Your Venture will have a better chance of successfully sustaining itself if you use your funds wisely. Buying used items, finding what you need for free, and comparison shopping are good ways to cut costs. Below are some useful websites and ideas that can help you stretch your money.
Note: Not all websites listed are active in every community. Check each site to see if it exists in your local area.
- Craigslist has free ads for items people in your community may no longer want. Go to www.craigslist.org and click on your city or state.
- Freecycle is a listserv open to the public. When you sign up, you will receive emails from individuals offering items or seeking items. All advertised items are free. To find a Freecycle listserv in your area, visit www.freecycle.org.
- Froogle is a search engine from Google.com that allows you to find the price of thousands of items and read product ratings and reviews. It’s an easy way to comparison shop online. To find out more, visit www.froogle.google.com.
- United Way is a national nonprofit organization that strives to empower communities across the country. A United Way often serves as a hub for community services, so consider contacting your local United Way’s Volunteer Action Council to find out about donation outlets in your area. To find your local United Way, visit http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/index.cfm
- Email everyone in your address book and ask for donations for your Venture. Describe your Venture and list specific items you need. Also, ask your contacts to forward the email on to any of their friends who may be able to help you.
- Write Letters requesting specific in-kind donations (materials or services) from local businesses. Briefly describe your Venture, the materials you need, and why you need them. Many businesses will be willing to help, especially if you offer them some publicity.
Tip: Reusing materials or finding used materials not only saves funds, but helps the environment by conserving resources.
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| Making the Most of Your Money.pdf | 299.6 KB |