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In the past six years, I've joined those who are making money on EBay without spending a dime. A few years ago, we were downsizing and trying to sell our home. It was a great way to get rid of things I wasn't using, and I earned a lot more than I would have in a garage sale. It's a great way to reach people all over the world who might be looking for that one thing you no longer need. I've sold some of the craziest things, including a kneeling chair, a set of Charlie the Tuna glasses, part of a box of Crest Whitestrips, clothing purchased at Goodwill, and a digital camera that no longer worked. Of course I disclosed that the camera didn't work, but the best part about it was that the charging station and battery came with it. I've shipped all over the United States and even shipped a sterling silver and leather belt to Italy.

If you don't have an eBay account, the first thing you need to do is set one up. It's simple and doesn't cost anything. The next thing is to set up a PayPal account. This is the way you will conduct your transactions with your customers, and is also a great way to handle shipping your item once it is sold.

Here's how I did it:

1. First time around, I went through closets and pulled out things I was no longer using. Believe me, there's nothing too strange or unusual to consider. Remember that one man's trash is another man's treasure.

2. I put all of those items in an area that was specifically for the purpose of listing. At the time, I did any necessary cleaning or polishing.

3. I set up a table against a blank wall and put a cloth over it so I'd have a nice area for photos.

4. One by one, I took digital pictures of each item I wanted to list and then cropped them where I could so that they would show the best detail.

6. With pictures ready, it was time to start listing. This is where it really got to be fun. When listing a pair of cowboy boots recently, I wrote about how much I loved these boots, but over the years, they had just gotten too tight. I wondered if the extra ten pounds I'd gained had all gone to my feet! The creativity is what sets your item apart from the others.

7. Be sure that you set your price so it will entice others to bid. People won't mind paying $10 for an item, but they don't want to start the bidding at $10. I recently sold a book for $10 that I listed at $.01. One cent! Another book started at a penny and only went to a dollar, but that's okay. All I wanted was to get that book off my shelf! I passed on a great cookbook to someone else who wanted it, and I'm sure they're thrilled that they got such a bargain.

8. Realize that there are fees involved. EBay charges you for listing the item whether it sells or not. There is also a fee based on the selling price. Then there are PayPal fees, too. The "shipping and handling" fee that you add to your item will cover these extra expenses.

With today's economy, EBay seems to be the perfect solution for a lot of us. It may not be the best time to move, but if you're feeling crowded, take a look around you and see if you're requiring more space because you've filled up what you have with a bunch of stuff you don't need. Is your house a place to store stuff or to enjoy life? If you are moving, or plan to move, it's a great time to get rid of things before you have to pack them.

I have a very good friend whose husband lost his job several months ago. They had some money in savings that got them by for awhile, but eventually it ran out. She started looking around the house for things they didn't need or use. Things that could be returned to stores were returned for store credit. Some of those stores sold groceries and gas, so those returned items were turned into consumable goods for them at a time they really needed it. The next thing she did was start listing on EBay. She sold an entertainment center and a computer desk. Both items were fairly large ticket items and were enough to provide for groceries for the next few weeks.

This is a great time of year to make the most of EBay. With the holidays rapidly approaching, people are searching for unique items. With people scared of the economy, they want to find the best value for their money. Others are wanting to create some cash to help cover holiday expenses. EBay is the best way to connect the buyer with the seller, and this is a great time of year to do it.

It wouldn't be fair to not mention Craigslist as another way to sell your items. I have sold quite a few things on Craigslist, too, but generally heavier items that would be almost impossible to ship. One thing to remember there is that this is not an auction. You list the price you want, and more often than not, people will try to deal with you! I sold my iPaq on Craigslist and after spending an hour explaining how it worked to the interested buyer, he asked if I'd take $100 instead of the advertised $200. My answer was an "absolutely not." I was very clear in talking to the next interested party that there would be no negotiating, and if he wasn't willing to pay the asking price, not to bother to come by. One disadvantage to Craigslist, as I see it, is that people do come to your home. Just be careful, and don't arrange for people to come when you are there alone.

My days of having garage sales are over. I've never had a garage sale that netted out enough money to cover the time I spent marking items, putting out signs, setting up tables, sitting outside all day, and dealing with customers who didn't want to pay more than about a quarter for anything. The internet is such a wonderful way to open doors to the world, and allow you to toss your goods to someone who's just waiting to catch them!