Five ways to de-clutter and make some money….

Am I correct in thinking that it’s OK to talk about Christmas now that the Coca Cola advert has been on TV 😉

I hope so, because with just 38 days to go, I’ve got lots to say, I’ll try and keep most of my Christmas mutterings confined to the OneStopChristmasBlog but very often every now and again I’m not going to be able to help myself!

Like today for example, we’re using today to have a bit of a pre-Christmas clear out as we do every year around this time and I’m going to try and make some money with our things to go towards our Christmas fund.

I find it much easier to clear our the kids things at this time of year rather than when we have a similar clear out in Spring because they’re always less inclined to want to keep EVERYTHING I suggest getting rid of – possibly because they know that they need to make space for new things and because in writing their Christmas lists, they tend to realise that they’ve grown out of a lot of things that they already have.

I also use the opportunity to have a good sort through their wardrobes and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit them anymore and their bookshelves to find any books that they don’t read anymore although I don’t get rid of favourite books, just ones that are a bit too young for them if you know what I mean.

One we’ve had our big sort out, I sort everything into five piles….

Pile 1 – The eBay pile

We don’t sell nearly as much on eBay as we used to but the sorts of things that go in this pile are computer games, electronics, the nicer clothes that we’re getting rid of (branded clothes are usually better for eBay otherwise you often don’t make much at all, if anything) and things that I know people will be looking for like rare Moshi Monster figures.

Pile 2 – The local Facebook selling page pile

This is a relatively new one on us but there are groups popping up all over the place on Facebook that are specific to your local area and you can sell things on there with no charge – it’s just like a little community.  My local page is great and has a great mix of people selling just about everything you can imagine and it’s so easy.  You just upload your photos to the group as a post and let people know where you are, what you’re selling and how much.  The best thing about this to me is that you don’t even have to have the hassle of posting the item as people live near you and will collect.  I use this for larger, heavier items like bikes and scooters or for bundles of clothes or toys and board games in good condition and I’ve had great success in the past – I imagine toys will go really well at this time of year.  Just search on Facebook for your town and selling to find your nearest one.

Pile 3 – The car boot sale pile

I’m not having a car boot sale pile this time as we did one not too long ago and I don’t think I’ll find enough things that I’d sell at the car boot sale to make it worth my while but everything that I think is worth selling that doesn’t fit in to the above 2 piles or things that don’t sell on eBay or Facebook will go into this pile usually.

Pile 4 – The charity shop pile

This one is mainly books and clothes initially but I do add the majority of the things that I don’t sell at the boot sale as well.  I always take them to the same charity shop in town because I like the charity and it’s nice to know that I’m helping them even in a small way.  I don’t leave them out in the collection bags you get through the door as I’ve been told that the charity is charged for them to be collected so I prefer to drop them in myself.

Pile 5 – the Freecycle pile

Whatever it is that you’re getting rid of, there always seems to be someone on Freecycle who would be happy to take it off your hands so if you can’t sell it, and don’t think the charity shop would appreciate it then try listing it on there.

Are you doing anything to make any extra money for Christmas?