To start you off,
here's a list of ten things you (probably) never thought to buy
on eBay:

1. Postage Stamps: Yes, it is possible to get a discount on
postage stamps! A lot of times companies or individuals will
purchase a mass quantity of stamps for a mailing and end up not
using them all. The USPS doesn't buy back stamps, so a good
alternative is to sell on eBay. Expect to pay between 80% and
90% of face value, with the bigger discount coming from a
larger purchase quantity.

2. Timeshares: Real estate is big on eBay, especially
timeshares! As long as you are careful in reading all of the
fine print and purchasing from a reputable seller, you can come
away with a great vacation at a fantastic value. You can easily
pick and choose from a wide variety of locations, amenities,
and prices.

3. Over-the-counter medication: Need to replenish your supply
of Advil, Visine, Airborne, or Mylanta? I buy nearly all of my
over-the-counter medication on eBay. It's almost always
drastically cheaper, and you can also search for generic or
store brands. I save hundreds of dollars a year doing this.

4. Makeup: There are certain shades and certain brands of
makeup I know I will always use. It's easy to search for these
on eBay and buy them in bulk or at a discount. It's also a
great way to find discontinued colours that you love and can't
live without! I set up a search for my favourite discontinued
items and save it so I am emailed whenever an auction matching
my criteria comes up. I've been able to keep using a certain
shade of lipstick despite the fact that it was discontinued
years ago.

5. eBay Business Supplies: I see so many people who sell on
eBay using padded envelopes or other supplies from the USPS --
not the free Priority or Express mail supplies, but the
expensive supplies sold in post offices. If you know you're
going to sell more than just a few items, buy your supplies on
eBay! Great discounts are to be had on bubble mailers, bubble
sheets, labels, and more.

6. Spices: Yes, kitchen spices! I eat oatmeal nearly every
morning and use a generous amount of pumpkin pie spice for
flavour. I was spending at least $3 every time I purchased a
tiny container of it at the store. I found a supplier on eBay
and was able to get over ten times the amount for only twice
the price!

7. Gift Cards: If you frequently shop at a certain store, it
pays (literally) to check out the gift certificates category on
eBay. People resell gift cards they aren't interested in using,
and you can often get a good discount. Some of the more popular
stores sell for nearly 100% of face value, but others sell for
70% to 90% of face value. If you're going to spend the money at
the store anyway, why not buy a gift card and save a few bucks?
I like to look at it as free money!

8. Food: The food category on eBay is huge. You can buy your
favourite overseas candy, soda flavours you can't find locally,
fresh baked cookies just like mom made them, protein bars,
elegant desserts, and much more. A word of warning though...
looking for food on eBay can make you hungry!

9. Massage Appointments: These can usually be found in the gift
certificates category. A lot of spas and massage therapy
locations will sell gift certificates for massages at
discounted rates to gain new customers. As long as you are
careful to check that the location is legit, you can find a
great deal. I was able to purchase a fantastic one-hour massage
for only $35.

10. Magazine Subscriptions: Magazines make money selling ads,
and they can charge more for their ads if they have more
subscribers. Because of that, they will let go of a lot of
subscriptions to brokers for very low prices. A lot of these
brokers sell on eBay. Imagine buying a year's subscription to
your favourite magazine for only $3! They usually take four to
eight weeks to kick in, but it's well worth the wait.

Hopefully these ideas have given you a starting point for the
wide variety of ways you can save money on a daily basis by
purchasing through eBay. Happy bidding!

About The Author: Jessica Roop is self-proclaimed "coupon
addict" who runs http://www.ShareYourReceipts.com, a site
dedicated to sharing the latest in coupon savings and deals to
show you how to save money. Share your deals with us and be
entered to win a $25 gift certificate to your favourite
retailer!