• Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Prep-Ahead Meals Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Gardening
  • Kid’s Activities
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Budgeting Tips
↑

Premeditated Leftovers™

Prep-Ahead Meals, Cooking Tips, and Frugal Living

  • Cookbooks
    • Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches
    • Prep-Ahead Meals From Scratch
  • Recipe Index
  • Members Area
    • Member Login
    • Join Us
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Garden
  • DIY
  • Kids
  • Budget

You are here: Home / Deals / Tips for Buying Gifts on Ebay

Tips for Buying Gifts on Ebay

November 13, 2013 by Alea Milham 1 Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
205 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

I do some of my Christmas shopping on Ebay. Yes, really! I have bought gently used toys for my youngest child from eBay on many  occasions. I’ve also bought out of print books, videos, games, and CDs for my older kids.

Shopping on Ebay is frugal. It is a great place to find out-of-print or discontinued items without spending a fortune. Plus it is better for the environment. It is “greener” to buy a used toy than it is is to buy a new “eco-friendly” toy.

It is possible to find quality gifts on eBay. Here are some tips for finding gifts on Ebay and a list of things to consider when buying gifts on eBay.

So how do my children react to an eBay Christmas present? The first present my youngest son opened last year happened to have been purchased from Ebay. He did not want to open anything else, he just wanted to play with his “new” airplane. Every time we asked him if he wanted to open another present he said, “I already have one and I’m playing with it”. He was grateful to have a gift that matched his interests; he didn’t care where it came from.

Tips for Buying Gifts on Ebay:

Check the reputation of the seller. You can read past buyers reviews if you have concerns. I often compare reputations when two buyers are selling a similar product.

Read the description carefully. Look at the images and send an email asking for clarification if you have questions.

Make sure you know when bidding will stop. You want plenty of time for the present to ship to you.

It is much harder to return items bought on Ebay and some sellers do not accept returns. Do not make impulse purchases. Before you buy a gift on Ebay, make sure it is really something that you want to buy.

Make sure you know the shipping charges and figure that into the price. Some sellers will give you shipping options. Calculate the costs based on your shipping preference.

Find out where the item is coming from. I unknowingly ordered some cool Legos from a seller in the UK and a video from a seller in Japan. They both made it the day before Christmas, but it was too close for comfort.

Have you ever shopped on Ebay for gifts before?

More Frugal Gift Ideas

  • Thrift Store Gift Ideas
  • 15 Gift in Jar Ideas
  • 15 DIY Christmas Gift Ideas
  • 10 DIY Christmas Gift for Boys
  • 10 DIY Christmas Gifts for Girls
  • Homemade Candy Recipes
  • 9 Frugal Last-Minute gift Ideas
205 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Annie says

    November 19, 2012 at 6:00 am

    I have shopped for gifts on eBay, especially their half.com section for books, games, videos, etc. I have also shopped thrift stores, antique malls, flea markets, etc. At least some of our gifts are second-hand each year.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches by Alea Milham

Search

Recent Articles:

Seasonal Produce Chart A Guide to What Produce is in Season

Seasonal Produce Chart: A Guide to What Produce is in Season

101 ways to save a dollar a day

101 Ways to Save a Dollar a Day

How to Save Money by Weighing Your Produce

How to Save Money By Weighing Your Produce

BROWSE:

  • Blog
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipe Index
  • Members Area

ABOUT:

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

Copyright ©2022, Premeditated Leftovers™. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
205 shares