Decluttering can also help you

• Tidy up your house;
• Organize your space better;
• Make room for other things;
• Get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore.

Not only that, but decluttering can also save you money, but more on that later. 

The most important thing you can do now is to plan and execute a decluttering process in your home. 

Trust me, it will make a huge difference in your environment and it will be beneficial for your mental state, as well. Less stuff, less things to clean / put away / wash, and so on.

Here we go!

How to declutter your home – the process

I actually have an entire dedicated post on How to declutter your home, which you can find the link for it here.

But here are the main principles and actions you need to take so you can best declutter your space:

• Start by writing down each room of your house. 
• Then write at least one area that can be decluttered in each room. 
• Step 3 is to add the decluttering process in your daily schedule, by scheduling one room at a time. Today, the bedroom. Tomorrow, the pantry. And so on.
• Start with room 1. Make sure to tidy the room so you have enough space to move around and organize. 
• Choose a small area or corner and start getting things out. 
• After the area is cleared, wipe the surface down and put back in the things you are keeping. 
• Then go through the separate pile and put away the things you don’t want anymore in dedicated bags (donate, throw away, sell). 
• Then start with area or room 2, and continue the process.

In order for this to work and for you to finish the process, you need to

• Be patient and thorough when decluttering each area. Go through each item and really think about it: do you actually need to keep it?
• Have dedicated bags ready for the things you will be decluttering, so you can easily organize and dispose of them after you’re done decluttering. In this case, a bag for trash, one for donations, and for the things you will sell. 

Where to sell your stuff

You’ve done it! The decluttering process is over and you’ve probably accumulated multiple bags of stuff to sell (or donate / throw away). 

Now it’s time to figure out where to sell your items for the best return on investment. Here are the top online places, and one offline spot, where you can get rid of your stuff and make some money out of it:

1. Sell clothes on Poshmark / Mercari 

This is the perfect place to sell new and used items in good condition. Think shirts, sweaters, skirts, dresses, even handbags and shoes. Some sites also accept beauty, home decor and electronics.

The process is pretty straight-forward: create an account, create a product page, put all the info, like pictures, sizes, price, etc. The “hardest part” will probably be to find time to go to the post office and mail the products when they are bought. 

Win-win! You get rid of an item you don’t want or need, and get some money back, and the buyer gets the item he/she wants, at a lower price.

Click now for more info on selling on Poshmark and selling on Mercari. 

2. Sell luxury items on Vestiaire Collective 

If you want to get rid of expensive or luxury clothing items, Vestiaire Collective is the place to go. 

There are so many people worldwide who hunt for bargains and second hand luxury items on it, and who will pay a good price for them. 

So if you have a Chloe bag, or Balenciaga shoes, this is the website for you. 

Here is more info on how to sell on Vestiaire Collective. 

3. Sell other items on Facebook marketplace on Craigslist (like furniture, books, etc)

For me, Facebook marketplace is the perfect place to declutter and sell stuff, specifically miscellaneous items, so things like furniture and/or books.

Especially furniture! I’ve heard so many people buy home decor and home items from it, so if you want to sell your old couch or dining room table, definitely check out Facebook Marketplace. 

The platform is pretty easy to use, you just need a Facebook account, and pictures of your products. 

4. Sell things in yard sales 

I love this method because it’s the best when you need to declutter and sell your stuff fast. 

Instead of listing each item online and dealing with shipping things multiple times, you can organize a yard sale and sell everything in one go. Less hassle overall, more time for you.

Here is a great guide on what to sell at a yard sale. 

How to save money by decluttering

And now for the best part of the article. You know you can declutter and sell stuff, but did you know you can also declutter and SAVE money? Let me show you how!

This solution is great for people who

• Decluttered too many items that cannot be sold;
• Don’t have clothes or miscellaneous items to declutter;
• Have a fully stocked pantry;

The last part is important, because the way to declutter and save money involves your pantry. 

Here is the gist: One weekend / month, eat and cook with ONLY what you already have in the pantry and freezer. So that means you won’t need to go spend money on groceries and take-out. 

This is a great idea, because not only it will stop you from spending more money, but it will also encourage you to use up your pantry items that you might have forgotten about. 

And that’s important because the pantry items do end expiring and you don’t want to waste money by waiting until after their expiration date to use them, right? 

So go now and take an inventory of your pantry and freezer, and see what you can use up. Look for meat, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables, sauces and grains like rice and quinoa. Now it’s time to use them. 

If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s called Shelf cooking! Jordan Page on YouTube does it! 

Conclusion

If you want to make money and save money, it’s time to declutter and sell stuff! The 4 options mentioned above (Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, Facebook Marketplace and yard sales) are great places for you to get rid of your unwanted items. And shelf cooking will help you save tens and hundreds of dollars a month. 

Let me know in the comments which works for you best!

The post Declutter and sell your stuff NOW: How decluttering can make (and save) you money appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I’ve been to a couple in the last few years, and recently I even organized one, alongside two other neighbors. It was a fun and interesting experience, so I thought I could share some of the things I’ve learned during it, mainly what to sell at a yard sale in order to make some money. 

Before actually selling your items, you need to have a place to sell them. I could write a whole article about how to organize a yard sale, but that’s for another time. Just make sure you have space for it, and try to organize and price the items the best you can.

Now let’s talk about what to sell at a yard sale. But first thing, first:

What is a yard sale?

According to Wikipedia, a Yard Sale (or Garage Sale) is “an informal event for the sale of used goods by private individuals, in which sellers are not required to obtain business licenses or collect sales tax (though, in some jurisdictions, a permit may be required).”

Basically, it involves you selling your things and showcasing them on tables and such, on your front lawn or green space. 

I highly recommend doing this after a house declutter or before moving out, so you can get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore. 

The 7 best things to sell at a yard sale

There are many things you can sell at a yard sale that will make you money. But the key here is to find the items that are in demand and cost more than 1$. Below you’ll find a list that ticks most of these boxes. 

But before we start, I want to emphasize the importance of selling only items in good condition. Please don’t try to sell broken items or that cannot be used/worn. They won’t sell and it’s not fair towards your potential customers. 

Now that is out of the way, here are 7 best things to sell at a yard sale:

1. Furniture 

This category has a lot of potential. 

Firstly, because you are getting rid of (usually big) pieces of furniture you don’t want anymore, so that means extra space, or less things to transport to the new place. 

Secondly, furniture, if it’s in good condition and is large and/or made of wood / leather, can sell for a lot of money, even if it’s a yard sale. You might not get the $1000 you paid for it initially, but you could get $200 or $300, again, if it’s in good condition. 

I recommend selling 

• Sofas
• Chairs
• Coffee tables
• Cabinets

2. Vintage or Unique Jewelry

Ok, so this category might NOT make you A LOT of money, but it might help declutter your or your mothers’ / grandmothers’ collection of jewelry. 

You know what they say: “A man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or something like that. 

Some people are always on the hunt for vintage and/or unique jewelry, and you can have some cool pieces on your hand that you don’t even know about. 

I encourage you to especially sell Necklaces, Rings and Earrings, I noticed they were the most appealing to yard sale customers. 

3. Sporting gear

This section surprised me: sporting gear.

People are always on the lookout for good deals on sporting goods, especially camping and fishing, and yard sales are a great place to find them. 

This is especially true, since most families go on camping or fishing trips once or twice, then the products sit unused in the garage. 

If you’re one of those families, and want to know what to sell at a yard sale, definitely consider selling your unused sporting items, like tents, fishing rods, hiking boots, bikes, scuba diving gear and so on. 

4. Tools 

Although you will probably find mostly women in yard sales, the men that do come, they are usually in the lookout for tools and/or sporting gear. 

So grab your husband / partner and rummage through the garage; decide what tools you don’t use anymore, or won’t need in the future, and then put them on the “what to sell at a yard sale” list. 

Think tool boxes, hammers, screwdrivers, even utility knives and flashlights.

5. Toys

This was a hit in my yard sale: TOYS. 

Considering how fast kids get bored of toys and games, it’s almost a job in itself to keep them entertained. So parents are always on the lookout for cheap, yet cool & usable toys for their children. 

Definitely add toys to your inventory. But always remember to NOT sell broken or non-functional toys, nobody will buy them.

You can try selling brand new toys your kids didn’t even want to touch, or duplicates they might have received at birthday parties. 

Or things they played with 1-2 times, but still look and feel new. 

Lego blocks are always needed, so you can definitely add that to the list. 

6. Clothes, especially Kids’ clothing

You can never go wrong with clothes, especially in this day and age where people are looking to spend less, and also be sustainable. Thrifted items are the way to go. 

Obviously, you can sell at a yard sale whatever you want (except underwear, I don’t recommend that, unless it’s new with tags on). But I suggest you go with:

• Coats
• T-shirts
• Sweaters & Pullovers
• Shoes
• Kids clothing

The last category was one of the most popular ones, because, as we all know, kids grow up fast, so they go through clothes at a lightning speed. So parents will always want to buy kids’ clothing. 

7. Cold drinks & Snacks

This last section of items will surprise you, but you can make a nice profit out of it. 

Consider this: don’t you get hot and thirsty when you’re walking around, especially when it’s hot outside? Most people would kill for a water bottle in that moment, so why not have it on hand? 

You can get the 24 16.9 fl oz water pack at Walmart for as little as $2.56 (current price) and then charge people something like 75 cents or $1. It’s not that much, but overall, it adds up. 

Similarly, you can sell ice pops for the kids or mini chips bags. 

And we are: the 7 best things you can sell at a yard sale. What do you think? Have you been at one? What do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 best things to sell at a yard sale – What to sell in order to make money appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Well, it’s almost 2021, you’re probably stuck at home, and really, there is no better moment than this one. It’s time to declutter your wardrobe. If you don’t know where to begin, how to do it, or you just need a bit of motivation, you have come to the right place. 

I used to be you….5 years ago. I finally bit the bullet and started decluttering when I realized I had too many tops that I didn’t wear on a day-to-day basis (or in the appropriate season). So I decided that I have to re-arrange my closet. Get rid of the things I didn’t use and see what else was hiding in the back of the closet. 

It seemed overwhelming the first time, but after a couple of tries I perfected a technique…actually a process, that makes it so much easier. I’m sharing it below, hoping it will help you, too.

So here’s how to declutter your wardrobe and get rid of clothes you don’t need or can’t wear anymore:

1. Schedule at least 2-3 hours for the wardrobe declutter. 

Set aside at least 2-3 hours for the wardrobe declutter. Going through every item of your wardrobe will take time. If you have a bigger closet, consider splitting the process in two days, or allocate a whole afternoon for it. If you set aside one hour and you can’t finish in that time frame, you will quit altogether and leave the decluttering for another week / month / year.

2. Clear out the floor / bed / space you will organize all your clothes.

Since the technique requires making piles of clothes, I highly recommend that you tidy the room before starting, so you have space to organize your clothes. I usually clear my bed and the floor space next to it. 

3. Limit distractions. 

You might be tempted to interrupt the decluttering for a quick call, or a run to the supermarket, or emails. Don’t. If you do this, the process will take so much longer and you won’t get it done in time. Which will make you frustrated and want to quit. 

That’s why it’s important to get rid of the phone, or put it on airplane mode. Tell your partner or housemates that you are busy. Pee before starting. And have some water or coffee nearby for hydration.

4. Start with one category / closet space. 

One way to not get overwhelmed is to start with only one type of clothing item, or one closet space at a time. Don’t take absolutely everything off the shelves and hangers and throw it on the floor. This will make you freak out and blame yourself for the amount of stuff you have (guilty as charged). 

For example, you could start with jeans. Empty out the drawer or the hangers, or go through each pair. But how to decide what to keep or to throw away? Check out the next point.

5. How to ACTUALLY decide what to declutter.

If this part is what is scaring you, I am here to help.

Once you’ve decided on your category, start looking at each item and see if it check any of the boxes below:

• You haven’t worn in 1-2 years; .
• You don’t like the item;
• It doesn’t look good on you;
• The item doesn’t fit you anymore;
• The item is damaged and cannot be repaired.

If the item checks any or all of those boxes, then most likely you’re probably not going to wear it anytime soon. 

So these items have to go. Create an OUT pile on the floor with these items. 

If the item doesn’t check any boxes, but you are unsure, put it in a MAYBE pile. 

If you like them, you wear them all the time, or are items you need for certain occasions (like a  little black dress or ski outfit), then put them in a KEEP pile. Or better yet, put them back in the closet, if you want to.

6. Go through your MAYBE pile.

Go back to each item in the MAYBE pile and inspect it further. Try it on, maybe look at it for 10 seconds. 

Most importantly, see what your instinct says, it always knows best. If your gut is telling you that you won’t wear that anytime soon, then it’s time to go. If you really like this item and realize you can pair with something else, then keep it.  

7. Organize your decluttered items.

Now it’s time to go through the “OUT” pile. To help you in the aftermath of the process, you should create two more piles. DONATE and GARBAGE.

The GARBAGE pile will include items that are stained, broken, damaged and so on. These are items no one can actually wear.

The DONATE pile has good clothes, just not the ones for you. They can go to family & friends, or they can be sent to a charity shop. Or sell them on Poshmark. You choose. 

Now it’s time to organize and clean up. Get two bags or trash can liners, or something similar, and start dividing the piles in their respective bags. This way, it will be easier to get rid of them, and also clean the space after.

8. Organize your new wardrobe. 

After you’re done going through the piles, it’s time to clean and organize your new wardrobe. 

Go back to the clothes you are keeping. Put them back in the closet section, on a hanger or properly folded in the drawer. This will make your wardrobe seem cleaner and give it that “Pinterest” vibe at the end. 

And that’s it. That wasn’t so hard, right? Of course, it depends on the size of your closet. I don’t have a huge space, and since I do the wardrobe declutter twice a year, it helps keep the organization to the minimum.  If you have a huge closet, allocate more time and don’t get discouraged, you can do this. 

Let me know in the comments when was the last time you did a closet declutter!

P.S. After you’re done decluttering, find out how to build a classic wardrobe!

The post Wardrobe Declutter: How I Declutter My Closet Twice a Year! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.