We all know moving isn’t cheap. Sure, there are plenty of tips and tricks out there to help save money on your move, but wouldn’t it better if you could make some money, too? Well, we’re here to help. Try these smart tactics to put a little extra cash in your wallet the next time you move.
Sell Old or Unused Clothing
Many of the clothes you never wear can be worth quite a bit of money. Think about clothes you haven’t worn in years or seasonal clothes that won’t make sense to keep for where you’re moving. Moving to Florida? Ditch the snow jacket and boots. You can sell them to brick-and-mortar consignment shops like Buffalo Exchange, or online shops such as thredUP ou Poshmark.
Sell and Recycle Electronics
Everyone has a few old smartphones laying around these days. If you’re sure you won’t use them again, sell them on refurbished electronic sites like BuyBackWorld, iGotOffer, or Amazon. Older computers, smartwatches, and tablets can be recycled for cash as well. Or, you can sell everything at an old-fashioned pawn shop. Shop around and decide where you’ll get the most money.
Sell Your Furniture
Antiques and upscale furniture can make you a lot of money – and save even more on moving costs since you won’t have to pay to ship it to your place. Try selling your more valuable items online first. Facebook Marketplace is also a great place to sell furniture and unused items; join a buy/sell/trade group on the website and connect with locals around you who may be looking for exactly what you’re selling. Check out your local antique dealer or consignment store, too. They’ll take care of selling your items and give you a nice little cut of the profit.
Sell Old Books
Do you have a massive book collection? How about some rare books that aren’t being published any longer? Both can be worth a ton of money to collectors, so post them on sites like Amazon and see if you get any bites. Don’t underestimate the value of your old textbooks either; those can be worth a lot when added up! Try sites like Chegg to get the most for your books. Even if you just have a variety of books, you can always take them all to a used bookstore to make a couple extra bucks.
Sell Your Appliances
Large kitchen appliances can cost a fortune to move, so it might be best if you part with them. You can earn about 40% of their original cost when you take them to a resale shop, and even more if you try to sell them yourself.
Have a Yard Sale
As moving day approaches, whatever you haven’t sold but would like to get rid of can be used to hold a yard sale. Don’t have a yard? See if any friends or family would be willing to host your sale, or drop by a neighbor’s yard sale and ask if you can sell your items alongside theirs for a cut of the profit.
Donate!
If all else fails, you can always donate your remaining items. As long as you donate your belongings to a qualified organization and follow the rules for claiming a charitable contribution deduction, you can write it off on your taxes. When you donate, make sure to ask for a receipt for your records, then itemize your deductions on your 1040 tax form. For donations worth more than $5,000, you’ll want to get it appraised first.
If you have the time (and can bear to part with) a few of your belongings, you’ll be in good shape to earn some cash to put toward your next move. Find your next apartment before you move to make the process even smoother. Then, with that extra cash, you can start budgeting for how you’ll decorate and furnish your new place.
This article was updated on 10/24/18.
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