If you’re cleaning out your closets or need some spare cash, your old stuff can help fill up your wallet.
A number of websites and apps make it easier to sell used smartphones, furniture and clothes. Here’s where to go to sell your unwanted stuff and earn some extra bucks:
GIFT CARDS
Gift cards have become a very popular present, in fact the National Retail Federation says more than half of consumers plan to give one as a gift this year.
But at least $1 billion of the $130 billion spent on gift cards last year went unused. It could be that the gift card is for a retailer or business the recipient doesn’t like. Or they simply don’t have access to the store or restaurant to spend it.
So what should you do with your unwanted giftcards?
The easiest solution would be to re-gift it.
If you can’t use the card or just don’t want it, someone else might. So why not hand it over to a friend or loved one who wants it?
Gift cards are typically good for several years and there are no rules about transferring it.
Another option would be to Sell It. There are various sites online, such as CardPool, Raise and Cardcash, where you can buy and sell gift cards. You won’t get the full value of the card but you’ll recoup some of its value.
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t trust the internet for that kind of transaction, you can visit a CoinStar Exchange kiosk to get cash for your gift cards. Furthermore, retailers like Target will allow you to bring in gift cards from major brands and exchange them for a Target gift card.
Lastly you can Donate your unwanted giftcards. You can do this by handing the card directly to a charity, food bank or school that might use it to buy supplies, or offer it to a needy family in your community.
GADGETS
If you got the latest tablet or smartphone, don’t let the old ones go to the forgotten junk drawer. Sites like Gazelle, Swappa and NextWorth will buy your unwanted electronics depending on its condition. Recently, Gazelle was offering $148 for a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & $175 for an iPhone 6S in good condition on Verizon & AT&T Respectively.
Other options include Apple, which will pay you in Apple Store gift cards for some of their products. Retailers like Target and Best Buy will take your electronics online or at some of its stores in exchange for gift cards. You can also try selling unwanted electronics on eBay or Facebook’s marketplace, which is free, and found within the social media company’s app.
CLOTHING
For Women’s, Men’s or Children’s clothing, there’s Poshmark. The company charges a fee of $2.95 for items sold under $15 and takes 20% for items sold for more than $15. Just snap a picture of the item you want to sell, fill in a description & price and you’re done.
With ThredUP, the website will send you a box to fill with brand-name women’s or children’s clothing that it tries to sell for you. At Tradesy, you can buy or sell designer bags, shoes and clothing, with Tradesy taking $7.50 on items under $50 and 19.8% of sales price on items sold for $50 or more. Of course, you can also sell your used clothing on eBay.
FURNITURE
For couches, tables and other household items, try Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. Adding clear photos in the listing and the exact measurements of the items, can help them better attract a buyer. But with those options, only accept cash or online payments such as Chase Quickpay or PayPal, as requests to pay by check can be a sign of a scam.
If you live in New York or New Jersey, AptDeco lets you list used furniture and can arrange for shipping and delivery with charges starting at $35.
TOYS
For unopened toys such as Lego, Magformers or Dolls, try the ‘Brian’s Toys’ or ‘Sell My Toys’ App. It will quote you the price it will pay for a specific toy. Furthermore, you can download their app, which allows you to scan the toy’s barcode for an immediate price quote. You can also try eBay or Craigslist to sell unwanted toys. Lastly, you can donate new toys to organizations who gift it to children in hospitals.
Selling used or unwanted stuff can be time consuming and rather overwhelming but you’ll be ecstatic once you’ve gotten rid of these items. If you don’t have the time to sell it, don’t let it sit and gather dust. Ask your local community center where you can donate these items. The end result of all your de-cluttering will be you living lighter, having some extra cash and/or having made someone’s day through your donation.
Originally Published December of 2016