5 Ideas to Put Cash in Your Pocket

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Last Updated on February 25, 2021 by Kickass Traveler

5 Ideas to Put Cash in Your Pocket

How I cleaned out my house and made extra bucks

Photo by Blogging Guide on Unsplash

 

In planning for an upcoming move, my mantra was “downsize, purge, repeat.” No drawer was left unchecked, no closet uncluttered. Whether you sell, donate, or give away your possessions, ask yourself, “Do I really need all this stuff?”

As I looked around my home, I organized my household items into five major categories that could be profitable. All it took to start my side hustle was a little effort and a cell phone.

#1 — Tech

Like most people, I had more than a few devices lying around. A quick Google search inundated me with sites wanting to take my tech. Just looking around my home, I found an old phone, two iPod Nanos, and an iPad Mini. If you are one of those people who, like me, kept your old phone as a backup, don’t. The resale value plummets as soon as a new model comes out. Instead, when you upgrade, sell your phone or get a credit toward your new phone.

I used Decluttr for my iPhone sale, but I’ve also used Gazelle, ItsWorthMore, and BuyBackWorld. Friends have had good luck with Swappa, where you buy and sell directly from other users. Different sites can offer competitive prices, so when you are comparing buybacks, open several tabs and do a side-by-side comparison. My iPod Nanos were so old there was little demand for them, but Decluttr gave me a few dollars for both. I pocked some extra dollars and the Nanos didn’t end up in a landfill.

Since I was time-pressed with an imminent move, I steered clear of sites that wanted to negotiate. I wanted sites that paid for shipping, and I preferred to be paid electronically and not by check. Figure out ahead of time what your sticking points are.

Here are some examples of how I made a few extra dollars:

  • iPhone 6 > Pocketed $69
  • iPod Nanos > Pocketed $1.20 and $12
  • iPad Mini Pocketed > $24

#2 — Books

When selling books, less popular titles can pay peanuts, but textbooks are like gold. My son had textbooks from high school on his shelves and an ISBN scan gave me a quick estimate. Use an app like BookScouter, which will suggest potential sites that will buy your book. Note: You will have to join different bookselling sites, but this is a small inconvenience for a bigger payoff.

Bookselling sites have different requirements, and some, like Ecampus and SellBackYourBooks, will buy back any number of books. Other sites, like Powell’s and Ziffit’s, require a minimum dollar amount or number of books to complete a trade. With Ziffit’s, I had a heck of a time finding enough books to hit the $15 threshold with some of the less popular titles going for only 50 cents. Ziffit’s took some of the books that no one else wanted, like the “Lego PlayBook” or “Beginning Python.”

In addition to textbooks, I sold popular titles, old children’s books, cookbooks, and textbooks. For the books that you can’t sell, local libraries or organizations like Friends of the Library may take them from you.

Overall, the textbooks were the money-makers, with my son’s Latin and Biology textbooks bringing in the most. All of the bookselling sites will offer credit in lieu of cash, and for a student, this can be a viable option.

  • Latin textbook & manual > Pocketed $33
  • Biology textbook > Pocketed $53
  • Random popular titles > Pocketed $65
Photo by Xavi Cabrera on Unsplash

#3 — LEGOs/Toys

When my son finally gave permission to sell his six bins of LEGOs, I intended to use Decluttr for the transaction. Instead, I put them on eBay after receiving a tip from a guy who bought my old fur.

While Decluttr buys LEGOs for $1 a pound, they require you to add 10 media items or one tech item to complete the order. It made more sense to sell my tech to other buyback sites that would offer more money and to sell the LEGOs on eBay. Selling LEGOs on eBay is more work, but if you have the time, it is definitely more profitable.

Since I was an eBay virgin it took me a minute to learn the tricks, such as offering the “Buy It Now” price or the “Local Pickup” option. When selling LEGOs, ensure they are washed, write a full description, and take multiple pictures from different angles. To save time, look at other eBay descriptions as an example.

I sold the loose LEGOs box by box, from 8lbs to 12lbs, switching up between selling all of one color or just loose pieces. If you have completed or partially-built sets, these will go for more on eBay, and may even start a bidding war, driving up the price.

It took me three months to slowly get rid of six bins of LEGOs. My starting price for a box weighing 10lbs fluctuated between $20-$30.

To sell on eBay you need to take multiple photos, upload them to eBay, write a detailed description, and be prepared to send out the item as soon as someone buys it. eBay will charge a listing fee and an additional fee if your item sells. I viewed the whole experience as an experiment in consumerism, and my son used the money for his college expenses.

If you don’t have LEGOs lying around your house, you can often find them at garage sales or thrift stores. In addition to the LEGOs, I also sold a set of Pokemon figures that my son had outgrown. Reselling LEGOs and old toys can be a lucrative side hustle if you don’t mind a little extra work.

  • Partially built LEGO Cinema > Pocketed $81
  • Box of white, loose LEGOS > Pocketed $24
  • Pokemon figures > Pocketed $20

#4 — Clothing

In a non-COVID year, sites like Tradesy, eBay, TheRealReal, and Poshmark are great for selling gowns, but during a pandemic no one wants formal wear. I have this killer designer dress that I wore once, and I knew someone else would love it. I tried Tradesy but had no bites, and when I listed it on eBay I promptly got an offer. The seller asked me to contact them directly to negotiate a payment outside of eBay, which is against their payment rules. Report all incidents like this to eBay, and they will handle it.

For clothes I no longer wanted, I donated or gave them away. With the designer gown, I ended up giving it away to a friend’s teenager. My local thrift store bought some of my trendier clothes, including a puffy jacket and a Doctor Who scarf.

  • Designer gown > $0
  • Local thrift store > Pocketed $22

#5 — Random Stuff

On eBay, I sold a decorative coin that I got at an exhibition, and I also got rid of an exercise band that I no longer needed (one man’s trash…). That Echo Dot I thought would change my life? I never used it, but Amazon gave me a $5 credit for it.

  • Coin > Pocketed $7
  • Exercise band > Pocketed $15
  • Echo Dot > Credit of $5

Whether you are moving, downsizing, or just cleaning house, there is money lying around your home. Your local neighborhood or apartment newsletter may offer a space to sell items. And with Etsy, eBay, LetGo, Facebook Marketplace, Craig’s List, and more offering to buy your junk, all you need to do is clean it, take pictures, write a description, and list it.

Before you chuck it in the trash, offer it up to someone else. For a little time spent, you can pocket some extra cash!