Comments on: Is there cash hiding in your clutter?

By: Bernardino Lima

Bernardino Lima — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:35:38 +0000

Hi!

Beside all the examples given I once really found cash hidden in my clutter. Hi put all my mail on my inbox. A couple of years ago I got money as a gift from a grandma on a envelope, and it went to the pile of the mail in the inbox. Some weeks later (I usually sort my mail few times because I have automated payments) I discovered the money in the middle of the mail… I already had forgotten I had it!

By: Could organizing your household earn you money? Find out how, here! | Bath Fitter Blog

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:55:32 +0000

[...] you be hiding cash in your clutter? Our favorite household organization blog, Unclutterer, recently featured this article about finding cash hidden amidst your clutter. Naturally, [...]

By: mydivabydesign

mydivabydesign — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:17:08 +0000

#3 is great. Clutter is also a state of mind. Clearing it will help you focus on the things you love instead of feeling guilty about it. Clutter also saps your energy.

By: Fred E.

Fred E. — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:50:36 +0000

On my last checking statement I see three credits for a total of over $48 from Half.com for three books.

I am guilty of taking an entire box of CDs or picking up books that people have left in the trash room and selling them, however, which is backwards from the way this is supposed to work as far as getting rid of clutter. That said, I made several hundred dollars from a box of CDs last summer including one that was worth over $50 and once sold a book from the trash room on Amazon for over $200. Those are of course the exceptions that prove the rule that most of the stuff isn’t worth listing because it sells for $1 or even 1 cent.

By: Magchunk

Magchunk — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:48:59 +0000

I’ve “made” money by uncluttering:

1. Finding cash tucked into pockets of old coats/bags/jeans that I never wear and luckily checked before donating!
2. Simplifying vehicles – we moved into the city, which cost a little more rent-wise but made up for it by getting rid of one car and it’s insurance/maintenance/gas costs (and we rarely drive the car we still have).
3. Like others, selling items on ebay and craigslist. I had several (ok 7) years of Vogue magazines. I kept my favorites but got rid of many many others – one sold for $60 on ebay!
4. We’ll be “buying” a table at our community rummage sale. For the $25 fee I expect we’ll more than quadruple that in sales.

By: gypsy packer

gypsy packer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:09:18 +0000

Regional highway garage sales (The World’s Longest is my favorite) are great places to rid oneself of clutter on a long weekend. If you like to camp, many of the larger sale sites allow it.
Also a help–shopper periodicals. We have two Craigslists within 100 miles, but that much gas eliminates the bargain in the purchase.
With collections, always check out collectors’ societies online. They may have prospective purchasers of entire collections, or auction lists/want ads for purchase.

By: Rory

Rory — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:53:08 +0000

When I moved in with my husband (then-fiance), we sold tons of comics, movies, video games, and toys to a shop called Vintage Stock (including all of the items we each owned a copy of) — we took some of the funds in cash and kept some in store credit for carefully thought-out future purchases.

I also recently came across an uncashed $12 money order while decluttering my office. These are nice rewards for getting organized!

By: dijamae

dijamae — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:51:08 +0000

I like to resell my children baby clothes. They grow so much that I am always having to buy new ones. Selling old clothes on ebay gives me money for new ones.

By: Jen 2

Jen 2 — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:20:26 +0000

So far, I’ve found over $200 in old checks, rebates, and occasionally actual currency – literally cash lost due to my clutter.

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:27:35 +0000

I’ve been doing this too!
I just sold a Serger Sewing Machine, 35mm Camera & lens and made over $250 on Craigs List. I think I get MORE excited SELLING my unused item (and making $) then buying new!

By: nicole

nicole — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:49:44 +0000

I finally sold some of my college textbooks I had been holding onto through Amazon. Made several hundred dollars and cleared of an entire shelf.

By: Jeri Dansky

Jeri Dansky — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:01:19 +0000

As others have mentioned, actual money can often be found when decluttering. In working with clients, I’ve found travelers checks, a tax refund check, other bank checks, and numerous gift cards.

But related to point #3, there’s also the clear-out-the-self-storage-locker kind of cash savings

By: DebraC

DebraC — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:43:20 +0000

Given that a lot of this stuff just lies in our cupboards unused, we may else get rid of them. It provides the opportunity for others to make use of these items. And the cash always comes in handy. Having a garage sale is a good way to sell as many items as possible in a short timeframe.

By: Claycat

Claycat — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:06:16 +0000

I have been selling my MIL’s things on eBay. (She is in assisted living.) I’m making money for her and a little for me as well. I’m also selling some of my things.

I’ve also had 2 estate sales which weren’t that great, because we are rural, but they did better than I thought they would. Then I sold a computer desk on craigslist. I have some other things I’m going to list there, too.

I have found that Half Price Books doesn’t pay very much for books, so I stopped taking books there. I’m going to be selling books on eBay.

By: MsD

MsD — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:19:24 +0000

I thought it was going to be literal, too. I once found $50 in an unopened holiday gift (several years old) in my mom’s house while secretly tossing junk. My payment for a long, hard day of work!