With the world still reeling from the effects of the global economic recession,

Listia – Savings and Recycling

A fantastic website making waves at the moment is Listia which has taken the idea of buying, selling and giving away used items online and refined it to make it better than eBay or Craigslist by making everything free.

Listia works on a system of credits (you receive 400 free) when you sign up, no cash is involved, only credits. The more stuff you give away, the more stuff you can get for free. The idea is to get rid of the stuff you no longer want, like old VHS tapes, cell phones, or toys; and as you give that stuff away on Listia, you get credits. Use those credits to get stuff you want, like a new iphone, video games, or clothes. The entire system is done on a auction basis, which allows people to give their stuff to those who really want it, and not just craigslist people who take everything you set on the curb.

This system effectively cuts out the “bid snipers” and others who bid on multiple items simultaneously as they have nothing to lose.  As soon as a bid is won the credits are deducted directly from the winners account so participants cannot simply cut and run on less attractive items as so often occurs on eBay and other online marketplaces.

If you are really looking to save some money on everyday items and maybe have some old items which are no longer useful to you but could be valuable to someone else, Listia is a website where you can find some unbelievable deals on the everyday things that everyone uses and needs in an infrastructure which protects you from cheats. The great thing about Listia, it will never cost you any more, it’s 100% free to use. If you have something to give away, then you can get something in return.

For more information, here is how Listia works.

The Piggy Bank – one Quarter (or $5) at a Time!

The piggy bank has been a favorite way for children to save money for thousands of years however the simple concept behind them holds up to this day – putting aside your small change into a container which is not easy to access and spend from is a great way to hold onto funds which you might otherwise fitter away.  Try and carry as little cash on you as possible and if you don’t already have one, then get a money jar and put all of your loose change in it whenever possible.  Studies show that we are far more likely to spend small change on things we really don’t need and are much less inclined to break a larger bill without a good reason!

However a dollar isn’t worth what it used to!  In order to really maximize your savings why not set aside every $5 bill?  $5 is now the amount which people are willing to break and waste so try taking each one and putting it into an envelope for savings.  At the end of the month deposit it into your account and you will quickly see the money begin to add up.

Transfer Tricks – Thrifty Cash Shifting

Another way to save money by making sure to transfer spare money from your savings account into a higher interest account which is not as easy to access.  For example, try transfer half of the surplus money still in your savings account into a higher interest account every payday so that you don’t end up squandering it.

Also try and use you credit cards for as little as possible.  You can get low interest or even no interest credit cards but these always have a catch – if you are late on any of your payments you are going to pay for!  Only sign up for these credit cards if you are absolutely sure that you can make the payments on time, every time!

Craigslist – Brilliant Bargains

A great website is Craigslist where with a little bit of research and luck you can save a small fortune. If you somehow haven’t heard of this website, among its many features and services it acts as an online marketplace where you can buy and sell locally simply by responding and placing free classified advertisements.

You can find some excellent deals on this site but unfortunately since being launched it has been abused by fraudsters, spammers as well as cheats who use software to snatch up many of the best deals before anyone else has a chance.  Nonetheless, if you are careful and check the site often you get furniture, clothes and just about anything at bargain basement prices or even for free!  You can also sell those items which are cluttering up your attic or garage and make some cash although don’t expect to get full price or even half the price of what you paid for them!

Conclusion

In 2011 it’s important to look for creative ways to be frugal while we wait for the global economy to recover.  From bringing back the piggy bank to using cutting edge websites like Listia to find the best deals there are many steps you can take to help you save money without changing your lifestyle.

Listia offers a new way to get all the things you want, but can’t afford. The idea is to give away the things you no longer want (old cell phone, VHS tapes, books… anything), and in return get new things, such as DVDs, video games, clothes or anything else you can find on Listia. Instead of just a basic exchange, however, you are given credits to use for their online auction system. Listia is completely free to use and by using an auction system, the people that really want something can actually get it, unlike Craigslist where first come first serve takes precedence. The more credits you get, the more free stuff you can bid on and win. You get credits by listing auctions to give away your old stuff. In other words, I got around 200o credits for auctioning off my old gameboy games and used those credits towards a new XBOX game.

Listia has reportedly held over 1,000,000 auctions and helped recycle hundreds of thousands of used items that might have otherwise been left for trash. This Christmas, consider cleaning out your closest, putting your things on Listia and get some new stuff you really want for free. Visit Listia today.

The DealMap

Looking for deals in your area? TheDealMap is a handy little Google Maps mashup that lists local discounts on shopping, restaurants, food, hotels, and much more. You can subscribe by e-mail to receive regular deal updates or download the iPhone or Android apps for deals on the go. I highly recommend you take a look at this as it is very easy to use and seems to have a pulse on the best deals around town.

Ookong

If you really have your eye on that special item… but it happens to be too expensive, then try using Ookong to keep track of the price. It will track any item you want on Amazon, or other stores so that you can be notified when price drops. As it drops, you can get the discount you have been waiting for!

SeatGeek

Nervous you won’t get those great tickets you want for the big game or rockin’ concert? You should be. They sell out fast, and they can get ridiculously expensive at the same time. SeatGeek wants to help by using that amazing magic called “math” to forecast prices and availability and when you should buy to save the most moolah.

For a full list of the PC Magazine Top 100 Websites of 2010, view here.

Let’s face it, times are tough and every penny counts. Instead of just money saving websites, here is a list of 18 Firefox Add-Ons that will help save you money on a daily basis.

1. Listia – This is an auction site where everything is free; instead of cash, people use credits to get free stuff. The idea is to give away the stuff you don’t want any more and get stuff you do want for free. The more stuff you give away, the more credits you get. Then use those credits to get new things for free. Use this firefox add-on to help sort through all the free stuff on Listia.com.
2. InvisibleHand — This handy extension will act like its namesake and point you to better deals whenever you shop online. A discreet notification will pop up if the InvisibleHand extension finds a lower price in its database of over 100 different online retailers from the US, UK, and Germany. With information from major shopping sites like Amazon, Wal-Mart and Sears, InvisibleHand will help you find the best deals and save a ton of money in the process.
3. Offer Assistant — Tired of hunting down those discount and coupon codes when you shop online? The Offer Assistant is here to bring the offers to you! The extension helpfully includes any promo information regarding your item in your Google, Bing, and Yahoo! search results. Could it be any more convenient?
4. Advanced Travel — Traveling can get really expensive, and so people spend hours upon hours trying to find the best travel deals online. Advanced Travel makes things a lot simpler by displaying search results for the most popular travel websites. The extension’s engine reads your IP address to find out what area you’re in, and will alter the search results accordingly.
5. Ookong — Have you ever found yourself burning the midnight oil looking for the best prices for your Amazon.com item? Get some sleep and let the Ookong extension do the work for you. Ookong takes a look at an item’s price history, tracks any price changes, and tells you when the price drops. It’s like having a broker telling you exactly when the best time to buy is.
6. Woot Watcher — Woot.com is a quirky website that allows for major savings. The catch is, the site sells only one product for each day, in limited quantities. If you’d really like to get something you want at Woot’s rock-bottom prices, then, you need to watch the site religiously. This great extension does the watching for you, alerting you on the day’s product, price, and stock left.
7. Buy It Online — Ever found an item online you couldn’t wait to get your hands on? Didn’t want to waste any time browsing around for sites that might offer it at lower prices? This extension allows you to do that within seconds. All you have to do it right-click on the product, click “Buy it online”, and the extension will display several sites that sell it, too!
8. Savvy Circle Plugin — The Savvy Circle Plugin sends you an email whenever an item you have your eye on goes on sale. All you need to do is add the item to your Savvy Circle wishlist, and everything else will follow. With support for over 100 different online stores, you’re sure to save money with this extension.
9. ReminderFox — The fees on unpaid bills can add up, making your unnecessary expenses pile up into astronomical amounts. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor by installing this extension. It acts like a to-do list in your browser, reminding you when important matters need to attending.
10. Lonely Planet — Looking for the best possible way to enjoy your trip? Save a few bucks by installing this extension. It’ll give you access to the Lonely Planet travel guides without having to buy the guides themselves. You can even plan a budget trip with the helpful information contained in the guide.
11. World Travel Guide — Are the Lonely Planet guides not enough for you? Blow your options wide-open as this Firefox extension gives you access to even more travel guides. It’s easy, convenient, and best of all, free!
12. Biet-O-Zilla — Did you ever find an incredible bargain on eBay, bid on it, only to have it stolen away from you just before the auction closes? This amazing extension helps you make last minute bids with ease. You’ll end up saving a ton of cash on your eBay purchases when you have the speed to get the best deals.
13. UpName Expired Domains Search — Working on an online business? The right domain name can have a significant effect on the traffic to your site. You can find top-ranked domain names for cheap by purchasing expired or deleted domain names. This handy extension searches all major domain sellers for these discount online gold mines, saving you the effort of tracking them down, and saving you money on a worthwhile investment.
14. Product Seeker Search — This Firefox search bar add-on is a boon to online shoppers. Simply enter a product into Product Seeker Search, and it’ll give you results for all the major retailers that handle that item. You can then organize results by price, product rating, and store rating to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.
15. PriceTrace Toolbar — Smart shoppers and bargain hunters alike will be drooling over this money-saving extension. The add-on gives you one-click access to price histories and price comparisons for over 40 major online retailers. The “Find Fillers” function will alert you of any special offers that you might qualify for while making your purchases. Best of all, the extension will inform you if an item you’ve had it track drops in price. What more could you want?
16. PriceBlink — If you like your Firefox extensions a little more discreet, then PriceBlink is for you. This browser plug-in works in the background, so you probably won’t even notice it’s there. Unless, of course, it can save you money. Whenever you go online shopping, PriceBlink will pop up if it’s found the same item at a lower price, or if it’s included in any special offers.
17. Dympol Discount Entertainment — Music-lovers can now keep their wallets nice and full with the discount offerings of dympol. Install the toolbar on your browser, and discount prices pop up in third-party music retailers like AmazonMP3. When you make your purchase at full price, cash-back rebates equal to the discount will automatically be sent to your dympol account. These funds can then be easily transferred to your PayPal or Amazon Payments account. You can use them to avail of discounts with dympol’s sponsors.
18. TimeTracker — As the old adage goes, “Time is Money”. The time you spend leisure browsing could be costing you, especially if it’s decreasing your productivity at work. Hold yourself accountable with the TimeTracker extension. It records how much time you spend leisure surfing, and can be set to ignore the time spent at work-related sites. Once you see how much time you’ve wasted on YouTube, Facebook and the like, you’ll find yourself actually doing some work for a change.

#10 – Midriff Stormtrooper is Sexy

#9 – Latex Darth Vader

#8 – Not Affraid to Show it Off

#7 – Lego of Love Stormtrooper

#6 – Birthday Cake Made out of  Stormtroopers

#5 – Sexy Halloween Costume

#4 -Creepy Stormtrooper Baby

#3 – Whoops – How did this pic get in here?

#2 – Burlesque Stormtrooper

#1 – Dancing Stormtroopers

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