RED HOT FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE TIPS

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz – Episode: RED HOT FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE TIPS

Release Date: July 29, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In this engaging episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz, hosts Kelly Stumpe and Lizz St. John delve into the bustling world of Facebook Marketplace. Known for their insightful car reviews from a millennial mom's perspective, Kelly and Lizz take a detour from their usual automotive topics to explore shopping and selling strategies that resonate with busy parents. The episode seamlessly blends personal anecdotes, candid discussions, and expert advice, making it a must-listen for parents navigating the secondary market.

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Hosts' Recent Facebook Marketplace Experiences

Kelly and Lizz kick off the episode by sharing their recent accomplishments on Facebook Marketplace, highlighting the platform's versatility for family needs.

• Kelly's Haul:

  • "In the last 60 days, we've bought Pottery Barn bunk beds, a giant armoire, three toy lots, and I bought Hattie a coat and a pair of Hunter Rainboots." [01:14]

• Lizz's Enthusiasm:

  • Lizz expresses excitement over their purchases, emphasizing the value and practicality of secondhand finds.

Key Takeaway: Facebook Marketplace serves as a valuable resource for families seeking quality items at a fraction of the retail cost.

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Ranger Rick Competition: A Candid Rant

Transitioning from their shopping successes, Kelly and Lizz openly discuss their frustrations with the Ranger Rick competition—a contest aimed at promoting junior rangers through votes and donations.

• Kelly's Experience:

  • "We started throwing money at it because we thought higher donations would increase our chances of winning, but it felt like the system was rigged." [06:43]

• Lizz's Insights:

  • Lizz shares how the competition's rules, such as resetting votes monthly, undermined their efforts and sense of fairness.

• Emotional Toll:

  • Both hosts express their disappointment, highlighting the emotional investment and eventual relief when the competition concluded without a win.

Key Takeaway: Competitions that rely heavily on monetary contributions can create a sense of manipulation and unfairness, detracting from the intended celebratory spirit.

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Navigating Social Media Pressures on Motherhood

Kelly and Lizz shift the conversation to the pervasive impact of social media on parenting perspectives, particularly the notion of missing earlier, quieter family times.

• Kelly's Reflection:

  • "I have those memories and I can visit them when I want, but you can't spend your life wishing that you could go back because you can't." [13:49]

• Lizz's Perspective:

  • Lizz emphasizes living in the present and appreciating the current phase of motherhood, countering feelings of inadequacy sparked by idealized online portrayals.

Key Takeaway: It's essential for parents to focus on the present joys and challenges of parenting rather than idealized memories or societal expectations perpetuated by social media.

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Interview Segment: Olivia, the Marketplace Mom

The heart of the episode features an insightful interview with Olivia, dubbed "the Marketplace Mom," who shares her expertise on maximizing Facebook Marketplace for buying and selling effectively.

Getting Started with Facebook Marketplace

• Olivia's Journey:

  • "I started in 2019 when we bought a new house and had a surplus of items to sell. It quickly became addictive seeing how much money you can recoup." [26:22]

• Kelly's Commentary:

  • Lizz appreciates Olivia's transition from traditional resale shops to the more dynamic Facebook Marketplace, highlighting the precision and reach it offers.

Tips for Effective Listings

• Detailed Descriptions:

  • Olivia emphasizes the importance of comprehensive listings to minimize buyer inquiries and ensure transparency.
  • "Describe every little thing that may be wrong with it so people can be okay with it." [30:14]

• High-Quality Photos:

  • She advises using clear, well-lit images from a clean, appealing background to attract serious buyers.
  • "Use a blank wall. It looks more expensive and trustworthy." [48:26]

• Leveraging Video Features:

  • Utilizing Facebook’s video option to showcase items in use can significantly boost interest and sales.

Managing Buyer Interactions

• Efficient Communication:

  • Olivia shares strategies to handle inquiries effectively without getting overwhelmed.
  • "Always leave them with a question so they have to respond. If they don't respond, I move along." [31:11]

• Safety Measures:

  • She advocates for porch pick-ups to ensure safety, explaining her consistent positive experiences.
  • "I've left mattresses on the porch, couches on the porch... over 600 porch pickups without any issues." [35:12]

• Handling Negotiations:

  • Olivia advises maintaining firm pricing while being open to reasonable offers, ensuring fair transactions.
  • "I had someone offer me more for a hat that held sentimental value, but I stuck to my price." [34:43]

Optimizing Sales Strategy

• Pricing Smartly:

  • Olivia recommends researching similar listings to set competitive prices.
  • "Aim for 50% off whatever it's being sold for elsewhere." [47:48]

• Batch Selling vs. Individual Listings:

  • Discussing when to sell items in lots versus individually for maximum profit and efficiency.
  • "When selling kids' clothes, group them into sets to offer more value." [40:36]

• Sustainability and Community Impact:

  • Olivia highlights the environmental benefits of buying secondhand and ensuring items find new homes rather than ending up in landfills.
  • "Listing items on Marketplace gets them into the right hands and keeps them out of landfills." [28:33]

Growing Your Marketplace Presence

• Building a Reputation:

  • Olivia stresses the importance of maintaining high ratings through excellent customer service.
  • "I have 250 five-star reviews because I want to make my buyers happy." [34:43]

• Expanding Beyond Selling:

  • She hints at future plans to create educational content and digital resources to help others succeed on Marketplace.

Key Takeaway: Successful navigation of Facebook Marketplace requires detailed listings, strategic pricing, effective communication, and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

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Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Kelly and Lizz wrap up the episode by promoting the JBF (Joint Buy and Flip) sale, sharing tips on maximizing this shopping event and encouraging listeners to take advantage of the deals available. They also announce an upcoming giveaway featuring a Power Wheels Bronco, further engaging their community.

Notable Quote:

• "There's room in the car for everyone." [52:56]

Key Takeaway: Engaging with community events and giveaways can enhance the Marketplace experience, providing additional opportunities for savings and fun.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Carpool with Kelly and Lizz offers a comprehensive exploration of Facebook Marketplace, enriched by personal experiences and expert advice from Olivia, the Marketplace Mom. Whether you're a seasoned seller or a curious buyer, Kelly and Lizz provide valuable insights to navigate the secondary market efficiently and ethically. Their candid discussions on parenting, social media pressures, and side hustles create a relatable and informative atmosphere, making this episode a standout in their podcast series.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "In the last 60 days, we've bought Pottery Barn bunk beds, a giant armoire, three toy lots, and I bought Hattie a coat and a pair of Hunter Rainbows." – Liz [01:14]

• "We started throwing money at it because we thought higher donations would increase our chances of winning, but it felt like the system was rigged." – Kelly [06:43]

• "I have those memories and I can visit them when I want, but you can't spend your life wishing that you could go back because you can't." – Kelly [13:49]

• "Describe every little thing that may be wrong with it so people can be okay with it." – Olivia [30:14]

• "Use a blank wall. It looks more expensive and trustworthy." – Olivia [48:26]

• "I have 250 five-star reviews because I want to make my buyers happy." – Olivia [34:43]

• "There's room in the car for everyone." – Liz [52:56]

Transcript

[Kelly]

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[Liz]

Welcome to the carpool podcast with Kelly. So, like, in the last 60 days, we've bought Pottery Barn bunk beds, a giant armoire, three toy lots, and I bought Hattie a coat and a pair of Hunter Rainbo and Liz.

[Elizabeth]

Mom, do you miss it? Like, do you lay awake at night just thinking, like, wow, I miss when my kids were all at home and they were young and it was sweet and she said, no, your mom time off starts now.

[Liz]

Welcome back to the carpool podcast with Kelly and Liz. And boy, do we have a show for you.

[Elizabeth]

Do we ever. I actually. So we record side house of Summer today. Um, we recorded. Kelly recorded the interview for our side Hustle Summer last week solo, because I woke up with no power in the house and couldn't get on the podcast. So I haven't heard the interview, but you told me about it. I've started following her on Instagram. Such a fun new follow.

[Liz]

So we are interviewing the Marketplace mom now. She's been doing Facebook Marketplace for years. She has over 600 porch pickups to her name. But when she got the opportunity to come on the podcast, she was like, I'm taking advantage of this to start an Instagram, which, like, is an excellent idea. Like, you know, and I was talking to her, I'm like, oh, yeah, you need to start this she goes, I have a ton of contact content banked. I'm just gonna, like, start posting. And I'm like, you should definitely do that. The Marketplace mom on Instagram, she. The interview was so fun.

[Elizabeth]

I can't wait to listen to it.

[Liz]

Yeah, she had really great tips. I asked her all sorts of questions. I probably talked too much because I was also just having fun talking about my recent Facebook marketpl finds. There is something about. Maybe it's just women, like, how much we love to talk about when we get a good deal on something.

[Elizabeth]

Totally.

[Liz]

So, like, she didn't ask, but I was like, let me tell you about my recent Marketplace finds, because I think they're iconic. I got Pottery Barn bunk beds that are still on their site.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

For like, a fourth of the price, right? Yeah, like, that. That gets me riled.

[Elizabeth]

No, it's. It gets me ralled. I am so. I. I really ebb and flow with Facebook Marketplace. Like, some days I'm like, I want to list everything I own. I'm only gonna buy from there. And I do that for a while, and then things don't sell. And then I was like, okay, I have to donate everything I own because I'm. I'm overwhelmed. But right now, I'm in a Facebook marketplace, like, up. Like, I'm flowing into Marketplace, and I really like her content, and I'm really inspired by it. And she's like, just list something for $5. Like, you never know. It's like.

[Liz]

Sure.

[Elizabeth]

That adds up.

[Liz]

She had a reel that she posted that was like, Facebook Marketplace is the mom equivalent of the tooth fairy, because, like, you just get a look under your doormat, and there's five bucks.

[Elizabeth]

There's five bucks. Yeah.

[Liz]

And. Yeah, I. She said she has, like. Well, I don't. You know what? We'll just. Let's just stop.

[Elizabeth]

Let's just.

[Liz]

We'll get into the interview. But I have a couple of things I would just like to touch base on the way I'm ready to get back to two episodes. I feel like I have.

[Elizabeth]

I know. Me too.

[Liz]

You know, and I don't know. I just miss podcasting. We're gonna record the podcast. I'm saying it verbally, so we have to do it. We're gonna figure out how to do that so we can clip and grow and just, like, really, you know, better ourselves be legit.

[Elizabeth]

We've been doing. We've been podcasting for how long? And we don't have it filmed. Like, we. We're terrible.

[Liz]

I know. And I stick a Lot smaller podcasts, film. And I'm like, yeah, we couldn't get it together.

[Elizabeth]

Well, you know, I think they have less going on.

[Liz]

Well, we should prioritize this.

[Elizabeth]

We should.

[Liz]

We just.

[Elizabeth]

It just feels like. It just feels like we have a lot going on.

[Liz]

This should be what we have going on.

[Elizabeth]

No, I don't mean necessarily with work. It's just like with life.

[Liz]

Yeah. I don't know. I'm just not one for excuses, Elizabeth. I think we just need to get after it.

[Elizabeth]

Maybe I am.

[Liz]

What was I gonna say? I, like, started wanting to say something. I said, you know, I'm gonna say it for the podcast.

[Elizabeth]

This is why you should always just tell me stuff.

[Liz]

It's just escaping me. Oh, okay. So I'm ready to kind of go on a bit of a rant, a bit of a tangent. Okay. So I signed George up for this Ranger Rick competition.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, don't. No, get me started on Ranger Rick. Get me started.

[Liz]

So someone sent this to me, and it's like, Ranger Rick is looking for his next junior Ranger. And I'm like. And I'm not a mom to fill out a form. Like, I'm just gonna be honest with you. Like, I'm not one to. To write, to upload photos. Like, that's just not really something I do. And I was like, you know what? Like, first place is $20,000. You get a meet Ranger Rick, appear in the magazine. We love the Ranger Rick magazine. I'm like, I'm gonna do this for George. It was very. I guess I could have done more digging, but it was very hard to find the contest rules. I get an email. He's in the top 20. I'm like, okay. Like, my words really resonated with them. They must have seen the pictures of the bearded dragon on his head. Like, they understand. Like, he is a good Junior Ranger. So then I get into this competition, and we're thinking, we're top 20. Okay. No, we're just top 20 in his group. We don't know how many groups there are. Okay. So we bust our butt to get to. To get to the top 10. The top one. The. So that. Anyway, I started to get a little sus around the competition because, well, we go through.

[Elizabeth]

We went through multiple rounds, and you can buy votes.

[Liz]

You can buy votes.

[Elizabeth]

So he gets in the first top 20. And I'm like, I'll throw $25 at it. Oh, and you can do it every single day. Oh, okay. Well, he's fell into second place. I'll throw $10 at it. And this is only the first round. We did not know that there would be 85,000 more rounds after it, which.

[Liz]

I'll take the fault for that, because you could dig for the group rules. So eventually, Tyler and I digged for the group rules, and we found out, like, okay, you know, in June, all of the votes start over. So, like, any of the vote that you have don't count. Everyone's back at zero. So he. If he only has to be in the top five, don't throw money at it, because we don't have to be number one right now, which is like, we realize that there's a lot of strategies to this. And then I just start to get a little annoyed because. And I. I'm treading this lightly because at the end of the day, it is a fundraiser, so I understand that, like, you give money to, like, the wildlife preservation, but it also counts as votes. But at the end of the day, I just got kind of frustrated with the system because we didn't win. We actually didn't even. We got out. We made it to the. I have no idea what. We made the quarterfinals, but I don't know what that means, really. We posted in the carpool Facebook page. I posted it, and then I found out other kids were in the competition, so then I deleted it because I did felt bad. And then Liz posted it one time and then other people. So I had a little help from the carpool. I never posted it on the car around because that felt like it was cheating. But now I realize that I actually don't think it was cheating because I'm telling you. What did everyone else do? They just threw money at the problem. Because what was really manipulative about it was so, like, we were in fourth, and we had to be. It's like a Tuesday. We're in fourth place. We had to be in first place by Thursday to advance. There's $20,000 on the line. So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna throw a hundred dollars at it. Like, I'm just going to do that. We don't even move from fourth because you have no idea. And I waited until it was a double vote day. Like, I think I'm such an idiot. I'm thinking that, like, a hundred dollars is gonna buy $20,000. Like, of course it's not.

[Elizabeth]

Well, you don't know. You don't know how many votes the person in front of you is.

[Liz]

Yes. So I threw $100 at it, which was double votes. We got 200 votes. In one swoop we didn't move from fourth place. So then I'm thinking, okay, like the first place kid, just obviously someone's, you know, grandparent threw a grand at it.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Or they're figuring it out. And I just felt like what I didn't like about the system was it just felt very rigged because there was no, like I was just expecting a competition which I understand there's. I understand you got to get some votes. I guess I was just expecting a little bit more of like it being about the kids.

[Olivia]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

And like Kelly filled out the profile one day and like that it never changed. Like this went on for weeks, months of this voting and it's like none of the kids answers ever change. I was waiting for like now submit a video.

[Liz]

And it was like waiting for that.

[Elizabeth]

You look at the other like you look at everyone else. It's like, yeah, he likes to go on walks in the park. It's like, okay, so is he really a junior? Like, is he really a junior ranger? Like, it's just, it's. It was very frustrating. I was waiting for more about the kids. I was waiting for like a second round, like read about the kids. And it just was not that I was waiting for.

[Liz]

I agree. I was waiting for and kind of to me kind of felt like a missed app. Like let's. I'm sorry, a junior ranger has to have some skills. It's not just whoever's parents are the most money at the problem.

[Elizabeth]

Right. And that's ultimately that is the only way.

[Liz]

And I was really pity about it because I'm like, I'm not going to use like my platform like this privilege like, because that's not fair to the other kids. And then I was just like, okay, like I'm not trying to pit six year old against six year old. But like I think George is more of a. I think George is more junior ranger material than the kid who's in front of him. Based on, based on what I read on the profile.

[Elizabeth]

Right.

[Liz]

But we couldn't get there. So anyway, now I've seen some more of those competitions. Like I think like, or like Gerber has like cutest baby. This like this other one is like the best wedding couple. Like I've seen some, some of the other these competitions and they're all crocs and I don't like it and it makes me want to start a competition. Liz, I wanted to talk to you about this. I think we should start a car, like a junior car mom competition. Like find a kid Passionate about cars, but it's not money or popular. Maybe it's popularity vote, but, like, they have to do something.

[Elizabeth]

And then it's like, fill. Fill out your profile. Sure. That's, like, first round. And then I need a video. I need to hear from you. I need a video.

[Liz]

I need to see a tour.

[Elizabeth]

I need to see a tour. Like, we need to see. We need. We got to make sure that you're legit. And your mom didn't just, like, fill it out on a whim to try and win $20,000.

[Liz]

Yeah. And I get messages of. Mom is telling me, oh, you know, my daughter loves cars. She loves watching your videos. And, like, I want, like, maybe. Maybe we'll do that. Maybe we'll have, like, a. A cash prize attached to it. Okay. I don't know. I'm just so.

[Elizabeth]

I'm a little riled up, and I'm riled up. And ultimately, so sincerely, it's not about George not winning, because I don't care that George didn't win. George doesn't care that he didn't win. It was just the. It just didn't not feel honest.

[Liz]

Right.

[Elizabeth]

So.

[Liz]

Right.

[Elizabeth]

And sure. Sure, you guys had to go digging for the rules, but, like, I was on that website every day. Like, they don't make it clear. They could make it clear. They choose not to.

[Liz]

It's a money grab. And Now I'm thinking $20,000. That's nothing compared to what. I can only imagine the money you.

[Elizabeth]

Got from people, what they made. I know.

[Liz]

Yeah. And then I felt bad because I agree, like, you gave some money. Like, mom gave some money and Susie gave some money. Like, people were donating to George so he could be in this magazine. And we literally. It was just.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. So anyway, I was honestly happy it was over.

[Liz]

Like, I was done with it.

[Elizabeth]

I was so relieved when we were just like, all right, we're done.

[Liz]

So that was a big part of my summer. I didn't want to. That was. That's been a big part of our. Of our life.

[Elizabeth]

No, it really has. Okay. I want to talk about something. Something that I have. I think we all see all the time on social media, and it is. You know, you only have 18 summers with them. Or I woke up, I had a dream, and I woke up, and I was. Or I imagine you're 80 and you woke up, and you're 36, and you have kids.

[Liz]

That one needs to stop coming back.

[Elizabeth]

That one needs to stop circulating. Here's the thing. Things like that, if you know What I'm talking about make me feel like I am not appreciating where I'm at more. And I'm like, oh, my gosh, I'm in the best phase of my life. Like, it, it doesn't get any better than this. Like, I need to soak it all in. Like, so anyway, I'm feeling like I'm spiraling about this because I see these everywhere. And I, I asked Mom. Our mother was a stay at home mom to five kids. Mom, do you, do you miss it? Like, do you lay as. Lay awake at night just thinking, like, wow, I miss when my kids were all at home and they were young and it was sweet. Like, do you miss that? And she said, no. She said, I have. She said, I have those memories and I can visit them when I want, but you can't spend your life wishing that you could go back because you can't. And I like my life now.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

I like the freedom that I have. I like spending time with dad. I like where we're at. I like spending time with my adult kids. I like spending time with my grandkids. Soak it in and appreciate it, but, like, don't soak it in. Don't, like, get yourself depressed when you're, when you're in it still. And don't think that, like, while your kid is having a tantrum, you're a bad mom for not running to soak up this moment. And she said, we said the same thing. We were, we were at the farm this weekend and mine and Kelly's kids were all screaming. We were trying to leave, and it was chaos. And Kelly goes, mom, do you miss this? No, I did this. I did it. I checked the box. I'm past this. Like, I just, I just say this to, like, you, you. You have, and you have life on, on the other side of this, and you don't want to be sitting depressed on that side of your life. Like, enjoy your life.

[Liz]

Well, I think the problem, people don't always like to admit it because I think admitting that you don't miss it means, like, you didn't like it or you weren't happy that it happened or whatever. And I just don't think that's the case. And, you know, you have to bloom where you're planted in life and, like, yeah, you, I mean, you can't go back.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But I don't know. I've been having, like, serious baby fever lately, which I never thought I would have. Baby fever. And I'm not having another baby. Like, I can't express that to you guys enough.

[Elizabeth]

Like, why does no one believe you when you say no?

[Olivia]

It's.

[Liz]

Because I say things like this. But the videos that have been getting me is the newborns. But, like, who doesn't love a newborn?

[Elizabeth]

Or the ones where they're in the hospital, like, giving birth and they're like, what do you mean, I don't get to experience this again?

[Liz]

No, that doesn't do it for me. I'm talking, like, the little newborn, like, asleep on your chest.

[Elizabeth]

Well, I'll have those. You have.

[Liz]

And I'll borrow one.

[Elizabeth]

You have a ton of siblings in the lineup that are going to have babies at some point, hopefully. So.

[Liz]

But I don't even know. See, the thing is, I don't even know if I am excited about that.

[Elizabeth]

I've.

[Liz]

And this is a hot take. I've never. I'm not a baby person. I like my babies, and I wish my babies were little again. But, like, if I'm at a party and someone has a newborn, I'm not like, let me get my hands on that baby. Like, I don't need to hold your baby. I think I'll probably hold your baby, but I'm not going to. I'm also going to give him back.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Like, I'm not really. And I'm sorry, I might not want to really hold them that much.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Because similar to Chris, I just feel like I've been there.

[Elizabeth]

Totally.

[Liz]

I've been there, and I did that.

[Elizabeth]

Been there, done that. I don't know. Maybe. We'll see.

[Liz]

Yeah. And we will. Something else exciting we have coming up next week, Elizabeth, Speaking of, like, market place, secondhand, The JBF sale. The jbf.

[Elizabeth]

One of my favorite days of the entire year.

[Liz]

Jbf. Just between friends, they're all over the country. We are Kirkwood Arnold stands, the ones in South County. We work with our girl Tracy. And it is so good if you. First of all, if you live. It's in South County. If you live in St. Louis, like, you have to. You have to go to the sale. You have to buy tickets. Like, do not wait for them to be free. All the good stuff is gone. Like, I would do the most expensive ticket you can stomach. I think it's worth it. Like, I think the VIP ticket is like, 150 for two. And I know you're like, that's crazy. Is it? Because you'll get all your Christmas shopping done.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So it's 75 to get in. 70 to get in. But, like, you will, like, it is so good.

[Elizabeth]

It's so good. What have I gotten there? Everything.

[Liz]

I've got.

[Elizabeth]

I've gotten slides. I've gotten kite baby. I've gotten little sleepies. I've gotten just play clothes. Like, you got rocks. I've gotten Nikes, Walkers. Walkers play mats.

[Liz]

If I've gotten a mirror.

[Elizabeth]

We're just gonna keep. We're just gonna keep toys. Most importantly, toys. They have big things. They have little things. They have anything you could possibly imagine for a child there, you can buy second hand. And I love it.

[Liz]

I got the most insane DMing the other day, and I almost wanted to, like, post it to my stories, but I didn't. But I was talking about my Goodwill haul because I. I like to go to Goodwill. We. I like resale shops. I like thrift stores. Like, I'm into that. And someone was saying that. It was like, they were assuming that, like, since I have means, I shouldn't be shopping secondhand because I'm taking over people who need to shop there. I find that to be an insane take because one. Like, how do you determine, like, who. Like, like what? How do you determine, like, who. Like, who deserves enough to. Not.

[Elizabeth]

Because someone's always doing better than you and someone's always doing worse than you.

[Liz]

And, like, also, do you know how many things end up in landfills every year? So, like, you'd rather, like, I needed soccer cleats. First of all, there was three bins worth of soccer cleats.

[Elizabeth]

Right.

[Liz]

So you'd rather me, like, go buy new soccer cleats.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And I also donate more than I buy.

[Elizabeth]

I think that's an. I think that's an insane take.

[Liz]

Isn't that just, like, an insane take? Like, like, I'm not allowed to go secondhand shopping based on, like, based on what you think you know about me and my finances. Like, that was crazy.

[Elizabeth]

And again, it's not always about finances. It's about not buying new, not over consuming and putting more stuff into the world and more stuff into the landfill and going. And just buying stuff that already exists and has been lightly used.

[Liz]

And I don't. I think we should all be getting good deals. I think that's, like, actually. I think below your means is actually kind of the point. Yeah, maybe I'm wrong for that. But anyway, also say, is Elizabeth and I love this JBF sale. Like, it's so good. I'm actually doing a giveaway with them this year. I don't know exactly know the details of the giveaway. I just know they Asked me to donate a power wheels, like a driving car, and I donated a bronco. It's pretty ba if you ask me. But anyway, we're going there. What is on your list?

[Elizabeth]

Okay, next Wednesday, August 5th, 6th is when we're going. It's the first day of it.

[Liz]

And you should just buy tickets for the first day or like, if you. If you can. There's different price tickets, like, and they stagger it. It's a little like the Ranger Rick sale.

[Elizabeth]

It kind of is a little bit.

[Liz]

Because you also don't know what's there and how many people are signing up for your time.

[Elizabeth]

That's so true. That's so true. I would say, like, if you. If you're just going for clothes or toys, I don't think you have to, like, little toys. I don't think you have to be like, one of the first ones. And if you're like, I need a wagon or I need a slide or I need like, yeah, a big thing like a picnic table that. There may only be a few there. I would buy a bigger ticket, but, like, there's a ton of clothes there. There's a. I feel like if you. Shoes have.

[Liz]

If you're going for baby. Like, if you have a baby, I also don't think you do, but if you have, like, toddlers with, like, specific needs and wants, like, I've got to get. I got paw patrol on the brain over here still.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. So yeah, I'll be heading at the dinosaur table. There's always a dinosaur table.

[Liz]

And we'll also, like, share it on our Instagram. So then if you, like, see us on our Instagram, you could be like, oh, that looks like good.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Liz]

Because I think you can buy tickets.

[Elizabeth]

Like, at the door probably.

[Liz]

Anyway.

[Elizabeth]

Anyway, here's what's on my list. I need clothes, play clothes for James. I need. I need fall clothes and just like, more clothes for Sloan. I have not been buying my kids any new clothes because I knew that the sale was coming out. So I wanted to see what they had first before I went out and bought, like, new clothes. I need to find. Sloan is almost a year old. She doesn't have, like, a single girl toy. And I know she's still like, kind of like a baby. And, like, you know, she doesn't need, like, boy and girl toys can kind of be the same. But, like, the poor girl just, like, plays with dinosaurs. So I do feel like I need to get her some sort of like, girl toy.

[Liz]

Totally.

[Elizabeth]

So that's kind of on that's kind of on my list. And then books.

[Liz]

Yeah. I want to look at puzzles because George and Hattie are really of puzzle age these days.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And I just think a puzzle is a great summer activity to pull out, so I'm going for puzzles. I'm going for Libby clothes. For some reason. Libby's a lot. Even though Libby and Hattie were only born a month apart, Libby's a lot bigger than Hattie was. So, like, I pulled out all. Like, there's no summer clothes from when Hattie was this age that fit Libby.

[Elizabeth]

Oh, Libby's like, I can take them.

[Liz]

Oh, I had that string give them to you. Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

So Libby, Kelly, and I are doing a combined birthday party for Sloan and Libby, and we wanted to buy them a matching outfit. And the way that I had to order Sloan like a six, and I think I did up it. I was thinking about doing six to nine months, because that's kind of what she's in right now, and it's not tight on her. Libby's 18 to 24, but she's huge.

[Liz]

Libby's hitch, so.

[Elizabeth]

And she's gonna walk such different places. Yeah.

[Liz]

I'm so excited to have an early walker. I've never had one, and people are like. Like, I hate when they can crawl. I think crawling sucks.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I like when they can walk, and.

[Elizabeth]

Just, like, you know, I agree. I think it makes things a little bit easier when they come.

[Liz]

I also will say I've never had an early walker, so I could see how that's kind of scary.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

But. But then there's better sooner. Like, it's always scary when they start walking.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

You just got to get. You just got to get through it.

[Liz]

So anyway, we need to stop talking because we have a very juicy interview with the marketplace mom.

[Elizabeth]

We do. So without further ado, we have a little side hustle Summer. Welcome, Olivia, the marketplace mom.

[Liz]

So today, Olivia the marketplace mom. First of all, I like that name. Hi, Olivia.

[Olivia]

Hi.

[Liz]

We've been talking offline. Well, Olivia buys and sells things on Facebook marketplace, which is a side hustle that I'm very excited to dive into, because I've really been on my Facebook Marketplace grind these days. We'll share more about that, but we didn't realize. Well, maybe I didn't. I'm sure you realized I didn't realize that we went to the same college.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

Which is so fun. It's a very small college I went to. We both went to William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, and it's an interesting College because they have, like, very specific majors there. So you either go for, like, American Sign Language, because you can get a degree in that. You go for equestrian science, which is what I went there for, which is the study of horses. So glad I got that degree. Or, Olivia, why did you go to William Woods?

[Olivia]

I went there for social work. They do have a pretty good degree, you're right. But they also gave me a lot of money. Really?

[Liz]

Yeah. They're so. But it's funny, she was saying that if you're not in, like, going to a very heavy horse college, like, isn't, like, really the vibe for a lot of people, because, you know, us horse girls, we have. We have a stereotype. We have a reputation. That's also not. Is it still a stereotype if it's true? Like, horse girls, we're a little quirky. So she said that they kind of, like, hide that part of it. They're like, don't worry about those, you know, 120 horses on the backside of campus.

[Olivia]

Yeah. I really. I really had no idea.

[Liz]

That is too funny. But we weren't there at the same time. We just missed each other.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

Which bummer. But anyway, Olivia, you submitted your side hustle, and it stopped me in my tracks because I wanted someone who was doing Facebook Marketplace selling.

[Olivia]

Awesome.

[Liz]

Because to me, it feels like we're so. Like, how blessed are we to be alive during Facebook Marketplace instead of Craigslist?

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

Like, can you imagine, like, selling something and, like, you had to, like, call someone on the phone to find out if it was available? Like, that's. You couldn't. Like, that's crazy.

[Olivia]

No.

[Liz]

Is Craigslist still around? It is.

[Olivia]

My aunt listed something, and I was like, stop it. You know what? I do stop it list on Facebook Marketplace. I actually bought something on Craigslist, like, way back in the day, and I had to walk into their house to get the lamp. Like, how terrifying. Facebook Marketplace is. Not bad.

[Liz]

I'm on Craigslist right now. And, like, the way that they couldn't be bothered to update their, like, the website if they tried. It looks straight out of 2004. This is crazy. But anyway, so you are buying and mainly selling. You said on Facebook Marketplace. Tell us how you got started.

[Olivia]

So I had to Google, like, when even Facebook Marketplace started. But Google told me 2016. I got in it around 2019. I had wanted to get in. I had seen people doing it. We had bought a new house. So we had a lot of stuff that, like, we didn't need anymore that we Needed to get rid of. And I was like, I don't want to just, you know, donate it or throw it away. Like, I want to make money so we can buy new things for our new house. And my husband had the same stereotype as everyone. Like, oh, my gosh, people cannot come to our house. Like, no, you're gonna get creepy people. Like, people need to know our address. And I was like, I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it. And finally, I just did it. And then after doing it a couple times, it's so addict. It is. And how much money you can, like, re get for your stuff. So, like, I've kind of gotten to the point where I don't throw anything away. I list on Facebook marketplace.

[Liz]

Well, what I like about listing things on a marketplace versus or a Poshmark or any secondhand thing versus just taking it to a goodwill, taking it to a resale shop is it makes the item searchable. So it actually gets it more into the right hands. And a lot of the things that I wanted to give away was like, I just want this to go to the right person. And I had a very specific example. My son George. This was when he was a lot younger. He had a. He had a lovey, like a thing that he had to sleep with. And I was like, I have got to find a backup one of these. Because, like, this is. This is spooky. So they. They didn't make it anymore because it was like, three years after he was born, the one that he had. So I was able to look up the exact name of it and found it on Poshmark. And I'm like, I would have paid whatever because, like, that's my. So I think I paid like 45 plus $7 in shipping to get this 14 lovey to my house because, like, that's what he needed. And I was honestly so grateful for the person for listing it, for taking the time to tag that it was the Mary Meyer Twinkle lights lovey. Like, all these very important things to get that back in my hands. So I'm. I think one it's. The benefit is you're definitely making money, but you're also, like, getting it into hands of people who are going to use it and so just going to, like, end up in a landfill or something, you know?

[Olivia]

Yes. I actually somebody we had, you know, I added a daughter, so I needed new stocking holders to all match. So I sold one, and someone from Texas was like, will you please mail this to Me, I got another dog. This will match our set. Like they don't make it anymore. And like it made me happy to mail it. Like I was excited totally to give it to them. And I only sold it for $10. So like I didn't make really a profit.

[Liz]

So where do we even start? Like, I just have. So I have so many questions. How do you deal with what are your. What are your. What does it listing look like for you? Like, do you have any things you've learned on, like how to write a really good listing, I guess to kind of cut back on some of the. The noise or like the non serious buyers?

[Olivia]

Yeah. So I. What I like about Facebook Marketplace is it's kind of like the front end. You do all the work and then it just kind of like sits there kind of like a crock pot. And you don't really have to do with it. And so you want to put in as much information about your item in beginning. So then when someone asks you a question, I just copy and paste what was in the listing because I already have all the dimensions. I will google if there's a website listing or even if someone has an ebay listing that already did all that for me. I'll just copy and paste it. I will put the user manual in there. And then the biggest thing about Facebook Marketplace is because it's different than a garage sale. Like you're kind of coming to buy it. You really want to describe every little thing that may be wrong with it so people can be okay with it and then people are okay with it when you're kind of even selling junky things. Like, I want sold a rusted, dented yeti coffee cup for $5 in 45 minutes. Someone came and picked it up. But I described every little detail. Like she knew what she was getting and she wanted it and she got it.

[Liz]

Wow.

[Olivia]

So like you're just gonna do all that work in the beginning to like make it the most. You're gonna put any pictures love. Like, you know you're gonna put all the pictures that you need and then of any flaws. And then if it's like an electronic, Facebook now has like a video. So you can do one video of like it making a cup of coffee or the toy singing and kind of just have all of that from the beginning. So even when someone asks me a question and I'm like annoyed, like I just copy and paste or send a new picture.

[Liz]

Totally. And like, yeah, it's so nice to have all that information out front. How do you deal with the. Is it available? Is it available? Is it available?

[Olivia]

So that's, like, something that I think a lot of people get really frustrated about. And that's why I wanted to start the Marketplace mom, is because I think there's just, like, a lot of misunderstandings of why some things are done this way. And it's just like an automatic button that Facebook added maybe a year ago, and it just, like, it populates and it clicks. And so people, like, write even in their listings. Like, don't ask me if it's available. If it's up, it's not. I know.

[Liz]

They're so aggressive.

[Olivia]

They're just doing it because that's what Facebook is kind of making them do. So I've kind of worked down a system of what I can say to get people to really weed out if they're interested or they're not interested. I always leave them with a question so they have to respond. So if they don't respond, like, I move along with my life. Like, I'm not here to beg you to get my stuff. I got plenty of things to do also. And then it takes a lot of the stress or annoyance on. On me. So I've really, like, in the last. I've been doing it for six years, since 2019. So the last six years, I kind of have like, gotten it down to a tea. Like, I'm kind of like a robot of what I say, but it works. And then when I do come to buy things from other people, like, I get also annoyed, too, because I'm like, hello, I'm trying to buy this. And you're just like, yeah, it's available. And I'm like, can I pick it up today? Like, you didn't answer my question.

[Liz]

No. You kind of got me thinking, I need to check.

[Olivia]

Okay.

[Liz]

Because I did. I. Oh, she said sold. Okay. I. I actually said, hey, I'll take this. Because I try not to do the. Is it available? I just think for people, though, it's like that jump of like, okay, because if I say, what. What do you think? If you're trying to buy something, what do you think should be? Like, just, hey, I'll take this. Or like, hey, when can I pick this up? Like, what's the best response?

[Olivia]

Be really specific and be very short. Like, I think you shouldn't reach out unless you're gonna pick it up in a day or two. Unless it's, like, a bigger item and you just kind of need to coordinate some transportation. What will skip over people that are just like is it available to someone who's saying can I pick this up today?

[Liz]

Well, because that and it. It depends. I agree. It depends on the item. Like if it's a hot item, that's a well priced and you have 20 messages like you don't have to it it like the seller has the power on who they want to sell it to. So I could totally see how like the person who says hey, can I come tomorrow? Like gets it. Even if the person who said this is available could have come that afternoon.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

What do you gotta be specific. What is your opinion on holds or like, you know, venmoing force for them to hold it for 24 hours or like pending pickup. Like I was trying to buy something very specific and someone's like, hey, it's pending pickup for tomorrow. And I'm like, okay, well I'll come right now. Like, is that mean?

[Olivia]

Well, so if, when I say. Because I do say that too. I don't hold anything until I've provided one person with my address at a time. And so because I've given you my address, like I'm not gonna then you know, screw you over because you know where I live you. So you got to be a little smart. So I will say pend pending pickup. But if you're still really interested. I even got something that was pending pickup and then the person didn't showed. I just responded again like, I'm really interested. If they don't show up, I can definitely come tomorrow and I'll circle back to that person over someone else that is like, okay.

[Liz]

Yeah, yeah.

[Olivia]

I want to only do pending pickup on stuff though. I like to have like backup people in my row. So I only list things as pending pickup. If I have like 20 people in a row and I'm like, I probably definitely price this way too low. But it is what it is. It's. It's going. The money.

[Liz]

Yeah, that's. So I was trying. I. I sold something and I told the person I was like, hey, sorry, it's sold. And they said, I'll offer you like 25 more. Like, then what's the etiquette?

[Olivia]

I. I still think especially because it's my home too. Like I'm not going to skip you over if I gave you my totally like we're doing it. Well, I even had someone. Yes and yes. And also that too.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Olivia]

I am like as in my personal life, I don't think I'm very friendly, but I am like customer service because I do have 250 five star reviews.

[Liz]

Yeah. That's really good. That's really good.

[Olivia]

Because I. I want that. Like, I want to make you happy. I even had someone. Like, it wasn't like, only one person wanted it. And I was like, he can have it. But I guess it was like a hat. Like a Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals hat that, like, his dad had had and, like, lost, and he really won it. He was like, I will give you more money. And I was like, you know, the price is the price. Like, it's yours. You don't have to give me more money. And he still left, like. Like, you know, five extra dollars on the mat. I was like, that's nice.

[Liz]

Are you just like, a porch pickup girl or will you ever.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

Yeah. You don't meet somebody.

[Olivia]

Absolutely not. Because first, you don't have the time because a lot of people still don't show up even when it's porch pickup. And second, like, it really is safety. Like, no one's going to argue with you about price. No one's going to, you know, hurt you or do anything. Like, I absolutely been on the porch. I have left toilets on the porch. I have left mattresses on the porch, couches on the porch, car seats on the po. I leave it on the porch. And I don't. I. My hustle is I don't buy to resale. I'm just recouping kind of my losses. I have things, I've used them. I don't need them anymore, but I could have some money for it. So I also take that stance of, like, if someone ever was to steal from me, which it has never happened, over 600 porch pickups. That's, you know, I didn't have the money anyway. So it is what it is, and we're going to move on with life. And they probably needed it, and I'll just block them on Facebook. Know.

[Liz]

That's, like, so reassuring to hear. You've never. That's. That you've never gotten scammed after all those porch pickups. But that's interesting. So why do you feel like you. You haven't taken the jump to buy and resell things? Because I feel like you would also have a pretty good handle on what things sell for. So you probably see some pretty good deals out there, like on Marketplace.

[Olivia]

Yes. My. My side hustle, like, how I like to take it, though, is I am getting rid of stuff in my house, and if I were to buy, I'm adding things, and then I'm also adding the stress of, like, oh, gosh, I spent $5. Like, I need to get this sold for me, like, for my business that I like to do. Like, I just want to recount comp. Like, what I've lost. But you could definitely turn it.

[Liz]

Do you think it could, like, you could turn and burn, like, buying and reselling things on Marketplace? Yes, if you wanted to commit to the time, yes.

[Olivia]

And I like Marketplace better than Poshmark because I just feel like it's less of a job. Like, I just set it on my porch.

[Liz]

I agree.

[Olivia]

I'm a mom. I'm always home. I can always set something on my board.

[Liz]

You know, I've tried. I. Elizabeth, actually. Oh, and we. I forgot to mention, Elizabeth doesn't have power. That's why she's not on this interview. She's probably devastated because she loves this kind of stuff. But Liz got really into Poshmark. But yeah, it's just like, it's the photos and, like, it's. Then you have to, like, print it off and go to the post office customer service.

[Olivia]

Maybe they're gonna, like, complaint like you.

[Liz]

Oh, yeah.

[Olivia]

If you want to complain, it's me only.

[Liz]

I got. I sold a pair of Kendra's got earrings on Marketplace years. And I guess, like, on the. They were like the classic, like, Kendra Scott shape. You know what I mean? And I guess on the back of the earring, there was, like, a little bit of glue. So, like, not the front, but the back. The person requested a refund, like, returned the item to me, reported me to Poshmark. It was like, which I guess it was my fault. But to me, I'm like, it's the back of the earring. Like, I don't know. I didn't think that the back of the earring, to me, it felt like showing you, like, the bottom of the shoe. Like, I don't know, whatever.

[Olivia]

But always take a picture of the back, though. So now people can see it.

[Liz]

Now I will always take a picture of the back. So what was the lowest and highest price item you've ever sold? Something on Marketplace?

[Olivia]

Oh, I have sold a couple things for $1.

[Liz]

That's crazy that you would take a picture and post something for a dollar. I'm gonna be honest with you.

[Olivia]

It's. It is like a dopamine rush, though, to not put something in a trash and to get it for a dollar. I do sell. I pulled a little bit of my comps.

[Liz]

I have.

[Olivia]

I do sell a lot of things for just $5. I've sold 188 different items for just $5. And once you like get the hang of doing it, it's pretty easy and you can just do a couple especially like I leave it out where, like where my kids toys are and like I'll just snap a couple pictures and upload it while they're playing.

[Liz]

I mean 180 items at $5 is 900 bucks.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

So that's the most I guarantee I have 180 items worth $5 in my house right now. Like, like guarantee. Yeah. That's awesome. That is awesome.

[Olivia]

Kids clothes, I mean the things that sell really quick, like if you want to really just like get your toes wet. Like something that I know will sell and it's so crazy is women's use tennis shoes. You take your tennis shoe that you don't want anymore, you throw it in the washing machine, you set it out, you air dry it. Now we're going to take some pictures, we're going to list it, we're going to put it for $10. And it is crazy how fast those things go. Go crazy or I would say anything athletic that you don't wear anymore. Like we all have Nike or Under Armour shirt or a tank top or shorts that you don't wear anymore. They don't fit anymore. List it for $5. And then you kind of got your toes wet and then you're like, okay, I can do this. I can do like.

[Liz]

That was easy. Okay, here's a question because I like I said, I've been on my Facebook marketplace grind these days. One thing I can't stomach buying new is kids toys. That's not true. I will buy some like specific things that I want. But I also, I like to. My toy strategy is I'm a rotating, I'm a revolving door. We're buying things secondhand and then I'm truthful just taking them to Goodwill. Maybe I'll start selling them. But what I've really enjoyed lately is lately I have bought two, actually I bought three lots of things. So I bought a paw patrol lot for $30 and I bought a toy food lot for I think it was 60 bucks, but it was a lot of toy food. When do you think you should lot and when do you think you should do things individually? Because. Because it was, I mean the person you definitely could have just sold like just the Chase and his police car for five bucks versus putting it all in a lot. What's your opinion on when that makes sense?

[Olivia]

You do got to think about like two people are like, you know, spending time driving to get to you So I do think loting things. I like to keep lots, though, lower. Like 20 or 30. I don't think I've ever listed a lot for 60, but doesn't mean that you can't. Yeah, but, like, you want to make it, like, worth your time. So when I sell my kids clothes, like, I'm not going to put one shirt unless it's like, an expensive brand, but a lot, like, you know, four shirts with, like, an or, like, outfits for, like, $10 or something. So, like, you know, they feel like they're getting something more than just one thing.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Olivia]

So I definitely think there's a benefit. And, like, the nice thing about Facebook Marketplace is, like, so if it doesn't sell and you think it's because it's the lot, delete the listing. And then individualize it. Like, and then, you know, there's no harm, no foul. You didn't lose any money. You know, you spent five minutes of your time to get some money back.

[Liz]

So I'm a big. I don't know if I don't really. I guess I talk about it, like, semi on my stories, but, like, I just want everyone to know, like, I'm a big Facebook Marketplace buyer. So, like, in the last 60 days, we've bought bunk beds. Maybe it was 90 days, we've bought bunk beds. Pottery Barn bunk beds. Steel, a giant armoire, three toy lots, and I bought Hattie a coat and a pair of hunter rain boots.

[Olivia]

That's awesome.

[Liz]

Oh, I bought our kitchen table from there. Like, I'm a. I think it's such a good way to. To find your items. My complaint with it, I don't know if you. I don't know. Since you're not really, like, on the buying side as much. The algorithm is so unbelievably sensitive. Like, all my social. All my other social medias, it's like, it's showing me what I want to see. Facebook Marketplace, if I. I've spoken to this before, but if I accidentally, like, look at a listing of a reborn baby doll for too long, that is all I will see for the next 60 days. Like, it's wildly sensitive, so I have to be very careful. Like, I almost want, like, a burner account where I can just, like, look up random stuff. But I have started saving things even if I'm not gonna buy it. So, like, Facebook tries to, like, show me more of the right stuff, but.

[Olivia]

All right, if I ever get a hold of someone, I will definitely submit that complaint because I have clicked on some things or I Don't just like. I'm like, oh, my gosh, like, that wedding dress is so pretty, but I don't need a wedding dress. Stop showing me wedding dresses. I just wanted to look at it for a second.

[Liz]

Okay, this is, like, kind of a selfish question, and I'm sorry that I'm just taking up so much of your time, but, like, let me give you an example. George is playing flag football, so I want to buy these youth soccer cleats because they're his size and they're only five bucks. But, like, the location is one of those locations because, like, this could be 10 minutes from my house. This could be 35 minutes from my house. And respectfully, like, that will change my will to want to go get it. So, like, at what point point can you ask for the address without committing to it, but without it sounding rude.

[Olivia]

I would just ask, like, for a rough area, like. Like a marker, like a side street or something that's not, like, so specific. Because, yes, sometimes the thing it. You know, the city's really big, and it definitely does make a difference. Also, you have to be, like, willing to prepay, but, like, if it's really something you want, I don't mind. People do ask me to mail things, and I've. I'm like, I'll mail. I do make them prepay for the shipping and that, but, you know, you. If you look at the reviews and if you're willing, you know, you have to be willing to lose. But I don't. I don't mind. I've mailed. I mean, that's why I got rid of one of the bridesmaid dresses I didn't want. Although I only got $8 for it. But whatever, I didn't need it. I was not going to use it again. I have $8. You.

[Liz]

Do you. I mean, are you. Okay, a couple more questions. How many listings do you think you have at one time? Like, what do you think? Some amount of listings, and the number is infinite.

[Olivia]

They're all manageable. Right now I have, like, 150.

[Liz]

Oh, my God. Are you doing, like, at least one sale a day?

[Olivia]

No, not necessarily. I. Should I maybe sell, like, 12 or 15amonth? I don't have that right in front of me. But, like, that's the nice thing about it is, like, sometimes things I did run, like, my average sale time, and it takes me about five months to sell something. So, like, I'm listing things, but they're not always going. Sometimes, like, you'll have, like, a lot of people, like, Three people are coming at once. Like, I gotta put a post it note for each. They don't get confused. And then sometimes like it's a week or two where I'm just chilling. But the money will come. I know it will. And I'd rather have the money than put in the trash.

[Liz]

No, it's so this. It feels like such found money, you know, because to your point, it's money you didn't have. I'm inspired by. I want to like set myself. I'm such a goal person to. I want to like set myself a goal. And like, I don't know, maybe I'll. Maybe I'll do it.

[Olivia]

And that's kind of. I took you had talked a little bit a while ago on your stories just about how like moms should be doing social media and they should be talking about it. And so I kind of like, I'd always had this idea in the back of my mind that I wanted to make a social media account because that's how I got my friends to sell is like I would encourage them, I would talk to them about them, we would brag about our sales. We would complain about the annoying people. And so like I have this handle on it. Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. I. I need to post a video. I do have.

[Liz]

You've never posted.

[Olivia]

I just haven't. It's.

[Liz]

You've never posted.

[Olivia]

I will, I will, I will, I will, I will before Wednesday, I promise.

[Liz]

Well, the episode, this episode comes out tomorrow, so you better get after it, sister.

[Olivia]

Okay, then I guess I will today. My children are being watched by my in laws all day today. So I will. Okay, I will post today.

[Liz]

No, I think this is a really. I think it's a good niche. And I'm with you. It's. It's fun. It's a dopamine hit. You're making money, it's getting stuff out of your house. And it's fun to brag. I agree. Like, it's like that's, that's like such like a women thing to do. Like, you know how like if I compliment your shirt, you're like five bucks Marshalls. Like we just say that like it's. I don't know what that is about women, but yeah, I like to brag.

[Olivia]

When I got it on Facebook, Marketplace. And I like to brag that I sold things on make with Marketplace. I sold the used toilets out of our home. Two of them I sold for $20 and they went too fast. I was like, am I underpricing? So I sold the other two for 40, and they still went too fast. My used toilets that someone probably would have pa. Made me. Made me pay to take away.

[Liz]

I just. I just listed a. We had, like, a really old, like, wrought iron, completely, like, rusted outdoor table, and it was a table with four chairs. I listed it for 50 bucks, and someone personally I knew texted me within five minutes saying, I'll take it. And I had, like, in. In those five minutes, I had, like, seven. Is this still available? And I'm like, but that's okay, because it went to someone I knew. So I felt good about that.

[Olivia]

And at the end of the day, like, I have money that I didn't have. I don't like to. I have never, like, like, gotten so many things where people are like, I want to. One I want. And I'm like, shoot, maybe I should. Like, I don't. Because I do want my good ratings. I'm like, this is what I thought it was going for. Like, this is the deal that you're getting today. And now I have the money, and I know it's going quick. Yes. Patio furniture goes really, really quick. We sold both of ours this summer, and I think I underpriced them both times.

[Liz]

I'm so inspired. I'm so inspired. Okay, I'm gonna give you two items that I'm looking. I want you tell me what you think I should price them for. Okay?

[Elizabeth]

Okay.

[Liz]

Okay. Okay. You see this desk chair behind me? Okay. What would you price that desk chair at? So.

[Olivia]

At least $30. At least 40 if you can. So what I, like, recommend people do is, like, if you can Google it and find the listing, I shoot for 50 off, whatever it's being sold.

[Liz]

That's a good tip. That's a good tip. Okay.

[Olivia]

And then for, like, clothing, though, Like, I mean, clothing depreciates so much. Like, you know, it's like a car. So you're looking at, like, one third to even less like, kids clothes. Now, specific things on how you take your photo, though. You want to have, like, a blank wall. You want it to look like your house is nice and expensive. Because we don't want to buy from a house that's junky and they don't take care of their stuff.

[Liz]

You're so right. You're so right. That's such a good tip. That's such a good tip.

[Olivia]

Especially if you have a nice kitchen, which you do. You, you know, use that kitchen to your advantage. Because I want to buy from someone that has nice stuff that looks Looks.

[Liz]

Like it's a clean house.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

That's interesting.

[Olivia]

I never recommend, like, I hate when people do, like, their unfinished basement or their garage. Like, it's fine if you store it there. Move the it blank wall, take it.

[Liz]

And then Olivia and like, that content. Like, that's your first post. And here's what you should do. You should do a carousel of something in your storage room versus in your kitchen and be like, which one would you rather buy? Post. Post it.

[Olivia]

Okay, we'll do it.

[Liz]

Write that down. That's really good.

[Olivia]

And then I will have a shameless post. The reason that also the delay in mine is one thing that I did want to make is like, I'm going to give, like, a lot of free tips, but I will also do like a. I have made three digital documents of, like, my tried. And exactly what you say from Is this available to how to write a listing to sold. And then, like, I have like, all these blurbs of, like, what to do when the, you know, the buyer takes you off the script. Like, how to get them back on. I always end with one line of, like, how to get them back on. So I know whether they drop off. So I have three guys. It's just like, the website is difficult, so I need to finish that. But I think I will post no matter what, and we'll figure that one out.

[Liz]

That's so exciting. I'm really happy to see a side hustle turned into a different side hustle. Like now teaching people how to do the side hustle. It's. It's side hustle. Summer.

[Olivia]

I think every. I think every mom should be doing it because we have stuff that needs to go, but we also have things that you need to buy. Halloween costumes. Absolutely. You should be buying them on Facebook Marketplace because they're barely used. Such a deal.

[Liz]

That is such a hot tip. You're. That is such a good thing to buy. What's. What else do you think are good things to buy on Marketplace?

[Olivia]

I think, like, athletic equipment.

[Liz]

Yeah. Like soccer cleats. So I'm on football. Okay.

[Olivia]

Any clothes or, like, use clothes. Like, you know, if you need a backup outfit or something. I definitely think toys. One thing that Facebook Marketplace does have is you can save a search. So if you want something really specific and you're willing to kind of, like, wait for it, you can save that search and it will actually notify you if someone lists it. So things that you're kind of like, looking for, like if you were looking for that armoire or that bunk bed. You can kind of save those purchases too.

[Liz]

That's awesome.

[Olivia]

But, yeah, I got the cutest Tigger Halloween costume for my son. It was $8. He looks so stinking adorable in it. My daughter, I will save it. She probably can't wear it this year, but next year. And then, like, that's the nice thing about, like, when you buy used too, is then I'll go to resell it. I know that I can make my money back. So really, it's like $0 for my kids to use, like, an adorable Halloween costume.

[Liz]

Yeah. That's awesome. Olivia, after a long day of Facebook marketplacing, what are you making to feed your family to ditch the drive through?

[Olivia]

So I have a recipe from a website called creme de la creme. It's mozzarella stuffed meatballs that you can either cook in the slow cooker or the oven. They're so easy. They're so good. You just mix up ground beef, breadcrumbs, seasoning, and put a chunk of string cheese in the middle. So from there, you can either cook them at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes, or you can put them in the slow cooker for just like an hour or two. Yeah, they're kid approved, so there's lots of ways that you can do them too. So you can do them, like, with a dipping sauce and, like, a veggie side. You can do them with a pasta.

[Liz]

No, I mean in the crock pot. Would you put them in this?

[Olivia]

I don't, but I guess you could.

[Liz]

You just put them?

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

By themselves?

[Olivia]

I honestly just like to dip mine. But you can definitely do them in pasta.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Olivia]

Yes. And I like them too. Like, you can even do it for, like, baby led weaning. Like, I just left the mozzarella stick out of it, and my daughter could hold it, and she was obsessed with it.

[Liz]

Okay, I love that. But, like, kind of an elevated way to have a. Have a meatball.

[Olivia]

Yes. And they're so good. And then, you know, it's something where we're trying to, like, not buy so many, like, freezer items with all that junk in it. Like, there. There's barely any ingredients in them.

[Liz]

Totally. And it's such an easy thing to freeze too.

[Olivia]

Yes.

[Liz]

I love that. Okay, Livia, well, thank you so much for running the carpool podcast. I think you've inspired all of us. I'll be selling a desk chair and, oh, I have a Bolton board. I was going to ask you about the.

[Olivia]

That I need to look at it, but maybe five or ten.

[Liz]

It's giving $5. It's giving $5 to me.

[Olivia]

$5.

[Liz]

$5 that I can almost. I can buy 75% of a coffee. Perfect. I'm obsessed. Thank you so much for joining the Carpool Podcast. Thank you for listening to the Carpool.

[Olivia]

Podcast with Kelly and Liz. Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode.

[Liz]

And if you enjoyed riding with us, tell everybody you know there's room in the car for everyone.