The Frugal Hack That Will Make You Money And Clear Your Space, Too

Americans as a whole possess too much stuff. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the average U.S. household had 300,000 things in 2014. With the rise in popularity of Amazon and other online shopping platforms, which allows consumers to obtain their next "thing" within seconds, it's safe to say that this number has grown over the past decade.

From clothes to collectibles to general household supplies, it's easy to accumulate new possessions, even as we cling to the items already filling our drawers, closets, and attics to the brim. Randy Frost, a professor at Smith College who has studied hoarding, told the LA Times that "our possessions all have magical qualities. Many, if not most, of the things we keep have an essence that goes beyond the physical character of the object."

However, hanging on to too many of these things while consistently bringing in new ones can quickly cause both money problems and clutter for your home. Luckily, there's a frugal hack that can help you avoid financial devastation and clear your space as well: selling your stuff.

Whether it's your child's old stroller (they're in high school now) or that one pair of jeans that you know will fit again someday, a good chunk of those 300,000-plus items in your household likely haven't been touched — except when shifting them out of the way to make room for the new stuff — in ages. Rather than have unused things continue to take up space in your home, experts in the art of frugality recommend selling as much as possible. This not only reduces clutter, but also brings in some extra money (a particularly great idea if you're living paycheck to paycheck).

While you may be thinking to yourself, "Who would want my old stuff?" know that there's pretty much a market for everything. Consider, in the second quarter of 2024, there were 132 million active users on the e-commerce site eBay alone (per Statista). While you can buy new items on eBay today, there's still a strong recommerce presence (the term recommerce refers to the selling of previously owned items in an online marketplace). According to OfferUp's Recommerce Report 2023, the recommerce market is now on pace to reach $276 billion by 2028.

Whether you want to earn some extra cash for that old concert poster with the unexpected value today or the Furby from your youth that's been collecting dust (check out the rarest Furbies that are worth a ton of money, by the way), there will be someone on the other end of the screen willing to buy it. You just need to set your emotions aside and truly recognize that the item no longer has a place in your home.

If you're willing to part ways with some of your old belongings, there are a few things you should keep in mind before rushing off to put up your eBay posting. Professional organizer Jevata Crawford told Consumer Reports, "There's somebody looking for every type of thing you can imagine." But, she added, the seller must know where to find them.

Each e-commerce site has a different consumer base, so sellers should learn which one will best garner them a sale. For example, while eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace allow shoppers to browse numerous categories, from motor parts to collectibles, Poshmark is primarily used to sell clothes and other accessories, while AptDeco specialties in home decor.

Once you've found the perfect platform for your item, you must create a listing that will attract people, not have them click away. This involves setting a price that's comparable to what the item is going for elsewhere online and being extremely transparent about the item's condition, revealing any flaws in the photos and description. If you try to hide marks or broken parts, this will make you an untrustworthy seller, likely resulting in poor reviews and a difficult time making future sales.

If you do everything right, though, it's possible to earn some big bucks. According to the business intelligence firm Marketplace Pulse, the top eBay seller in the world is the UK-based musicMagpie Shop, which sells CDs, DVDs, games, wearables, and other tech products. As of August 2024, the store has sold 43.4 million items since it joined in 2011.