Fast Track Saving Challenge Week 2
We’re taking the month of September to focus on saving money and this week our challenge is to find some extra money to add to the savings account. One of the fastest ways to get extra cash is to sell something you own but don’t need or use anymore.
1. jewelry
Now that gold prices are higher, it’s a fantastic time to sell some of your old jewelry. Get several estimates from local jewelry stores and pawn shops and trade the jewelry in where you receive the best price.
2. books
Books can be sold at local used book stores or you can sell them online. Use the Amazon Book Trade In program (read more here) for textbooks, dvds and cds.
Peaceful Mom reader Hannah has some great tips.
“The best way to sell books online is to use bookscouter.com. You put in the IBSN and it tells you what online book buyer will pay the most for it, and also rates the companies. It works best if you have a larger collection of books, as most sites have a minimum value for you to sell to them (and get free shipping!), so that you can sell to multiple sites.
Yesterday I mailed books to 4 different websites (bookscouter, bookjingle, textbooks.com, textbooksrus) for $60!
Also if the books don’t have value to these websites you can swap them on paperbackswap.com ( dvds on swapadvd). It costs about $2.50 to mail an average sized book, and you get a credit to order a book yourself from someone.”
Homeschool books can be sold on VegSource or check with local homeschool groups to see if they have a forum for buying and selling curriculum.
3. clothing
Clothing that is in good condition can be sold at consignment shops, on eBay or at a yard sale. Typically name brands and children’s clothing sell best on eBay and at consignment stores.
Reader Debi says:
“My younger sister is a clothes horse and she gave me clothes with tags still on. They don’t fit me, but I plan on taking photos and posting on Facebook (local), in laundromats, stores, etc. and may even try Swapdom if I can get gift cards to Walmart or Menards in place of some of these clothes.”
4. furniture/household items
Do you have a small appliance you never use? Do you have extra furniture that you need to get out of the way? One of the easiest ways to sell items in good condition is on Facebook or Craigslist. If you have smaller, name brand items they will probably sell well on eBay.
Reader Julie writes:
“I de-cluttered my home and sold things on a Facebook flea market page in my area. People are willing to pay more online than at a yard sale for some reason! (My house is so much cleaner too, so it was a win/win situation!)”
Check out my How to Sell Your Stuff page here for specific tips to sell items on eBay, Craigslist & other sites.
Your assignment for this week is to find at least two items around your house that you can sell for cash or Amazon credit.
Leave a comment with what you plan to sell. 🙂
If you haven’t joined us yet, click here and leave a comment.
Other Posts in This Series:
Fast Track Savings Assignment #1
Top 10 Budget Leaks (& how to fix them!) pt. 1
Fast Track Saving Challenge Assignment 2
10 Easy Ways to Find Free Money + Week 2 Update
8 Ways to Earn Money Fast + My Week 3 Update
Reader’s Money Saving Tips + Fast Track Savings Final Update
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I have found some clothes and household items that I do not need anymore. But it is hard to set a price for items…
It might help to look at a few listings and see what others are selling their items for.
Yes, that’s true, but always there is in mind- “ou, I paid for it 3x or 4x more, I don’t want to give it away so cheap”. But I know this is a bad habit, I need to fix this… I hope next 2 weeks I will sale some stuff 🙂
I am going to skip this assignment. I don’t have much to sell as we just did a big clean out of stuff in our house. Lots of good ideas though. Thank you
No problem – do what fits your family.
I recently sold a lot of my old school books on Amazon. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they sold! Even though I didn’t get nearly what I paid for them, it’s much better than them sitting and collecting dust. My next project is to sell my clothes on Ebay or Amazon. Never tried this one before but we’ll see how it goes.
Good for you Laura!
I recently sold a lot of my old school books on Amazon. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they sold! Even though I didn’t get nearly what I paid for them, it’s much better than them sitting and collecting dust. My next project is to sell my clothes on Ebay or Amazon. Never tried this one before but we’ll see how it goes.
Good for you Laura!
No problem – do what fits your family.
That is awesome Debby! Unexpected blessings are the best. 🙂
Ok, this one I plan to skip. We have a good income and, for the most part, we use things up (or keep them ) rather than sell them. When we are ready to get rid of something that is still usable, we give it away. We know plenty of people who appreciate used things who struggle to make ends meet. Every good gift is from God.
Plus, I just found out today that the medication we are saving for has been changed and will cost only half of what we expected. : )
You are welcome Khakki. 🙂
Great money making ideas Jessica! Thanks for sharing them.
We have so many books to get rid of, thanks for the webiste link to do so! We also particpate in local consignment sales for the kids clothes in the fall & spring. I plan on putting that money in savings this year.
You are welcome Khakki. 🙂
This week I finished upcycling an old toddler bed that my friends gifted me into a cute bench, which I listed on a FB online yard page. We also sold a car stereo system that we recently took out of our car to my brother in law, who also paid my hubby to install the system for him!
This week I finished upcycling an old toddler bed that my friends gifted me into a cute bench, which I listed on a FB online yard page. We also sold a car stereo system that we recently took out of our car to my brother in law, who also paid my hubby to install the system for him!
I plan to sell books, shoes that don’t fit the kids anymore, and some of my clothes that I know I don’t wear anymore!
My pleasure Wendy!
This is what I should do with those 3 bags of clothes I recently decluttered…
Great idea. 🙂
This is what I should do with those 3 bags of clothes I recently decluttered…
Thank you for the tip about Bookscouter! I have already been selling books on Amazon and listing others on Paperback Swap to help add to our homeschool library. I think up next is listing DS 5’s outgrown toddler toys (Little Tykes Cozy Coupe) on a local facebook online yard sale group. I think it is also time to let go of the cloth diaper stash. I have been putting off selling it for a long time now. Thanks for the push! 🙂
I guess I will start off the selling comments! I’m trying to sell some baby items on our local FB page. It’s mostly clothes and a few pieces of equipment. The market is somewhat saturated near me, but I’m going to be more proactive about marketing quiet items this week. Here goes…
Great Jessy! I hope you sell everything. 🙂
Great idea. 🙂
Great Jessy! I hope you sell everything. 🙂
Jessy: Another FB site you may want to put these on THE THRIFTY SHOP!! BUY & SELL NEW & USED ITEMS!
I’ve posted items on here. Someone also mentioned to me, that a lot of times for the local sites
you may want to group the “like” items together as it sells quicker since they don’t have to
drive there for just one or two items.