefield are just a few spots to mention. The drawback of consignment is that a store can decide not to put something up for sale because of its label or product type. Craigslist and eBay may be the only places you can sell your old trac-phone for $10.
So instead of constantly running up the bill on the plastic, try a thrift store down the road. You never know what you may find.
Almost everyone has junk lying around the house, whether it be a couple of old paperbacks or clothes you've had since 2004.
You might think that no one would like that ugly desk lamp your mom bought for you as a freshman, but as they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Though there are more adults and businesses on Facebook than ever, the social networking forum is still made up of mostly students. This makes places like the Marketplace on Facebook a better alternative for students wanting to make a profit.
On the flip side, students who are looking for cheap textbooks and a deal on an old Coach bag are more likely to find what they're looking for at the Marketplace.
Facebook also makes the exchange of product and payment easier; a student who's living in Aldrich Hall can easily find another student from Browning Hall who is selling a Boston Red Sox blanket.
The only downfall to the Marketplace, along with forums like Craigslist and eBay, is that they are sometimes infiltrated by scams. People will send e-mails in regards to a posting and offer a fake money order or check.
It's important to read each forums' warnings carefully before proceeding with a post. If students feel uncomfortable posting online, there are safer alternatives.
There are plenty of thrift shops and consignment stores in South County where students can make a profit. Although Ancora doesn't have a home in the Kingston Emporium anymore, there are plenty of other places in South County that will take your clothes, and some will even take your furniture.
Consignment shops are places where you can bring old clothes and furniture that are in relatively good shape and sell them through the shop for a discounted price. Policies differ among each store but after a certain period of time, the price can be marked down. But it can add up.
Places like One More Time and Consignment, Ltd. in Wakefield are just a few spots to mention. The drawback of consignment is that a store can decide not to put something up for sale because of its label or product type. Craigslist and eBay may be the only places you can sell your old trac-phone for $10.
So instead of constantly running up the bill on the plastic, try a thrift store down the road. You never know what you may find.
