I have to admit, sometimes I get teased by friends or family for what I buy on eBay. There is very little I purchase that I don't at least attempt to buy on eBay first. Why not? There are thousands (if not millions) of eBay listings at any given time -- that's a pretty amazing resource for everything under the sun. For everything you buy on eBay, there's probably at least one other thing you haven't thought of. 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 colors that you love and can't live without! I set up a search for my favorite 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 flavor. 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!

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