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.

Then it might be time for a home declutter. A big, organized, but messy home decluttering process will help you get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore. 

I’m here to help. I will show you how to declutter your home in order to clear up space and make your house feel cleaner, more organized and a more welcoming place. 

In order to declutter your home, you need to sit down and plan your steps.

Here is how to begin decluttering your home: 

1. Start by writing down each room of your house. This will ensure you won’t forget any part of the house. Master bedroom, kids room 1, kids room 2, kitchen, pantry, laundry room, and the list continues.
2. Then write at least one area that can be decluttered in each room. For the bedroom, you might write down nightstand drawers and decor. For the bathroom, it will probably be the place where you store all your hair, skincare, make-up and so on. The pantry can be a room aka project in itself. Either way, I am sure you can definitely find something to tidy and declutter in every room of your home.
3. Step 3 is to add the decluttering process in your daily schedule, by scheduling one room at a time. So let’s say you realize you have a free hour on Tuesday, and a Thursday evening off. Plan to do the bathroom cabinet on Tuesday, and the pantry on Thursday night. That way, you won’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of things you need to get through and clear out. You might need more time and that’s totally fine. If you can’t finish the bathroom clear out on Tuesday, continue it on Thursday. And then go down the rest of the list. 
4. Clear mindset and no distractions. Go into the process with a clear objective in mind and give yourself deadlines and rewards. Treat it seriously and make sure you are not distracted from the task in hand. Put your phone on silent, make sure the kids are busy or not home, and get to work. 

How to declutter your home: The actual process of decluttering your house

Let’s say the first room on your list is your bedroom. 

1. Before actually starting, tidy the room so you have enough space to move around and organize. 
2. Choose a small area or corner and start getting things out. If you’re going for the nightstand, pull out one item at a time, and ask yourself if you still need it. If the answer is NO or you’re unsure put them in a separate pile (on the floor or on the bed). Continue the process until there is nothing left in the drawers. 
3. After the area is cleared, wipe the surface down and put back in the things you are keeping. Not only did you declutter, but you also now have a clean and organized space. 
4. Then go through the separate pile and put away the things you don’t want anymore in bags. They need to be cleared out and they need to be out of sight. Don’t know where to throw them or what to do with them? More on that later, keep reading. 
5. Don’t start another corner or area of the room before clearing out the current pile. If you leave them there, it will get messy, you will get overwhelmed and you will quit. Be organized and tidy up after yourself before starting a new task. 
6. Next area! Continue cleaning the room until you feel everything in it is needed, frequently used or has a very important sentimental value. 

And that’s about it! It really isn’t that complicated. Most people dread it and don’t do it or postpone it indefinitely because

• They don’t really want to get rid of their stuff;
• Most people are too lazy / They don’t work that hard to get it done;
• Some prioritize other tasks; 
• Most are easily distracted by other things and don’t finish the process. 
• People actually don’t know what to get rid of. 

If that last point hit home, I’m here to help.

So how to know WHAT TO THROW AND WHAT TO KEEP?

If you want to know how to declutter your home in order to clear up space, you might not like the answer. You need to be ruthless when it comes to getting rid of things. 

So when you’re in the process of decluttering your house, take one item at a time and ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I frequently use it? If YES, keep it, if NOT, consider the following questions.
• Do I use it rarely, but I need it for specific moments? (like glue, or matches, hammer) 
• Do I need it? This might be the hardest question to ask yourself. Do you actually need the thing? Is the 1 year old magazine in the living room cabinet still useful to you? Do you still wear or even fit in that denim skirt you had in highschool? The answer to most questions, actually to most things you are unsure about is probably NO, you don’t need it, so YES, you can throw it out. 
• Is it functional?  If the answer to this is NO, definitely declutter it, you shouldn’t keep broken things that you cannot use. 
• Do I still want it? You might encounter things that were useful to you in the past, but that you don’t need anymore. Like books you don’t want to re-read or keep. Or clothes that don’t match your style anymore. Same with decor items, maybe you’re out of the farmstyle phase. If you are, and don’t need the items anymore, get rid of them. 

I’m sure there are more questions you can ask yourself, but when it comes to how to declutter your home, these are the essential ones. 

To help you out, here are some items you can definitely declutter:

• Empty bottles / packages. (empty bottles of shampoo or perfume)
• Non-functional electronics. (broken phone, earphones that don’t work anymore)
• Expired products (make up, medicine, food, etc)
• Clothes that don’t fit you anymore.
• Old magazines and notebooks you don’t need or want to keep (for sentimental value)
• Clothes you haven’t worn in over two years and probably won’t ever again.
• Home decor you haven’t used in a while and don’t plan to in the future.
• Random small items you keep in your drawers, bag, car, nightstand, etc, and don’t regularly use (like old receipts, expired lip balm and so on)

What to do with things you are throwing out?

If you’ve reached this point, congratulations, that’s a big deal. 

If you find yourself with bags and bags of stuff, here are your options of actually decluttering them:

• Donate them to charity. Please donate only things you would use yourself, but don’t like anymore. Do not donate broken, ripped, filthy items. 
• Give them to family and friends. The rule above applies here, as well. 
• Throw away in the garbage. It’s time to get rid of them for good.
• Recycle. Paper, aluminum, glass, even electronics can be recycled. 
• Sell on Facebook Marketplace or in Yard Sales. Might make some nice money out of it. 

So here we are. This is how to declutter your home to clear up space. I hope you got some valuable tips out of it and I can’t for you to declutter your house in the next few weeks. You’re going to feel so much better after it! 

Good luck!

P.S. If you want to know How I Declutter My Closet Twice a Year, check it out!

The post How To Declutter Your Home To Clear Up Space appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.