Move over e-Bay, Amazon.com, Gay.com and Monster.com. Craigslist.com is an exciting website where you can find out about jobs, dating, items for sale, participate in chats and discussions on issues from politics to planning a wedding. It’s also a lot of fun.

So bring this article over to your computer and type in craigslist.com. The list starts off in San Francisco, I guess because it was invented there. To your right your going to see many cities listed all over the world lets stay local for now and click on Austin.

Now you’re in Austin…cyber Austin. To the far right you will see an event’s calendar. Just click on any date and it will show you what’s happening in Austin. This is a lot easier than cross checking with the statesman, chronicle and yes even the senior advocate. Over to the left we have community, where by clicking on the information you desire you can find out about volunteer opportunities in Austin as well read about current news events general information.

Under community we have a personal section where people can meet and chat. Below that is a great discussion forum where people can chat back and forth about politics, their favorite writers or discuss how much they love their pets (I love mine very much, sorry but they are watching me type).

We also have columns for housing, items for sale; items wanted a section for people who are giving away items or need items for free. There is a job posting area for companies and a place you can post your resume.

Craigslist has a ton of uses besides finding that right guy, right job or right CD collection you lost a long time ago. It’s also an opportunity to speak with people from other cities all over the world. If you were thinking of taking a vacation to London, Craigslist will give you their calendar so you can time your trip with perhaps some fun events coming up, you can also contact the residents there and find out first hand information on the best places to see and be.

How easy it is to post on Craigslist.com? Simply go to the top left of the page and clock on post to classifieds. It will then ask you what forum you want to post to: (jobs, dating, comments, and volunteers). Then you crate a title for your post and a say what you want to say. Add your location or any contact information if you want people to be able to contact you. After that you have to agree to Craigslist.com guidelines on the content you are adding to their site. Once you agree it will tell you an email has been sent to your usual e-mail account. Click on the email and it will ask you to confirm that you do want to post this item (this way if a post needs to be investigated they have your email address to identify you.). Sometimes it may take several minutes for your post to be seen on the web, so please be patient.

I have found craigslist.com to be very helpful in both my professional and personal life. I was able to list office space for non-profits, which had a huge response. I was able to list volunteer activities for my non-profit. I was able to help a friend list his garage sale which had more people come from craigslist than who heard of it from other means. I was also able to pick up a movie I could no longer find in the stores from someone online who owned it.

So next time you are looking for something new and fun to do around Austin or need to find someone who enjoys bowling on Thursdays just as much as you do, try Craigslist.com.

SeniorNet will be offering a hands on training class on Craigslist.com in December

To see other exciting websites, visit Monster.com where you can post and read résumés and help wanted ads. Amazon.com is a fantastic place to shop for the holidays.