This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, bringing you informative personal finance content and helpful tools. You can follow them on Twitter at @GoBankingRates.
In this tough economy, bringing in some extra money is an exciting idea for anyone. However, finding an additional job could be a bit difficult with so many qualified job seekers vying for the same positions. So how can you bring some cash into your household – and fast? Letting go of your household items is one way.
Let’s look at four quick and easy ways to get this done.
1. Sell Your Items on eBay
For many years, eBay has been offering regular people a chance to sell their personal items to a massive audience. Whether you want to get rid of your comic book collection or sell your car, you can do it on this dynamic site. To sign up, all you need to do is visit the site, obtain a free account and post your items. You do have to pay a small fee to sell, but the amount you receive in return usually covers the fee.
2. Sell Personal Belongings in Consignment Shops
Another great way to acquire and save money for your family is to consider selling items in consignment shops. These shops allow you to sell your personal items through their store while offering you a percentage of the amount received through a sale – usually around a 50/50 split. Most shops look for clothes in good condition; however, some allow you to sell other items like crafts or handmade jewelry. Lately it’s been popular to sell gold jewelry to make a few extra bucks.
3. Sell On Craigslist
Sites like Craigslist are also cropping up and allowing people to sell their items to a wide audience. However, unlike eBay, which offers ratings to help you determine whether a buyer is trustworthy, Craigslist serves more as a newspaper ad, allowing you to post your ad for free, then leaving the rest up to you. To get started, you must sign up for an account then you post ads for whatever you want to sell.
4. Have a Yard Sale
Over the past decade, we’ve been so caught up with the convenience of the Internet that we often forget we can bring in fast cash with an old-fashioned yard sale. By taking this route, you can choose a yard sale date, grab all of the items you want to get rid of, drag them outside, post some signs around the neighborhood and start selling.
What to Do With Your Fast Cash
After you’ve rounded up your fast cash from your various sales, now’s the time to go out and spend it on something great, right? Wrong! Unless you were bringing cash in to help buy something major like a new car or house, it’s a good idea to open a savings, CD or money market account and put at least some of that money away. Here are some other things you could dedicate your money to:
- Emergency funds: You never know when an emergency could occur, which is why it’s good to always set money aside in case something happens.
- Add to retirement funds: When it’s time to retire, it’s good to know you’ll have a nest egg waiting for you, which is why it’s good to consider dedicating some of the money to opening an IRA account.
- Investments: Saving money is great, but growing money is better, so consider using some of your fast cash to open up some reliable investment accounts.
- Paying down debt: If you have bad credit, you might consider using some money to pay down credit card debt, student loans or other debts you owe.
Isn’t it great to know that you can bring in fast cash through a variety of venues nowadays? By adding the icing on the cake, which is saving and growing your money, you get the greatest benefit from your hard work.
Yellowrose says
I just discovered your site and I like what I see, being a “live beneath your means” person. What I’d like to know is if anyone has heard of a business that will pay YOU to take what you want to get rid of? My sister will soon be moving and doesn’t want the hassle of a yard sale or selling otherwise. She lives in upstate New York. Thanks.
Great thinking. It depends on the person for me. Sometimes I'm ok with someone meeting me at home.
I love doing that! Outfitted my oldest that way for the first 4 years!
financialbondage says
use care selling on craigslist. I would not let people come to your home. Rather, meet them at a public place. A mall, Mcdonalds, or public library for example.
I stopped by the consignment shop where I took my maternity and baby items today. Brought home a very nice check, plus I used some of the money as credit to the store. Great way to “shop”