With finances tight there’s a perennial way to generate some instant cash – selling things in your home. The benefits to clutter control include getting more easily organized, identifying forgotten items that you can use in lieu of buying new ones, and creating a more open, enjoyable space in your home that is focused on people rather than stuff. The uses of the instant cash received include helping to smooth out a budget and paying down outstanding debt. While much is written about this, the following items in particular can generate the most money:
1. Old laptops/computers. Rather than keep the laptop or desktop that you replaced, format the hard drive, wipe it with a cleaning cloth, and sell it on an online marketplace. Students on a budget might appreciate the chance to own a mobile PC for far less than the cost of a new one, or anyone with basic productivity needs for that matter.
2. Recreational toys/equipment. Items like trampolines are great for empty-nesters to get rid of, as are other children’s toys, some of which are quite expensive. This fits well with the trend this holiday season of buying used toys for kids as gifts.
3. Redundant furniture. Chairs especially, since oftentimes additional ones are bought for special events that later may experience little or no use.
4. Rugs. These can be expensive, and many actually appreciate in value over time. Often they don’t suit the house or apartment. They’re even better prospects for sale if they spend their time rolled up in the garage.
5. Jewelry and watches. You may not need several sets of these luxury items and they continue to hold much of their value as they age.
6. Antiques. Any of these that sit in the garage are prime suspects for the axe. Even ones that clutter your home may not hold much functional value.
7. Television sets. Older or extra TVs are sometimes lying around the house, especially if you’ve recently upgraded to a flat-screen model like a plasma or LCD. Even selling the one you use that sits in the bedroom might be a good move since research has shown that having TVs in your bedroom decreases your quality-of-life.
8. Movies. Many have huge collections of DVDs that go unwatched. Why not sell them off either individually or as a bundle set and pocket the cash? This is also a great way of being artistic by pledging to keep only the top five personal favorites.
9. Outdoor tools. Expensive power tools or carpentry sets are oftentimes bought and then go unused. Many yard/gardening contraptions are both expensive and never see the light of day.
10. Paintings. Art that sits in storage is one of the best things to sell. Paintings and other art objects in the house that aren’t particularly striking may also be great liquidation targets.
Raj Patel writes for DebtGoal.com, a do-it-yourself system for getting out of debt and lowering your interest costs. DebtGoal.com incorporates all of the techniques discussed in this post and can help users understand and get visibility to and manage their debt finances.
Tags: cash, cash generation, clutter, clutter control, debt elimination, Debt Paydown, garage sale
