Legend has it freshmen college students gain 15 pounds in their first term. Fact is, this is no legend. Going to college doesn’t just mean changing schools, it means changing lifestyles.

Consignment stores used to be few and far between, but their numbers have grown as more people dig into closets and attics to make ends meet. Some shops are goldmines while others are filled with overpriced junk.

The New Year brings resolutions, holiday bills and closets clogged with Christmas gifts you can't use. Now would be a good time to prune your unwanted belongings to bring in extra cash and keep your mind off that diet. What you consider junk others may consider treasure, so here are five ways to turn unused items into cash.

It gives one pause to hear H&R Block recently paid out $20.2 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the tax-preparation company of widespread fraud.

New Year's resolutions aren't all about depriving ourselves of something we love. They also can be about hope: Hope we can live a better life. Research has shown we get a powerful boost in mood by simply making a New Year's resolution.

Merchants are mobbed between Christmas and New Years by shoppers looking for post-holiday sales. Racks claiming 30 to 50 percent off fill stores as retailers try to off-load overstock items and clear out shelf space for spring merchandise. Clearance prices and special coupons can make purchases very tempting, but what should you buy at this time. Coupon Sherpa offers seven tips to making the most out of these post-holiday sales.

You've braved the crowds at Megamart and find yourself fourteen shoppers deep in the checkout line. A quick survey of your cart reveals you've forgotten an essential element to Christmas shopping. The obligatory wrapping paper.  Groan.

Coupon use is on the rise and so is coupon fraud. From 1986 to 2001, the non-profit Coupon Information Corp. (CIC) reported only two cases of investigated or prosecuted coupon fraud. That figure rose to just nine in 2007. From 2008 to the middle of 2009, 93 such cases were reported and the numbers are expected to rise as the recession drags on.

Rain checks needn't always mean gloomy weather. Coupon Sherpa knows how you can turn these little slips of paper into sunny days for your pocketbook. A rain check is a ticket, coupon or the like, entitling a customer to purchase an out-of-stock item at a later date at the sale price. In essence a rain check is a paper "I.O.U." guaranteeing the same sale price at a later date of the customer's choosing.

In some countries, haggling over purchase isn't just a matter of saving money: It's a form of entertainment. In fact, vendors expect a bit of negotiating so they purposely set their prices high to begin with. Meanwhile, Americans who willingly haggle over the price of a car or house never consider negotiating a reduced price on other items.