Does your house have more things coming in then going out? Have your children left things behind or refuse to let go of stuff they don’t use anymore? Does cleaning your house take way longer than it should and does it get back to a state of chaos fairly quickly? Ya. Mine too. It’s time to take back control, pare down and put some money in my pocket.
Keeping a clean and organized house has always been a problem for me. Yes, a huge part of it is that I am lazy and hate cleaning but it is much more likely due to the fact that my kids and husband always thwart my efforts to purge and minimize. (It’s easier blaming someone else, isn’t it?) They don’t want to get rid of anything! Plus the fact that I have been living in the same house for over 25 years.
When you move, you naturally take the time to get rid of stuff. And since I have been in the same place for so long, I have accumulated way too much stuff. I know it. I have stuff tucked away in the attic and basement that I haven’t looked at in years.
But I am on a mission. My five year plan is to pare down our belongings and fix up the house so we can be ready to downsize when my hubby retires.
I have a few obstacles though:
- I can only go through stuff when no one is home. It is unbelievable the stuff I am uncovering that has not been touched for a decade but as soon as I say I am getting rid of it, someone wants to keep it. Well, what they don’t see me get rid of, they won’t miss so I must work under cover.
- Some stuff is just too good to donate or take to the dump. That is probably why it is still here. I more than likely spent good money on it and can’t get my head around the money I wasted. My solution to that is to try to recoup my losses by making some cash.
- I hate garage/yard sales. There is so much planning and pre-organizing. Plus I have to waste a whole day wheeling and dealing with people that want to haggle me down for a quarter. The thought of having one makes me tired. I need to sell my stuff another way.
So far, so good. In the last month, I have made over $2000 decluttering and I have barely made a dent in the things I could sell. I sold a piano, a washer, baby gates (My kids are in their twenties! lol), dressers, computer tables, video games, art, and collectibles, just to name a few things. I tell you, it is really encouraging to keep going when you see corners being emptied and money going into your wallet.
If you are like me and hate the thought of having a garage sale but want to make some money by getting rid of stuff you don’t need anymore, here is a list of 5 different ways you can make that happen.
How I Made Over $2000 Last Month Decluttering Without Having A Yard Sale
1. For the big and bulky items. It is best to sell them locally so that you don’t have to deal with shipping. The buyer comes right to your home and removes the item. Plus you get cash right away.
- Place an ad on Facebook, Kijiji, Craigslist, your local paper or any other free app.
- Use high quality images and give as much information as possible. The more detail you give, the less tire kickers you will get and you will reach the right buyer.
- Cross post for the most visibility.
- Be sure to check out similar ads and set your price competitively. Be reasonable. What would you want to pay for that item used?
- Some items may take longer to sell because the buyer isn’t looking when you place your ad. Be patient.
- Respond to enquiries right away and be flexible in viewings and negotiations.
2. For the collectible or vintage items. You can still use the method above to sell these types of items but to ensure you get the most bang for your buck, you should go global and try to sell on eBay too.
- Keep in mind there are costs involved when you do. Make sure to factor that into the price you set.
- Don’t forget you will have to package and ship the item when it sells
- You will have to fill out customs forms if you choose to accept bids from other countries.
Selling on eBay will not have as quick a turnaround as method #1 and there are more steps involved but it may get you a higher payout.
3. For clothes, baby items and games/electronics. You can certainly sell these items through method #1 and #2 on your own but if you just can’t be bothered doing all the work, do some research and find consignment shops in your area.
- Some cater to clothes/items for just babies or teens as well as for older women. The more targeted the market, the higher the price you will potentially get.
- There are local consignment shops for wedding dresses as well as online.
- Many clothes consignment shops take shoes and purses as well. Check out online sites if you have designer brands.
- For games and electronics, find used product stores that buy from customers.
Always check out policies before you leave your items at a consignment shop. Some buy your items outright, some give store credit and some don’t pay you until your item sells. Be sure you understand all the rules and when/how you will be paid.
4. For gold, tools, musical instruments and more. There are pawn and jewellery shops that will give you cash for your gold and/or other household items in good condition. You may not get top dollar but you will save the hassle of selling your things yourself.
5. For appliances, metal and electronics that don’t work. Look for ads on Facebook, Kijiji, Craiglist and your local paper for items that people are looking for that you may have. I found one guy that picked up and paid me for:
- old washer
- old printer
- old tv’s that didn’t work
- steel frame from futon
- king size steel bed frame
- steel frame from at home gym
Saved me time and energy getting rid of that stuff myself and I was pretty happy with the few dollars in my pocket.
Overall, I have had a very successful month of decluttering and made some serious bucks in the process. I am encouraged to keep going and I hope I have given you a few ideas on how you could get money for your stuff without having to sell your soul on your front lawn. It is totally worth looking into alternatives. You can potentially have a larger financial return for all that stuff that is just collecting dust in your home right now. You will love your space and the extra cash.
Let me know if you have sold your stuff successfully and how you did it.