Therapeutically clearing clutter while making money, a win/win proposition.
Overflowing closets overwhelming you? Regretting that holiday spending? If you have a little free time on your hands and closets in need of overhaul, then make this your lucky day and kill a few birds with one internet stone.
By clearing out the clutter and putting money in your pocket, it really is like therapy for your well-being. Think of it as investment in yourself, only everyone benefits.
If you've never done the ebay or craigslist (or a million other selling sites), it can be sort of daunting at first. RELAX! If you know how to peck on a keyboard and take a picture, you're capable of online resell. It's a multi million dollar business for a reason, it's fast, easy and literally, anyone can do it.
I recently cleared out my closet, purging clothes I hadn't worn due to weightloss, or hideous pieces that caused me to pause and call into question my own taste. (why in the world did I think THAT would ever be cute?!) As I contributed to a rapidly growing and chaotic pile, I thought of all the money I had invested in the heap. So, in lieu of leaving it for the local donation site to deal with, I thought I'd try my luck at selling these gems to other fashion-deprived individuals. After 5 days and $200 later, I decided I made enough to go shop for more things to restock my wardrobe. So is the circle of life...for a closet.
First things first, establish an account if you're going to use a public site such as eBay or Craigslist. It is also extremely helpful to open a PayPal or similar account, so you have instant payments and access to them. This does require verification of a bank account and email, but these are secure sites. There are fees associated with listing on some sites, though usually one can diminish that cost by elevating your asking price minimum. Also, I have found that people tend to worry about shipping cost. NO NEED! Buyers pay that upfront, with a price pre-determined by you, the seller. You can even add a 'cushion' in case your estimate is off or to allow for gas cost. Buyers see shipping cost and agree upfront when placing the bid.
There are even apps on the market to work with your smart phones so you can list on the go if you have the pictures already taken. I have literally walked into a thrift store, found a treasure, and had it listed within 5 minutes as I sat in the parking lot. It was sold with the price I set before I even arrived home. Paid $2, and by the time I pulled into my driveway, I had $20 sitting in my account plus shipping. My phone even says "ca-ching" (literally!) as money arrives in my account.
So remember, there is always something you have to sell that someone else may be willing to buy. The trick is to know what you're selling and how to market it to appeal to potential buyers. That horrid polyester blouse is now a "retro chic, very hard to find (VHTF)" clothing item that someone now wants to buy from you. Ca-ching.
When all is said and done, what better therapy is there, than for you to accomplish cleaning your closet AND being paid to do so? I have a relatively organized closet, jingle in my pocket and a sense of accomplishment, sounds therapeutic to me.
For more information, go to www.ebay.com to see seller requirements and tools for their site. Additional resources can be found online at www.craigslist.org or by searching local online garage sales, even Facebook. These sites are usually free to list, but there are less safeguards between buyers and sellers. Just like anything else, there are pros and cons, and it's up to you to decide which best meets your needs. The thing to remember: you are in control of this particular form of reverse retail therapy. Enjoy.
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