by Cara McClain

About a month or two ago, during activity, my friend said, “Oh! I have to show you this new website!”

Normally, that comment combined with the excitement in her voice would excite me too, but that day for whatever reason, I felt cynical, imagining some stupid website with pictures of cats on standing on their hind legs or squeezing into a shoe.

So before even seeing it, I doubted this website’s “cool” factor.

She logged on to her netbook and typed www.zaarly.com into the browser.

“Oh god,” I groaned. “What is this?”

Despite my obvious doubts, she continued still excited to explain to me how Zaarly works. It’s kind of like a reverse eBay, where instead of offering something to sell, people ask for items or favors and name their price.

Currently, if you have a new, unopened DVD of “Elf,” you can make three dollars selling it to this Zaarly member. You can make $600 if you let someone borrow your RV. Or if you’re the handy type, you could earn a quick $75 by replacing someone’s bathroom door.

Zaarly features this weird collection of requests just like that.

Despite my initial doubts, I enjoy Zaarly. It’s a great time waster during activity or a boring, worthless free, since the netbooks don’t block it (No, administration/whoever this is not an invitation to now do so. Thanks!)

It’s hilarious to watch my friend try and plan how to make money off of it, too. Somehow reason completely escapes us whenever we’re on Zaarly.

Transport four old computer monitors? Sure, we can do some heavy lifting. We got this. Those $10 are ours.

Three hours of yard work? Yeah, we know how to use rakes and shovels. Perfect.

She’s become a shrewd businessperson with Zaarly’s help.

Recently, she saw a post asking to borrow some kind of power tool for a day and offering $10 in return.

“Oh, I can do this one,” she said, nodding her head.

Then a split second of reality.

“Actually, I don’t think I have a [whatever type of power tool it was]… Hmm. Oh, but I could go buy [this ridiculously expensive power tool, exceeding the price of $10] and then rent it out to this person! Yeah, that’d work!”

Ok, well maybe she’s not a great businessperson, but she thinks like a middle man, planning to buy and then sell items at a higher price to people.

Not only is Zaarly an entertaining time waster and a lesson in basic business, it’s a local company. So go join it today, and find that perfect sectional sofa or specialty Pokemon cards you’ve been searching for.