How to Save Big Money with Auctions

Volumes have been written about how to make big money with auctions. I should know. I've written quite a few articles on the topic.

Most people want to improve their monthly cash flow, but not everyone wants to sell stuff at auctions.

That's cool. You can use auctions to save a bunch of money, too. And since a penny saved is a penny earned, saving money at auctions is equal to making money at auctions (without the tax implications).

So if you don't want to sell stuff at auctions, don't worry. Here are a few ways you can use auctions save money:

eBay. If you're reading this article, then you have access to the Internet. That's good (mainly because eBay isn't available off-line). eBay's commercials are pretty truthful - you can get darn near anything you want on this auction super-site. If you bid low and are a little lucky, you can nab some great stuff on the cheap. Before you bid, however, make sure you check out the shipping costs (I bought a raft for $1...plus $29.95 shipping and handling - even though it was being shipped from just two towns over). You can save even more money by purchasing wholesale lots of the items you need. Get some friends and relatives to chip in with you and share the savings with your loved ones.

4H livestock auctions. 4H is a wonderful organization. It teaches responsibility and work ethic to youth. Most 4H chapters are (in part or in whole) centered on agriculture. As a result, many kids raise livestock for their annual fairs. Children get a chance to win awards for their animals, then, in most cases, the animals are auctioned off. This is where you can get tons of meat for very low prices per pound. To make the most of 4H auctions, you should have a stand-up freezer and someone else to share the expense. Every year, a friend and I purchase a cow at auction and, even after transporting the bovine to slaughter and cut up, we still pay nearly 75% less per pound than the beef sold at our local grocery store.

Foreclosure and impound auctions. It's a sad fact of life: sometimes bad financial things happen - even to good people. When this happens, their possessions are often repossessed and sold at auctions. While it's tragic that this happens to people, it can be beneficial to those looking for deals. Check the web for information your town's auctions. In many cities, auto auctions are held monthly. Most cities also hold auctions for unclaimed property on a semi-regular basis. Banks can also provide information on land and auto auctions.

So don't just look at auctions as a way to make money - they're great ways to save wads of cash, too! After all - a penny saved is a penny earned.