“Earn money without ever leaving your home.” That used to be the tagline for ridiculous claims of easy work-from-home fortunes to be made simply by stuffing envelopes - or some other scheme advertised on the back pages of magazines. Now just “Google it”, and you will find similar claims abound.
During these unprecedented times in which we currently find ourselves, many of us might be looking at strategic ways to legitimately earn extra income from home. With “social distancing,” reducing store hours and many places actually closing for the time being, how are we to navigate through this turbulent time financially without having to crack open the piggy bank we’ve had tucked in the back of the closet since grade school?
As everything and everyone is going digital in an effort to reduce Covid-19’s spread - there is an answer. Now you truly can earn money from home. But don’t trust the online equivalent of magazine back-pages trying to scam you during a vulnerable time. Just DIY. That’s right. Do it yourself. How? By selling items online. I’m not saying it will pay your mortgage right away, but getting started is easier than you think. And depending how much you put out there to sell, you can earn real grocery money fairly quickly. Stay with me here.
For starters, look around your home. You will not have to invest a penny initially building your inventory. Almost everyone undervalues their own stuff. Think you don’t have anything worth selling? Not true! The average home has lots of little items - trinkets and treasures - tucked in it for resale. Not to mention the bigger stuff we can tackle later. Take a good look throughout your home. I’m sure you will find plenty of knick-knacks that you can easily part with and never even miss. You know the adage, “one man’s trash...” Finding new homes for your discards will save you time on having to continually dust them as well. Unburden yourself!
Vases, books, crystal you never use, the old birdcage in the garage you keep thinking you will one day turn into shabby chic wall art: sell them! I have sold all of the above - and so much more. (Full disclosure: only two birdcages.)
Let someone else get new enjoyment from your old finds. Baskets, lamps, CD’s, video games, paintings, figurines, old albums, old jugs, old tools - well, anything old, really. I recently sold this old empty vinegar bottle for over $30:
Did I mention dolls and comic books? Oh my! Do you have a collection of anything you want to pare down? Even seashells, old buttons, and bags of rocks sell online. Did you go crazy one year learning to crochet and have 30 hand-crocheted scarves? Or did the hobby fade fast and you have a stockpile of yarn skeins? Better get started and sell them quickly - spring has sprung. But then again, Christmas items sell the whole year round. These are some of my recent Christmas sales in late February:
Do you have a huge set of baseball cards you’re just keeping because you used to be fascinated with them, but haven’t cared to look at them in ages? Trading cards are big sellers. But don’t sell your Pokemon cards unless you are certain you are ready to part with them.
If you still have toys or board games you grew up with packed in the attic, there’s someone out there your age that wants them to feed their nostalgia, and will pay a premium price. The older you are, the better. (When do you ever hear that?) Even used matchbooks without matches sell! I sold this set recently:
Last week I sold some old, dented tins for $10 plus shipping. Granted, that’s not a lot - but it all adds up, and doesn’t take a lot of time to do. A few photos, a quick description, and in 10 minutes people are viewing your listings. Then afterwards, it takes maybe 10 minutes to ship them when they sell. Not a large time commitment. At $10 for 20 minutes of work, you’re making $30 an hour! You will need to procure a little bit of packaging materials, though you can get shipping boxes for free (more about that in another post.) Lastly, depending on which platform you are selling from, (we primarily sell on eBay), there will be some seller fees. Let’s overestimate that 20% off of your $10 sale reduces it to $8. That would still net you $24/hr. I’d say that’s time well spent.
Speaking of time, clocks are nice to sell, even broken ones sell for parts or repair. People are always looking for parts, and cords, and manuals - all the accoutrements of old small appliances. If your food processor’s motor breaks, sell the container, the blade, the lid, and the manual.
All this, and we haven’t even touched upon clothing and accessories! Handbags, jewelry, and yes, even gently-worn shoes. The list goes on! I was amazed with what sold when I first started, and I still get pleasantly surprised at times. If I were a betting person, I would wager you will be surprised, too. Are you convinced yet?
Clear the clutter, clear your mind. This will give you focus, and it is my guess you will feel better for it! If you’re stuck at home and feeling unsettled, settle down - in your nice comfy chair with your Smartphone or laptop. You’ve got this. Put those tired feet up on your ottoman, (unless you want to sell it), and plunge in. Things may change, but at the time of this writing, here’s a big tip: you can schedule a free pick-up of your packages via the United States Postal Service - you never even have to leave the comfort of your home.
Need ideas of stuff to sell? Check out our recently sold items on eBay here: https://ebay.to/2xrNO5p
Ready to start? Not having to depend solely on a paycheck is a great feeling. Begin by creating your list of items you’ve found to part with, and in my next post in this series, I’ll show you how to value them. I’ve been successfully reselling online for over six years, and if I can do it, so can you. There’s plenty of room out there. I will walk with you and show you how. But I will be sure to stay more than 6 feet away.