Tip: Decide What Items You Absolutely Have To Move

An upcoming move can truly be a blessing in disguise when it comes to downsizing your possessions and getting rid of the dead weight.  One of the best ways to make your move lighter and easier is to decide what items you really need to relocate to your new home and what items you can leave behind.

Every time I move I always find myself saying “why do I still have this ____”.  Many of those items I haven’t even seen since the last time I moved.   This is the perfect time to finally get rid of all that extra stuff that you no longer need or use.  There are many ways to get rid of old clothes, toys, tools, and other random items.  Really it all comes down to how you want to thin out the clutter.

How To Make Money Selling Your Stuff

I recommend making two separate piles for your items that you wish to leave behind: items that you want to sell and items that you want to give away for free or donate.  By doing this, you can help stay more organized and you can more easily deal with the mounds of old stuff you no longer want or need.

Once you’ve made your two piles, you can then decide which route you want to take when it comes to trying to get a little money from them.

Here are some of the best ways to sell your stuff quickly:

• Garage Sale – If you have enough unwanted furniture, clothes, electronics, etc lying around, then this can be a great option.  Post in the local newspapers, on facebook groups, and make signs to direct traffic to your sale.  For better results, ask your neighbors if they would like to make it more of a “neighborhood” yard sale to pull in more foot-traffic.
• Craigslist – Craigslist isn’t the powerhouse that it used to be for person-to-person buying and selling, but it still works very well.   As long as your town has an active Craigslist “for sale” section, then you can post your stuff with pictures and descriptions for quick selling.
• Ebay – If selling all of your stuff locally seems improbable, then Ebay can be a great option.  With Ebay you can sell to a world-wide marketplace where there is more chance of finding a buyer for your stuff.  I wouldn’t list anything here that you are selling for less than $20 though unless you have a lot of time to list and ship your stuff.
• Pawn Shops – Pawn shops are the quickest way to get rid of unwanted stuff that you know people will want to buy.  Think guns, electronics, tools, golf clubs, etc.  Just know that a pawn shop owner will never give you the money you hope for, because he or she is planning on re-selling it.
• Buying / Selling Apps – There are wonderful free apps for your phone or tablet such as OfferUp & LetItGo.  These apps let you snap a picture, write a description, and upload your listing in seconds.  They really work great in large cities and decent sized towns that are up-to-date with the latest technology.   I recommend trying them out!
• Facebook Groups / Marketplace – Facebook has tons of buy/sell/trade groups catered to local areas.  Do some searching and see what you can find.  They also have a wonderful marketplace where you can post your items for sale and easily communicate with potential buyers who are interested.   This is one of the easiest ways to sell your stuff!

After you sell off everything you can, whatever items you have left unsold should go to the “donate” pile.

Donate The Rest For Charity Tax Exemptions!

As far as giving away or donating old clothes, toys, etc. goes, there are a few great options that work.  You can take your old stuff to a thrift shop such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army as a donation to the less fortunate.  You can also ask local homeless shelters or churches about taking your donations.

Document Your Donation

Before you pack up all your stuff to donate though, you should take pictures of the items and make a list of all the items you have left.  That way, come tax season, you can write all of those things off as a charity tax exemption.  That way nothing goes to waste and you get to save money on your taxes!  Make sure to get a receipt when you actually make your donation for proof for Uncle Sam.

I hope this moving tip helps you make a little extra money and get rid of all your unnecessary junk and clutter before your move!