We’re all guilty of it, holding onto things we no longer need. Majority of the time its actually things we no longer even want, but we’re just too lazy to do anything about it. So it sits there, year after year, getting moved from one “sell” box, to a “maybe” box and then straight back into the back of the cupboard again once the spring clean is over.
Luckily for us, selling our old things has become dramatically easier since the release of tools such as Facebook Marketplace or Depop. There’s no need to sit for hours on Ebay hoping and praying that someone eventually places a respectful bid, or packing up the car and spending the entire day sat at a car boot sale adding up €1 coins.
Turns out there are plenty of saps online willing to take your trash off your hands so you can afford those plane tickets and overpriced tropical drinks. All it takes is a little cleaning, snapping some photos, and writing creative listings to hook the right sucker. So start digging through your closet, attic, and garage to uncover your buried treasures. One person’s trash is another person’s travel fund!
Declutter Your Life and Home: What to Sell to Make Money Fast
The Closet Purge
You know that pile of clothes you swear you’ll wear “one day”? It’s time to stop lying to yourself and sell that dated wardrobe. Clothes are prime real estate for making quick cash, especially if you have designer gems hiding in the back.
Depop is my best friend for selling used clothes online. In the same way that “Penneys!” has become the generic response to any clothing related compliment here in Ireland, Depop is starting to make a name for itself as a typical awkward Irish response to “I love your top!” This app is becoming one of the hottest online selling apps for finding unique clothing, shoes, and accessories. Thankfully for us, anything “vintage” or “retro” sells like hotcakes these days.
The Electronics Exodus
Gather those dusty old laptops, gaming consoles and prehistoric phones lying around. You’d be surprised at the amount of things you can still sell or trade in. When I got back from Thailand I desperately needed a new phone but I was beyond broke. I turned my room upside down and gathered up my old Nintendo, PS4, Xbox, games, DVDs, and an old phone and I brought it all into CEX. The staff took all my crap, ran some tests, and a couple of hours later I got an email with a voucher that I used to buy a new phone directly from CEX’s website (with a two year warranty!). While you do get more credit if you opt for a voucher, it is possible to get cash in hand or have a bank transfer made if you don’t need to purchase anything from CEX.
The Great Garage Sale
For the ultimate decluttering blitz, haul every last knick-knack out of your garage, attic, and spare room and get the camera ready. This one could take a bit more effort but it’s so worth it. As we tend to throw all the stuff we don’t want to look at or deal with straight to the back of the garage. This stuff isn’t going to be easy to sort through. Thankfully, you might not even have to! Just grab each item, one by one, and take photos from a multitude of angles. Now, its time to upload them. You have a couple of decent options here including Facebook marketplace, Ebay, Donedeal, etc. My advice? Facebook Marketplace and local Facebook groups are your best shot. All the outdoor activities, equipment, gardening tools, old paint, that stuff sells so quickly in the summertime as everyone is in project mode and looking for good deals on Facebook at the weekends. The summer is a productive time of year, take advantage of that!
Other sites: While Donedeal is great and everyone knows about it, you do have to pay to place an ad. Adverts.ie is free but not as popular as Donedeal.
Keep in mind: Facebook Marketplace is great and connects you with local people that see your ads just by using their social media account on a daily basis. Ads are free to place and you can even reshare your adverts to local Facebook groups to increase your chances of making a sale. These local networks are a treasure trove for offloading niche items to people who actually want that vintage Cabbage Patch doll or left-handed hedge trimmer. Try looking up groups in your local area eg. Galway Buy and Sell, Galway Secondhand, Things for sale Connemara, etc.
How to Price and Get the Most Money for Your Old Clothes, Electronics and More
Know Your Worth
First things first – you need to know what your stuff is actually worth. Don’t just take the first lowball offer someone makes you. Do some research online, check sites like eBay, Facebook, or Depop for similar items and their selling prices. Knowledge is power when it comes to getting decent cash.
Make it Shine
Nobody wants to buy a crusty old thing covered in Dorito dust. Take the time to clean up your items and make them look as good as new. A little elbow grease can seriously pay off when buyers see a unique and well kept item.
When selling clothes online, its always worth giving them a quick iron over and setting them up in a neat and clean space. Taking the extra few minutes to make the clothes look crisp, wrinkle-free and stylishly folded or hung can make the difference between an interested buyer and a bored scroll-by. So go the extra mile, get those clothes looking their best and you’ll likely get a better price for your efforts.
Next, take flattering photos in natural lighting from multiple angles to show off any details. Although it is a bit more effort and sometimes could be impossible if the clothes aren’t your size etc, but it always helps if you can take a photo of yourself in the item. No need for your face to be in the photo, just a quick mirror shot and crop it down will do the trick! This gives buyers a better idea of how it will fit. If you can’t wear them yourself maybe you could find an image online of a model in the same item.
Be Ruthless
Look, we all get sentimental about stuff sometimes. But if you’re serious about making bank before your trip, you gotta be cutthroat. That vintage Beanie Baby collection? Ditch it. Those old love letters from your high school sweetheart? Into the shredder they go. If you want to pack up a backpack and take off traveling then I highly doubt you had many intentions of bringing your entire Lord of the Rings book collection and stiletto heels.
Price to Move
When pricing, don’t get too greedy. A little negotiating is expected, so price slightly above what you’re actually willing to take. And be flexible – you’d rather get €80 for that old laptop than have it collect dust in a closet until your next life.
Sometimes doing bundles can really encourage people to go ahead with the purchase. For example, on Depop you can offfer free delivery if someone purchases two or more items from your storefront. Even on Facebook, I listed my Harry Potter books, the DVD boxset, and two illustrated editions as a The Ultimate Harry Potter Collection. These kinds of listings stick out to people as great present ideas!
Variety is Key
Don’t just try to sell on one platform. List your goods across multiple sites and apps to maximize exposure. eBay, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, Adverts.ie – get your stuff out there. The more eyeballs on your wares, the better chance you’ll find that one eager beaver who just has to have your old hair straightener.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. A step-by-step guide to turning the detritus of your life into cold, hard cash for that dream getaway.
So now you have some concrete steps to put to use. Remember to start with the easiest, most accessible items first. Those old books sitting on your shelf? List them today. Check your wardrobe for clothes you haven’t worn in over a year – photograph and upload them.
As you get more comfortable, move on to bigger items. Electronics can be trickier to photograph and describe but often yield the most profit. Check online for average selling prices of similar models to help you price your items fairly.
Most importantly, have fun! Decluttering and making some extra cash doesn’t have to be a chore. Think of it as a game – the more you list and sell, the closer you are to that well-deserved trip away!