Ever feel like you just can’t get ahead? The bills are piling up, the credit card payments just keep getting larger, the interest seems to be multiplying. We’ve all been there, me included. But there ways to step back and look at it objectively. If we’ve got stuff, we’ve got money. If we’ve got knowledge, we’ve got something to sell. If we’ve got a work ethic, we’ve got a way to work it off.
But let’s start at the obvious. We can sell our stuff.
Stuff is just that, stuff. It’s doesn’t hold any emotional value, lots of it, is stuff that we no longer need, and most of the time, didn’t ever need.
I know it’s hard for lots of people to give up their stuff. It’s theirs. They like it. They feel safe with it around. Watching things slowly disappear for some extra cash, sometimes doesn’t seem like a fair trade.
But trust me, it is. We often get attached to this stuff because we’ve conditioned ourselves to feel like if we lose it, we must be losing something of ourselves. Trust me, you’re not.
I grew up with a Mom, who although a great mom and single mother provider, had an unnatural obsession with stuff. Stuff she didn’t need, stuff she didn’t use, and stuff she hadn’t even remotely looked at in years. The rules were simple. DON’T TOUCH MY STUFF. She’d freak out, cry, have tantrum-like episodes, and basically freak out if you threw away the stuff. It didn’t make sense to me, and honestly still doesn’t. For her, and many others, stuff made her feel safe, and losing it made her feel lost and out of control.
If you’re that kinda person, well the truth is, you’ve got some work to do. If you’re in debt, and that kinda person, you better get to the therapist office, cuz you need to work that sh*t out quick.
One of the first things that we can do when strapped for cash, is taking a look around. Is your stuff necessary? Is it valuable? Do I use this every day? If the answer is no, well put on your thinking cap, cuz here’s a way to make some extra cash.
And finally, ask yourself this, “does all this stuff around me, make me feel better than how I would feel to be debt free?” If the answer is no, then get your camera and craigslist account up and start selling…..
- Appliances– Appliances you ask? How am I gonna live without the stove? No silly, I don’t mean things we use every day. God forbid you sell the coffee maker and try to cold turkey it. EEEEK! That would be terrible. And potentially dangerous for some of you. I mean extra appliances, tv’s, microwaves, hair dryers, etc. Almost all of us have extra appliances hanging around that don’t get used. Get them listed on Craigslist, trust me, you won’t miss them.
- Old Electronics– Ok, so by old electronics you mean like the iPhone 2, right? Well sorta. Chances are that super old electronics may not bring much, but if you add up all the old stuff around, like iPhones, iPods, Xboxes, etc, you probably have a few around. Why? You’re not gonna use them, they’re just gonna collect dust. There’s plenty of websites around BuyBackWorld, or Gazelle, where you can list and sell these dust collectors. Also, don’t be afraid to try eBay.com. Great place to list stuff and lots of people looking.
- Antiques– So antiques come with a warning. If your great-great-great-great grandma has passed down an antique, thru the family over many generations, maybe pick that antique last to sell! While it may be worth substantially more than others, I would beware of selling family heirlooms unless it’s a dire situation and you’ve notified other family members. If they’re just regular old antiques, well then hop to it. One of the best ways is to look up antique values on sites such as Kovel, or even taking them down to local antique stores. I never would want anymore to sell something that is potentially very valuable, without first verifying worth.
- Jewelry– Jewelry is another one of those things that I handle with care. If it’s a family heirloom, put it down. Pick up that old, out of date bracelet, or out of style watch. There’s plenty of ways to evaluate jewelry, by a jeweler or even checking values on websites like, ebay.com to see what like things are selling for. But seriously, always check the value first!
- Gift Cards– This might seem like a strange one, but how many of us have gift cards that we simply don’t use. We put them somewhere safe and completely forget about them. Well, they’re worth money. Now, you’re probably not gonna get complete face value, but sites like Cardpool, or GiftCardGranny, are great places to trade them in. Just make sure that they’re still good!
- Furniture– Furniture is easily one of the easiest things to sell. Everyone is looking for cheap, used furniture. If you’ve got a set of furniture that’s in good shape, that you’ll sell together, well that’s even better. Don’t expect top dollar, unless they’re nearly new, but you can easily collect a couple of hundred books, all the way to the thousands, depending on quality for used furniture.
- Exercise Equipment– So I’m sure when you bought that treadmill, you had every expectation to run 3 miles a day. But currently its hanging you’re dry cleaning. It’s time for it to go. Think you’ll miss it? Just put your running shoes on, open your front door and step outside. There’s a live treadmill, just waiting for you.
- Clothes– Selling used clothes has always seemed strange, but the truth is, it’s big business. Like huge. Do you have designer stuff? Even bigger business. Don’t be afraid to go thru that closet and if you haven’t worn it in 90 days, toss it. Donate anything that is too worn, dirty, stained, or faded to ask money for. And don’t be afraid to put clothes in local consignment or on eBay
- Camera– So camera equipment is a funny one. How many of you have a video and still camera? How many of you have multiple cameras? I do. Like lots of them. While super, dated cameras may not bring much, many can be sold for parts. And if you’re thinking of buying new, make sure you sell the old. Plenty of sites such as BHPhotovideo, KEH, and Buybackworld will give you offers on equipment. Don’t be afraid to get rid of them, you won’t miss them!
- Books– I am an avid book lover. I love the smell of them, the feel of the pages, everything about them. But the truth is, I very rarely read something twice. Like I read it, and then it sits. So why not sell? And if you’ve got textbooks, you’re in the money. You can obviously sell on Amazon, Bookscouter, and HalfPriceBooks.
- Camping Gear– Camping gear is expensive. Like really expensive. And most people have multiples of everything. Multiple tents, sleeping bags, etc. So look, I don’t know anything about camping, never been, never owned camping gear. But plenty of you do. If you’re not using it, well let’s get rid of it! Imagine the feeling over having a credit card paid off, versus the feeling of that camping trip that you never got too. It seems like an easy choice!
- DVD– I’ve got lots of DVDs. Wait scratch that, I had lots of DVDs. Many of us, over time, have converted our DVD selection into a complete digital collection. Every movie I’ve loved and watched multiple times, I’ve bought digitally, usually thru Itunes. So don’t feel bad about ditching the DVDs, you’re not using them.
- Designer Purse– So yes you can sell any purse. And I would if you weren’t using them. But if you’re a fashionista in debt, you’ve got an easy out. Take all those expensive designer purses, and get busy. Cuz they’re worth money. Truthfully, I’m not really into fashion, accessories, or jewelry. Shocking looking at me, I know. But I do realize that many of these designer bags are actually quite valuable. Most keep their value and even increase with time. They are by all accounts a good investment. And even better to sell. Check out sites like BagBorrowSteal, or Rebag for more info. Besides, you can only truly use one bag at a time anyway, right?
- Musical Instruments– Did you used to play the flute? I did. Did your kids play the violin for a year only to give it up? Never fear, cuz there are plenty of others looking for deals on instruments. Take them down to your local music center shop, or even list online. Poof, it’ll be gone.
- Coin Collection– So this seems pretty easy, you collect coins worth money, and now you’re gonna sell them. Yep, that’s how it works. Again, if this is a passed down collection, then I’d tread lightly and make sure the family is ok with selling. But if you’ve just been collecting and needs quick cash, these are a great thing to sell.
- Baseball Card Collections– I think for most people, (usually the male persuasion), this is a hard sell. Lots of them have had these collections for years, some since they were kids. Like any collectible, there’s a choice you have to make. Is it smarter to hold on and wait for more value, or is it smarter to pay off debt? That’s the tough choice you’ve got to make. But personally, the stress of debt is much greater than the joy I might get from a piece of cardboard.
- Tools- Tools are a great option because often we don’t use them much. Sure we should probably keep that hammer around, but do we all need a skill saw? Besides, doesn’t our neighbor have one we can borrow?
- Art– Most of us don’t have large, vast art collections. But some people do have a piece or two, sometimes handed down that are worth something. Again, it’s a personal choice you have to make if it’s worth holding onto versus having peace of mind with paid off debt. Again, don’t forget to get it evaluated by an art professional to make sure you’re making the best deal.
- Sports Equipment– Sports equipment, like musical instruments, is one of those things that we often buy when we’re interested, lose interest in, and then it sits. Sometimes it’s our kid’s stuff. They thought they wanted to play baseball when they realized they’re really more of a swimmer. Don’t be afraid to sell this stuff off. It’s easy to buy used again, and chances are we won’t miss it. I mean, do you think I miss my roller blades from ‘99? Nope.
- Bicycles- Bicycles are great, because often we buy them for growing kids, or for ourselves, and either we outgrow them, realize we don’t really like to ride a bike, or we upgrade to something fancier. In any case, move this stuff along.
So there you have it, the top 20 things you can sell for extra cash. Are there more things out there to sell? Sure. But these are the things that most, if not all of us, have sitting around. Don’t be afraid to take a weekend and slowly start going thru your stuff. Start with a room, and go thru the whole house. Not only will you de-clutter and simplify your life, but you’ll also have a nice payday at the end. And what can we do with that payday? Pay down debt, put into savings, or even take a nice trip. Simplify your life, you won’t regret it!
