Your house is filled to the brim with junk, and you want to get rid of as much of it as you can. You can just picture yourself tossing everything into a series of black garbage bags and cardboard boxes and hauling them out to the curb to be taken out with the rest of your trash.
But wait. Before you toss anything out, ask yourself, “Could I sell this?”. You might be surprised by what items you can sell off and use to boost your savings.
What Can You Sell?
1. Clothes
Do you have a pile of clothes that you don’t want anymore? You can sell those items through online consignment shops like Thredup, Poshmark, Vinted, The RealReal, Depop, or Mercari. Or you can visit a brick-and-mortar consignment shop in your area and see which items the shop is willing to sell for you.
2. Jewelry
You can sell your old jewelry online through online marketplaces like eBay, Ruby Lane, The RealReal, and Poshmark. Or you can go to a local jeweler and see whether they are willing to purchase your items. The jeweler may want to re-sell the jewelry or break it down for its precious materials (gold, silver, or gemstones).
The winter season is a great time to try to sell off your old jewelry, especially rings. Why? Because more people get engaged around the Christmas holidays and Valentine’s Day, which means they will be on the hunt for unique and affordable rings.
3. Books
Sell those novels that have just been gathering dust on your bookshelves for far too long. Bring them to a used bookstore and see whether the owner wants to purchase any of your copies. Or sell them online through websites like BookScouter, Powell’s Books, and AbeBooks.com.
Don’t forget about the other old books sitting around your house. College textbooks, gaming handbooks, and cookbooks are also sellable!
4. Electronics
You have some old electronics that don’t get much use, but they’re still in fine condition. Sell them through websites like Decluttr, BuyBackWorld, GadgetGone, and Gazelle. Be sure to wipe your personal data from computers, laptops, and phones that could be traced back to you before you put them up for sale. You’ll want to keep that information out of the buyer’s hands.
5. “Retro” Items
Do you have a stash of VHS tapes packed away in a box? Do you have old records? Comic books? Toys? Don’t assume that these retro items have lost their value over the years. You might be surprised to learn what some people are willing to spend on vintage treasures. For instance, an unopened vintage tape of Rocky was sold for $27,500 at an auction.
If you’re okay with letting go of the nostalgic connection to your past, you could make a real profit. Do this through online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy or find local shops that may be interested in the niche items you’re selling (like record stores).
6. Gift Cards
Do you have gift cards that you don’t want or need? Don’t throw them out. That’s a waste of money! Instead, sell them to someone who does want to get their hands on that card. Do this through websites like CardCash and Raise.
7. Furniture
There is a ton of old furniture sitting in your garage. The furniture is heavy, which probably means you’ll want to sell it to someone in your area who can come pick it up. Try to use resources like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. If the furniture is vintage or unique, look into a local flea market or antique dealer.
8. Exercise Equipment
You have some exercise equipment that has been sitting around the house, untouched. You can sell it off to people who want to start building a home gym. You’ll get more bids for this type of online listing around the Christmas holidays and New Year’s when plenty of people make “working out more often” their top New Year’s resolution. Sell it through Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, and Bonanza.
9. Baby Gear
Expecting parents are always looking for baby gear and clothes before their new family member arrives. So, if you have leftover baby items that you don’t need anymore, help out these parents by selling them these essentials at a discounted rate. Do this through Rebelstork, Good Buy Gear, Kidizen, and Facebook Marketplace.
10. Craft Supplies
Some of these items may seem like junk, but they’ll be considered extremely useful to teachers, artists, and hobbyists in desperate need of craft supplies. If you have a lot of empty egg cartons, undented bottle caps, old magazines, paper bags and empty jars lying around the house, you can pack them together and sell them through eBay.
Why Should You Boost Your Savings?
A full savings account is the perfect safety net for all of life’s little (and sometimes expensive) surprises. If your car engine stalls, your kitchen sink clogs or your roof springs a leak, you can use the funds sitting in your savings account to cover the costs right away. Without those savings, you might struggle to handle these surprise costs out of pocket.
If you’re ever in a position where you don’t have enough savings to cover a surprise expense, you can always apply for an online loan as a solution. That’s right — you don’t have to go far to submit an application for a personal loan. You can complete the application process at home using your computer or smartphone. If you get approved for the personal loan, you can use the borrowed funds to manage your surprise expense quickly and put the situation behind you. Then, you can focus on the loan repayment plan.
Having a big pile of savings can help you avoid borrowing money altogether. You can simply rely on your personal emergency fund to deal with any surprise expense that comes your way.
Get all of this junk off of your hands and get more savings in your pocket. When you’re done making these sales, you’ll have a cleaner house and a bigger bank account.
