Making Cash From Clutter

Profit off your unwanted items with these nifty monetising ideas.

Are your closets and cupboards bursting with piles of clothes, books, toys and assorted trinkets you’ve no idea what to do with? Here are ways to free yourself from clutter and earn some extra cash.    

If you have time to spare…

■ Rent a booth at a flea market

Hawk your new or secondhand wares at a flea market around town where all you need to do is show up with your goods. Go solo or better yet, combine collections with your girlfriends so you can take turns manning the stall. not only are you guaranteed potential buyers, you also get to network and learn from other sellers.

■ Hold a yard sale

Sell from the comfort of your doorstep by setting up a good old traditional yard sale. Keep it simple and efficient by grouping items under one price, or pricing as they go. Don’t forget to self-advertise online or on signboards around the neighbourhood like bus stops and along main roads.

■ Upcycle

Turn your creativity up a notch by converting things into products of higher value and then putting them up for sale on sites like etsy. Upcycling takes commitment, whether it’s beautifying a photo frame with accessories or creating storage boxes out of old books, it’s a great way to revive old, unsellable things.

If you’re always on the go…

■ Visit cash converters

Exchange household products you no longer want or need such as computers, musical instruments, TVs, Hi-Fi systems and electrical appliances for instant cash at locations around the island. They also make house calls, so you don’t even have to leave your home to get your money’s worth.

■ Recycle

Before you bin your well-worn or even torn clothes or textiles, take them to the nearest H&M store and receive a 15 percent discount voucher in return. This eco-friendly initiative converts your unwanted fabrics to viable energy or other usable products.

If you’d rather go online…

■ Snap and sell

Great for pre-owned items or that dress you bought but never wore, take pictures of individual items and post a listing on apps like Carousell or online classified sites like Gumtree.sg. You just need a little patience for the right buyer to come along.

■ Try consignment stores

Get the white glove treatment with sites like Styletribute.com and Reebonz.com.sg for fuss-free ways of selling off your preloved luxury brand items, with a small commission of course. Simply tell them what you’re selling, schedule a free pick-up service at your convenience and let them do the marketing for you. All that’s left to do is wait for your money to roll in.

■ Rent out

Let your things continually make money for you by listing your car, appliances, party items and more on Renttycoons.com and have someone else enjoy it for the day or week. For special-occasion designer dresses that you hardly wear anymore, try Covetella.com where you will receive a cut of the revenue each time your dress is rented.