engagement
It’s no surprise that a lot of engagements happen over the holidays – 33%, according to most surveys. In the immediate flurry of euphoria, phone calls, engagement photos, and parties, it’s okay to forget practical things for a few days. When you finally come off Cloud 9 though, check these five items off your pre-wedding to-do list first.

1. Get Your Ring Insured and Re-sized
That dazzling ring isn’t just a sign of your fiancé’s enduring love – it’s an asset. First, get the ring resized if it’s a little loose so you’ll be less likely to lose it. Secondly, get insurance. According to theknot.com, the average ring costs $5,598 (wow, just wow). Even if yours only cost a 10th of that, it’s still worth adding it to either your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance. You’ll need to verify its worth by having it officially appraised. Count on most agencies charging $1-$2 for every $100 the ring is worth.
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working on computer
This is part three of a four-part series. Read part one, Pick What to Sell, and part two, Where to Get Inventory.

Have you ever listed something for sale on eBay, just to have it end at a horribly low price? Or worse, your listing gets not watchers or buyers? Here are just a few tips to increase your listing exposure and drive more potential buyers to your listings. More views, watchers, and bids, means a better chance at making more money.

Know the Search Engine

Sellers were able to manipulate the search engine with the right keywords or titles in the early days of eBay. Other sellers would create multiples of the same listings with different titles and keywords, and they would dominate the search results. eBay upgraded their search engine optimization software, and it is now much smarter. So don’t rely on those shifty pieces of advice, unless you want eBay to flag your account.
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make a wishMany of us make resolutions every new year. Typically about getting a new job, eating healthier, or spending more time with family. They are focused around bettering every aspects of our lives and one that is particularly important is our finances.

The new year is a perfect time to reassess our financial situation and set new goals. However, we tend to think very broadly when we think about what we want to achieve financially in the course of a year. For instance, we want to save more money or spend less. While those are great resolutions to have, they aren’t very specific. If you’re looking to better your finances this year, take a look at these 5 money resolutions that can really have a positive impact:
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make money
Don’t forget to read the first part of the series, Making Even More Money on eBay – Part 1: Picking What to Sell.

Once you decide on your niche, it is time to build up inventory. Sometimes inventory takes a lot of time to track down and find. Be sure to calculate how many hours you spend looking for and buying inventory, to ensure you are not working too many hours for a measly profit. Here are the best places to get your inventory:
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taking moneyMany people turn to eBay to make money, but it can be frustrating when you list several items, only to have none of them sell a week later. You already know the basics of selling on eBay, but how do you make the most money possible?

This four-part series will take you past the basics of eBay selling into the more not so known secrets to making a living off of eBay sales. Here is the line up for the series:

  • Picking What to Sell (This Article)
  • Where to Get Inventory
  • How to Drive More Business to Your Listings
  • How to Inexpensively and Effectively Handle Shipping

Let’s start with the first part of the series – picking what to sell. Most people might start off on eBay just selling old junk they have lying around. That is a great start, but if you want to take your eBay earnings to the next level, you should consider picking a niche or two of things to sell.
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regifting
You’re left with fond memories and probably a few gifts you don’t really want now that that the holidays have past. What do you do with them? Tossing the items out is a waste but they might not be items you can donate. Instead, re-gifting them probably crossed your mind.Is that taboo though? Not at all, if you do it right.

Contrary to popular belief, re-gifting isn’t a ‘faux pas’. In fact, 83% of respondents in a recent survey said they wouldn’t mind receiving a re-gifted gift, so don’t feel guilty about it if you are planning on re-gifting. Still, there is proper etiquette to follow. Here are 5 rules you need to stick by whenever you’re re-gifting:
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