9 Ways To Get Cash for Your Clutter

Need some cash? Got lots of clutter? Make money by selling your clutter.  

When you think about selling your clutter, it can feel like a big and overwhelming project. But it doesn’t have to be!

If you need some extra cash for those bills that keep coming, work on one of these nine ways to get cash for clutter and make money by selling your clutter. Then sit back and relax as the money starts rolling in.

1. Hold a Yard Sale

Bearded man attending yard sale asking about the price of pink tea cup
Image Credit:
Dmyrto_Z via DepositPhotos.com.

Holding a yard sale is one of the most obvious ways to get cash for your clutter. Hosting a yard sale is kind of a big project, but if you’re successful, you can sell a lot of items in a short amount of time. Here are some tips for hosting a successful yard sale:

  • First, advertise your yard sale ahead of time with flyers or signs.
  • Price your items low. Yard sale shoppers are looking for bargains, so you’ll sell more items this way.
  • Third, place your yard sale in a highly trafficked area so that most people can stop by to check out your stuff.
  • Finally, place the best items out in front to get people’s attention.
  • Have a good cash box on hand to take immediate payments from buyers. Make sure to have some change, too so that you can give them back the exact change.

2. Put Your Clutter on Craigslist

Rheinbach, Germany 26 February 2023, The brand logo of the advertising website "Craigslist" on the display of a smartphone (focus on the brand logo).
Image Credit: David Esser/Shutterstock.

Craigslist is an excellent option if you’re looking for local buyers, but it involves a lot of coordination and communication to meet up with buyers. You also might have to deal with many “no-shows,” which is a frustrating waste of time. For bigger items, though, it can be effective. Use Craigslist for selling cars, exercise equipment, and other bigger-ticket items. Include clear, bright photos and a thorough description of the item.

3. Sell Clothes on  Thredup

woman with finger over lips in closet with clothes.
Image Credit: Tinatin/Shutterstock.

ThredUp is an online second-hand store for clothing! They make it really easy to sell your clothes because all you have to do is take some pictures of your clothes, list them on their website, and wait for the money. Try to take excellent photos so your buyers have a good look at the clothing’s fit and color – this will encourage more sales. Clothes that are in good condition are the best choice. Items with stains or rips probably won’t sell.

4. Sell Items at the Pawnshop

A refiner has collected several gold watches for further processing with aqua regia solution to get back pure gold bullion.
Image Credit: Matt Benoit/Shutterstock.

Pawnshops don’t just loan money; you can also sell certain items there. If you’re in a hurry to get extra cash, taking your items to the pawnshop may be a good option. They’ll give you money on the spot, but they usually won’t pay as much as you’d like. Their goal is to re-sell the item in their store, so they need to profit. Still, it’s worth looking into if you’re looking for quick cash. Items like tools, electronics, and jewelry will usually sell.

5. List Items for Sale on eBay

Woman taking photo of her used clothes in order to sell them online.
Image Credit: Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock.

eBay is a good option if your clutter includes valuable items that may be hard to sell locally. It’s especially useful for selling antiques and collectibles.

You can list items individually, which is a good idea for more valuable things. You can also list groups or “lots” of items that must be purchased together, which is a good idea for cheaper goods like children’s toys.

Also, you can have people bid on items instead of setting a price, so it’s a great way to get as much as you possibly can for collector’s items.

6. Sell Your Goods on Facebook Marketplace

Woman with cartoon like icon for Facebook.
Image Credit: choreograph via DepositPhotos.com.

Some might say that Facebook Marketplace is the new Craigslist. There are some differences, though. Facebook has more groups to sell items in a more relevant context.

There are also seller ratings, and it isn’t nearly as anonymous as Craigslist. Of course, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be careful, but it can offer a bit more peace of mind.

You can sell almost anything on Facebook, but you can’t sell guns or animals. You also can’t sell anything illegal, of course. So be sure to check the rules for Facebook and whatever group you’re selling in to ensure your listings don’t get deleted. Items like books, toys, and extra baby gear are some examples of items that do well.

As with other online marketplaces, photos are important. Clear, bright photos showing the item from many angles are best. You should also include as much information as you can about the item’s condition.

7. Set up a Booth at a Flea Market

Young couple tourists walking shopping in street food market in Hong Kong.
Image Credit: Maridav/Shutterstock.

Flea markets are a great place to get rid of your stuff because they usually have a steady stream of buyers. Before you sell at the flea market, though, check out the booth prices and rules carefully. Some will let everyone set up booths for free, while others charge hundreds of dollars. You don’t want to spend a bunch of money on a booth and then not be able to make it back.

8. Sell College Textbooks to  the College Bookstore

Young hispanic woman wearing glasses and holding books sticking tongue out
Image Credit: Krakenimages.com via DepositPhotos.com.

College textbooks are incredibly expensive, and you usually don’t need them after you finish taking the class. The best way to get some of your money back is to sell them back to the college bookstore, though!

They’ll take used textbooks that are still in good condition and sell them to the next round of students at a lower cost than new textbooks.

If your college doesn’t have a buyback program for textbooks, you can also try selling them online. Check out listings for the same book in a similar condition to yours to see how high you can price them. Just make sure to ship them out promptly when someone purchases them if you decide to go this route.

9. Make Art With Your Clutter

Smiling African American Mother and Child Learn About Science, Space and Rockets Looking at Camera.
Image Credit: Christine Glade/Shutterstock.

If you’re not in a big hurry to get some cash, try making new things out of your old stuff! For example, you can use old clothes to make a quilt. You can take apart old and damaged jewelry to create new designs. Items you can make can potentially sell for more money than the original item.

23 Side Hustles You Never Considered That Make More Than Your 9 to 5

woman warrior. woman holding sword
Image Credit: Avrora-Andrey via DepositPhotos.com.

Have you ever wanted to make a lot of money from a side hustle and quit your 9 to 5? You may know about the typical side hustles, but I bet you never even heard of these lucrative side hustles!

23 Side Hustles You Never Considered That Make More Than Your 9 to 5

19 Frugal Habits That Will Change Your Life

Portrait Of Young Man Taking Cold Shower In Bathroom,
Image Credit: AndreyPopov/DepositPhotos.com.

Committing to frugal habits will help you live a frugal lifestyle. Making frugal habits part of your everyday life could save you money in the long run.

Saving money is about creating a frugal life that allows you to save money on the things you don’t need and use them for the things you do need.

19 Frugal Habits That Will Change Your Life

7 So-Called “Frugal” Habits That Are Actually A Waste Of Time And Money

woman laying under knitted blanket
Image Credit: serezniy via DepositPhotos.com.

Not everything is frugal! I am sure you have read articles and tips that promote frugal living and give some ideas that are just not frugal! These frugal myths float around and sometimes even cost people a lot of money!

7 So-Called “Frugal” Habits That Are Actually a Waste of Time and Money

The 20 Things People Used To Cheap Out On, But Now They Swear By The Expensive Versions

woman with cheese in mouth
Image Credit: avgustino via DepositPhotos.com.

When budgeting and saving money, trying to cut corners wherever possible is tempting. However, some items are worth investing in due to their better durability or quality compared to their cheaper counterparts.

The 20 Things People Used To Cheap Out On, but Now They Swear by the Expensive Versions

Frugal Living Tips From The Great Depression That Are Relevant Today

Vintage Street Peasant Boy In Flat Cap Eating Baked Beans From A Can In A Depiction Of The Great Depression
Image Credit: jorgophotography via DepositPhotos.com.

How frugal were people during The Great Depression? It was a time of hardship and uncertainty and a time when people were forced to be extremely frugal.

Money-Saving Secrets from the Great Depression: Frugal Living Tips from the Great Depression That Are Relevant Today