Earn Money doing your Spring Cleaning – How to turn Your Spring Cleaning into Cash!
The weather is FINALLY beginning to warm up, and you know what that means: Spring has arrived and it’s time for a little Spring cleaning.
I love to get going with spring cleaning my house, and saying goodbye to old belongings is so much easier, if you can get a little cash back into your pocket.
I found Spring cleaning can be a great way to de-clutter your house and get you ready for the warmer months – but did you know that it can also bring in big bucks? It’s true! Those unused and unwanted items laying around the house can be sold for store credits, trade-ins and even cold hard cash.
And my personal favourite is – and will always be – the garage or lawn sale. Gather your goods, set your prices, and choose your date…then get ready as friends, neighbors and strangers offer you money for your unwanted stuff. As an added bonus, you also get to enjoy the Spring air and scenery and meet new friends!
While lawn sales are as popular as ever right now, you also may be looking for different ways of getting rid of your items and make some cash. There are currently many other options available, and to help you out, we’ve created a list of our favourites.
CLOTHING
Plato’s Closet – “Not your typical second hand clothing store,” Plato’s closet buys teen and young adult gently used clothes. They want styles that are from top brands and have been in retail stores within the last 12-18 months. If you have cool, hip, trendy, guy’s or girl’s clothes that are in good condition, Plato’s Closet is the place to go. Just gather up your items and bring them in to a store, where a representative will assess the items and give you cash. To find locations in Canada go here. http://www.platoscloset.com/Locations#ca
Boomerang Kids – If you have baby or kids items lying around, consider taking them to Boomerang Kids. In this shop you can choose consignment OR get cash or credit on the spot. They’ll take clothing, books, toys and baby equipment such as strollers and high chairs. Items are sorted and examined and they tell you what they will buy from you. To learn more about the process and to see the items they are (or are not) accepting, go here: http://www.boomerangkids.com/buy-and-sell/
Mini-Trade – Mini-Trade is an online clothing trade site, where you trade in clothes that you or your kids have outgrown for credits to buy new ones. To do this, you go online and request that a free bag be sent to you. Make sure to check the Quality Standards http://www.minitrade.ca/en/how-it-works/quality-standards/#quality_standards and fill your bag with things that they accept, including maternity, women’s and kids clothing. When they get your bag they will review the items and give you 20% of the reselling price (and even more for some items) in the form of credits to use on the site. To request a bag, go here: http://www.minitrade.ca/en/shipping-bag.html/
SPORTING GOODS
Play It Again Sports – If you have sporting equipment that is lying around, unused, you may want to consider taking it to Play It Again Sports. This store takes quality, used, brand name sports and fitness equipment. Just gather it up and head in, where a sales associate will determine the value of your items (based on the condition, brand, and the store’s current stock). You can then get paid cash on the spot, or choose to trade towards purchases that day. To find locations in Canada, go here: http://www.playitagainsports.com/locations
GIFT CARDS
CardSwap.ca – Check your wallet – do you have any gift cards that have been going unused? You can actually sell them for cash. Card Swap is a website that will make you an offer on your unused gift cards. If you accept the offer you’ll get a free prepaid shipping label to send your gift card. Within two business days of receiving your card you’ll be mailed a cheque for the value of the offer you accepted. To see what your unwanted or unused gift cards are worth, go here: http://www.cardswap.ca/sell/collectinfo
ELECTRONICS
BestBuy.ca – If you have old electronics laying around, one option is to use the Best Buy Trade-In program, where you trade in your used electronics for Best Buy gift cards. The trade-in categories include cell phones, tablets, iPods & MP3 players, laptops, MacBooks and Gaming Consoles. The condition and age of your items will impact the value, as well as whether original accessories are included. To use the Trade-In program, you can go online to get an estimate of your product’s value, then find a store near you that will accept the item. Next, just bring in the item and trade it for your gift card. To learn more about the program, go here: http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/trade-in-program.aspx
VIDEO GAMES
EA Games – If you have kids, you likely have video games lying around that they don’t even play anymore. Round them up and take them to EA Games, a video game store that will buy your used games to resell – and they’ll also take gaming accessories, mobile devices and hardware. Your games can get you cash, EA Games store credit or other gift cards. Also, keep an eye on their trade-in page, where they have a list of the current most wanted games and special deals that will get you extra trade-in value. http://www.ebgames.ca/gs/specialty/tradeins/
BestBuy.ca – Some Best Buy locations also will take your previously played video games during Trade-In Events. There are over 2,500 current game titles that are available for instant trade-in. When you trade your video games you’ll get a store credit to use at Best Buy. To learn more and find participating stores in your area, go here: http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/category/trade-in-games/pc_tradeingames.aspx
ONLINE MARKETPLACE
eBay.ca – eBay is an online marketplace where regular people can sell their stuff. The process is quite simple – you start out by listing your item, and the great thing is that everyone gets 50 free listings per month. Listings include a description, pictures and then you choose to hold an auction or set a price with the Buy It Now feature. Once an item is sold you can get discounted postage from eBay – print right at home from any printer and pay the shipping fee with your PayPal account. In as little as 3 days you’ll be paid for the sale, with payments collected through PayPal. eBay is a great marketplace for anything you want to sell, and it helps you to reach buyers nationwide. To learn more about selling, go here: http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/howtosell/sellingbasics.html
ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS
Kijiji – Kijiji is a free online classifieds site, to place local ads for the items you want to sell. Select your province or territory and filter down until you find the site specifically for location. That’s where you can post an ad in the Buy and Sell section for items in just about any category. Your ad will have a description, a picture and a listing price, and people can email you for inquiries or to arrange the sale. To find your local classifieds site, go here: http://kijiji.ca/
Craigslist – Craigslist divides Canada into various sections. Find your area and then you can post a free ad about the item you want to sell – including description, pictures and price. Others in your area can then contact you about your listing. When someone wants to buy, you make arrangements to meet up, pass on the item and get paid. Like eBay and Kijiji, Craigslist can be used to sell pretty much anything. To see a list of Craigslist sites in Canada, go here: http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites#CA
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make money on those unwanted or unused items laying around the house. For maximum impact, also keep these tips in mind:
- Clean = More Green: Take time to clean up your items for a better presentation and a higher price tag. Wipe the dust off or give the clothes an extra wash to display your items in the best possible light. The perceived value will raise, and you will likely get more money for the little extra work you put in.
- Post Pictures: If you are selling your things online, pictures are a must! Everyone wants to see what they are buying, so pictures will get you more inquiries. Choose good lighting and take pictures from multiple angles when possible.
- Clear Descriptions: Also an online selling tip, make sure you give clear descriptions of your items. Be honest about any faults or imperfections but also make sure to point out details that make the item unique and desirable.
- Include Boxes, Manuals & Accessories: You may not have that box laying around the house anymore, but if you do, you just might get more money. The same goes for instructions, manuals and any accessories that were included with the original purchase. This is particularly important if you are selling electronics or video games – having the extras will definitely get you more cash.
- Price Reasonably: It’s hard not to want top dollar for your goods. You may have paid $100 for an item and only used it a couple times…but you’re not likely to get $90 out of a resale because used is used. For more reasonable pricing, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes – what would you pay, realistically, for that item?
- Don’t Be Afraid to Reject the Offer: Some of the ideas mentioned above involve you bring your stuff in to a local store and seeing what they will give you for it – and sometimes it’s not much. If you feel the offer is too low, or you could get a better sale by going elsewhere, don’t be afraid to say no.
- Combine Strategies: For the best results, you should consider combining the strategies listed above. For example, you may take specific items to specific places to make sales and then move on to a yard sale or an online listing for anything remaining.
- When it’s all Done – Donate: YES, you want to make as much cash as possible through sales, but don’t forget that the point of Spring cleaning is to get rid of the clutter. Not everything will sell, so after you’ve exhausted all efforts, gather the remaining items and donate them to a good cause.