Time is a precious commodity and those who learn to use theirs wisely will always be ahead of the game this eBay season.
First the bad news. The one thing you can’t do is add more hours to your day. No matter what, it’s just not going to happen.
The good news, you can do certain things to make every precious minute count and in turn leave you with more free time.
Here are some tips to get you through the busy Holiday Season on eBay:
Plan ahead – Don’t go anywhere without a list. Especially if you have the kids with you, you’re more likely to forget something without a list. So, don’t go on your eBay inventory run or shopping trip without a list. Also try to go shopping in the evenings when there are less people in the store. Why waste an hour fighting the crowds when you can be done in 30 minutes. Better yet, do your shopping online. (a personal favorite of mine!)
Meal Plan – If you know you’re going to be busy selling toys on eBay, plan meals for the upcoming week and write your shopping list according to the meals. Make sure you stick the meal plan on the fridge so you can know what foods need to be thawed daily, etc. This will save you a lot of time and money. Services like Dine Without Whine are a great way to stay organized in the meal department. I also love Crock Pot meals, you just fix it and forget it!
Buy in Bulk – If you have the space – plan ahead and buy things in bulk. You’ll save money and precious time by not having to go to the supermarket so often. (my least favorite thing to do!)
Pay Your Bills Electronically – If you can do this then you should. You will save a lot of time by not having to write out and mail checks. If you really can’t or choose not to do this, then set up a work station and keep your checkbook, stamp, envelopes, pens close at hand. You can also have a calendar with all your important dates and appointments written on there. Go a step further and have an inbox for mail and papers that need to be files. You’ll never waste time looking for these things again.
Don’t Let The Housework Pile Up – There’s nothing worst than spending your weekends cleaning, especially if you have a million eBay packages to ship. If you do a little bit each day you won’t ever need to spend a whole day cleaning. For example, do a load of laundry daily rather than letting it all pile up for Saturday, same thing with the vacuuming and other tasks. Once the weekend comes around the house should be fairly organized. You may just have to give the bathroom and kitchen a good clean, leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy your family.
Prime time for me to clean is BEFORE I turn on the computer in the morning. Usually, right after I drop my oldest off at the bus-stop I’ll come home and do one big swoop around the house. Start the dishwasher, bring the laundry to the laundry room. Separate and start the laundry, vacuum and straighten up. THEN, I turn the computer on.
Organize Your Life – Spend a little time organizing your house, the time spent doing this will save you a lot of time and hassle in return. Have a set place for everything. For example, have a place near the front door where you can hang your keys and purse. Don’t forget items like umbrellas, hats, gloves and scarves for those rainy or cold days. Set up storage for the kids toys or all magazines and books. My daughter has a shoe rack and shelves in her closet – it’s just her size and she loves to keep it organized, because it’s her own space!
Hope this helps as you get rolling with the busy eBay season!
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