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Is Your Trash Cash? 5 Easy Places To Sell Your Stuff
By: Karen Fritscher-Porter
The old adage that says "one person's trash is another person's treasure" never
goes out of date. So when you're looking for some extra spending cash and you
want to make some space in your home, combine the two endeavors by selling your
stuff instead of donating it or trashing it. Use the extra cash to pay a bill or
start a holiday gift fund. Even better, use the windfall to treat yourself to a
weekend getaway! Plenty of people and places exist to buy what you could be
selling instead of giving away or trashing. Here are some places where you can
sell your stuff:
ANTIQUE DEALERS AND COLLECTORS: Sell anything from old coins and costume jewelry
to old records and toys that are in great shape to dealers. And sometimes not so
great shape. I got several offers for an old hand-me down jeweled pocket watch,
even with its bit of chipped paint. Dealers often resell your item to make
themselves a profit. The telephone book yellow pages yields the names of area
antique dealers or check the local newspaper classified ads under the "wanted to
buy" sections. Be sure to get more than one quote or appraisal before you sell
it.
FLEA MARKETS: Got a bunch of stuff to sell like books, video tapes, figurines,
fake (or real) potted plants, even clothing in good shape? Rent a booth at the
nearest flea market that generates a lot of traffic. Often just $5 - $15 rents a
space with a table. Visit first to scope out the best booth for your bucks.
Perhaps even bring your own additional tables, shelves or hanging clothes racks.
A sheet or cheap tablecloth will dress up your flea market table too (Sometimes
good displays attract more shoppers!). Don't forget the lawn chair and $20 in
small bills for change. And flea market shoppers like to haggle. So inflate your
prices just a bit so they can strike a bargain with you. It's expected!
CLASSIFIED ADS: Make room for the new couch by selling the old one in your local
freebie paper, especially if you're in a college town. Used furnishings are hot
sale items to students. I once netted $200 bucks for a small quaint and
deteriorating three piece wood bedroom drawer set someone gave me a few years
back. I placed an ad in the local "Pennysaver" newspaper for just a few bucks,
and dozens of potential buyers called almost immediately. It sold in two days
(to a furniture design graduate student who wanted to restore the furniture).
CONSIGNMENT/RESALE SHOPS: If you have discovered that you like walking in fresh
air or you stink at tennis, consider giving up your treadmill or tennis rackets
in exchange for cash. Sell used sporting goods equipment to stores such as Play
it Again; or put it on consignment at such stores. That means if the item sells,
the store gets a cut. If it doesn't sell, you're still stuck with it and earn no
money. Also, you probably have some clothing consignment stores in your
community. Check the phone book and look around, or ask around, to find them.
Sometimes resale shops or consignment shops will advertise in those weekly
freebie "tell and sell" or community newspapers too. Make some inquiries with
these shops about what seasonal clothes they're looking for currently; then give
them your good stash of clothes that you no longer wear to sell on consignment.
Make sure you inquire about what happens to the clothing if it doesn't sell (so
you get it back and they don't cart it off to the nearest charity clothing shop
which some will if you want them to do so).
FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS: Sure it's okay to give things away now and then to
friends in need. But if you're planning to sell an item and you happen to know a
friend, acquaintance or co-worker seeking just such an item, why not give them
first purchase option? When I married, I ended up with a lot of duplicate items
just taking up storage space. One day during a casual conversation with a
co-worker I found a new home for my almost new, small microwave. My co-worker
had just divorced, moved to this new state, owned almost no household items and
lived in a very small apartment; my small microwave was a perfect match for her
needs. I ended up with $25 I needed and she ended up with a must-have item for
her new apartment. So keep your ears open for people seeking what you're getting
rid of and don't be afraid to say an item is for sale (after all, if you could
afford to give it away, you probably wouldn't be reading this article.).
About the Author:
Karen Fritscher-Porter is the publisher/editor of
www.Christmas-Cash.com,
a Website that brings you simple pocket cash and freebie earning opportunities
and ideas. She also publishes
www.EasyHomeOrganizing.com, a Website that
helps you organize your home. Both sites offer free articles, information and
ideas and a free newsletter. |
