How I earned Php 13,000 (267USD) from selling my things!
C L U T T E R T O C A S H
FROM CLUTTER TO CASH – I, myself, couldn’t believe I earned as much as Php 13,000 or USD 267 from selling pre-loved things I barely use. Another good thing is that my buyers can put these items into much better use instead of having them stacked up in my closet.
When I realized I owned clothing I rarely use and were just kept hidden in my closest, I decided to sell them. The same goes to my footwears that were kept in the shoe rack for too long. I also sold furniture that didn’t meet the new standards I set for my home or some furniture that occupied too much space than they should.
I am beyond happy that I made this decision because instead of having cluttered things lying around my home, I turned most of those into money (which I can add to my savings!). Owning lesser things helped me make more room for things that truly matter.
WHAT I SOLD
I only sell things that qualify to my personalized criteria below:
o If it doesn’t add value to my life
o Question to ask yourself: “Does it add value to my life?”
o If the item is an extra of something
o Question to ask yourself: “Is this an excess of something I already own?”
o For instance, I owned around 6 coin purses, I decided to sell the other 5 and turned it into cash!
Here is the list of items I decided to sell:
o Chic bags: pouches, backpacks, coin purses
o Clothing: dresses, t-shirts, jumpers, rash guards, jeans & sweaters
o Footwear: rubber shoes, heels
o Books: fiction novels
o Furnitures: study table, dining table, cabinet, shoe rack
o Most of the furniture I sold do not add quality to my life anymore and I grew out of its design.
o Others: party masks, phone cases
WHY I SOLD
This new venture of mine started when I learned about Minimalism. I wouldn’t say I am a complete minimalist with a capsule wardrobe but I have since tried simplifying my life by owning fewer possessions. When I owned a lot of things, I had a cluttered room and workspace to the point that my things do not radiate joy nor calmness anymore. Getting rid of things that I do not need helped me value each of my possession.
For instance, I used to own around 30 pairs of footwear but I only wear 5 pairs. The other 25 pairs are taking up much space in the shoe rack. I decided to sell or give away my extra pairs. This helped me become conscious of footwears I own and what’s each of what’s left had a purpose. For instance, I had running shoes for hiking or exercising, white sneakers for smart casual events, sandals and business shoes.
WHERE I SOLD
There are many platforms where you can sell your things in your local place. In my case as a resident in Philippines (Metro Manila), I sell my things in Carousell (carousell.ph) – it is a platform where you can sell or buy either new or used personal listings. This is where I sold most of my items by simply taking a quality photo of my item and posting it in my account. Do not get worried if you think no one will see your item. I initially worried about this as well but I posted away and it turned out that there are tons of people interested in my items! I was able to sell many of my items in a span of 2 weeks! Just be patient with the process and try it out for a month!
Another platform where I was able to sell my things was in Facebook Marketplace. Simply post your item in marketplace and people nearby will be able to see your posts! I also joined Facebook groups dedicated as buy and sell groups for books and furniture in my town.
HOW I SOLD
Taking a quality photo of your items
o People are more interested in buying items that appear well-lit in photos rather than those taken in the dark.
o If you want to entice more people in checking out your items, here are tips for you:
o Use natural sunlight or white light to take a quality photo
o Edit the brightness, sharpness or contrast of your photo.
o Avoid using excessive filter that would alter the real colors of your item in the photo
o If possible, use a white background for your items
Make sure your item is in good condition.
o Be honest with your buyer if the item was used or new.
o If your item is not in good condition, tell your customer honestly all the flaws of your item (i.e if scratched, broken etc)
Find a cheap courier.
o The buyer should handle the courier free.
o Find a courier that doesn’t charge much money to avoid your buyer from getting discouraged with a high fee.
o Here are some couriers in the Philippines that do not charge beyond Php 200 within Metro Manila.
o Fasttrack
o Xend
Selling furniture will require you a transporter.
o The buyer should handle the transportation fee.
o Consult the transportation fee with the buyer before booking for the transporter. Buyers can opt to offer the ride.
o If your furniture is big (i.e cabinet) expect to dismantle it if necessary.
o Here are some transporters in the Philippines.
o Lalamove
o Transportify
o Grab
Hope you learned a thing or two! Let me know if you are turning your clutter into cash in the comments below!
“Throw out the excess. Clean up the mess. Say no to stress. and Live with less.” – Joshua Becker