If you are just tuning in to the series this is what you’ve missed as far as tasks:
#1 – Create Short and Long Term Goals
#2 – Make a Budget
#3 – Make a List of Highest Priced and Most Used Items
#4 – Create a Low Inventory List and Maintain It
#5 – Create a Sensible Stockpile
$6 – Learn How to Make a Weekly Meal Plan
#7 – Keep an Organized Kitchen
#8 – Waste Less
#9 – Become a Smarter Shopper
#10 –Plan Events in Advance
Halfway through this series now. I’m hoping you’ll check out the other 10 if you missed them!
Over time, our homes can collect a lot of clutter if we let them. Between birthdays, holiday gifts, hot clearance finds, souvenirs, etc. it doesn’t take long for things to start piling up. While these things can bring us a joy at the time of receiving it, they can also bring us an overwhelming sense of stress when your house begins to run out of space. We might be tempted just to toss them into a donation bin just to be rid of it but I encourage you all to take a bit of time to see if you can’t make some money from them. You might find that rather than digging into your savings for new things you need, that you can save some money by making money off of things you already have in your own home.
Here are some things to consider:
1) Garage Sale – I know, I groan too just thinking about it. But garage sales can actually be bearable when the misery is shared. lol. My family and I did a combined garage sale this summer. We had a great time chatting and hanging out together and I ended up making $100 just off a few things I would have originally donated.
2) Books – Books, especially children’s books, are great sells at garage sales. You can also see if your area has a used book store that will give you cash for your books. I piled up a bunch we had and made $50 over the course of the year. The ones that do the best are the kids’ chapter books. You can also sell books on eBay (or at a “sell it for me eBay store) and make money that way, too. This is a great one to consider if you have a series of books you are getting rid of.
3) CDs and Movies – We have a store chain by us called Disc Replay. They give you cash for used CDs, DVDs, BluRays, etc. Over the course of a few years, we’ve probably made $250 there. We got tired of storing old CDs and had a lot of TV DVD series to turn in. I found some over the holidays for $10 that I ended up getting $8 back for and it gave us weeks of entertainment.
4) Gently Used Clothing – Check your local area as you might find a store that will give you either cash or store credit for ‘gently used’ clothing items. Most places are looking for clothes free of stains and excessive wear. If you happen to have name brands, those will usually get you the most money back. See what they offer first as you might be able to make more money in a garage sale as kids’ clothing tends to do well in those.
It often doesn’t take long to drop these items off at these types of shops. My best advice is this: keep a container in your garage or somewhere in your house. When you are cleaning and come across something that you no longer need, toss it in the container. When it gets full, try to find a place where you can take it to get some value out of those items. If you are planning on selling them in a garage sale, take a second to put a price tag on the item before you put it in there. That way when your garage sale comes around, you’ll be all ready to go!
Over the course of a few years, we’ve managed to acquire about $500 from “clutter.” We often save it and use it for something like spending money on a family vacation or a family outing. This way, we remember the fun that can be had when we take time to make money from our things.
HOW CAN THIS HELP ME SAVE MONEY?
If you are in need of something new, see if you can find something old that will bring you the cash for it! This will help you from having to take money out of your budget for it. Over time, you’ll find yourself saving money by making the most of what you already have.
Stay tuned for the final installments of this series!
(you can browse current: Kroger Ad and Winn Dixie Ad.)