Clear clutter, raise cash by jettisoning your stuff

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, May 26, 2007

NEW YORK – Most people have accumulated a lot of stuff, probably a lot more than they need. Spring can be the ideal time to weed out items that are no longer wanted and find a way to turn them into cash.

The clothes that have been outgrown or never worn, toys that are no longer loved and furniture that is past its prime can find new homes through yard sales, online auctions or consignment shops. The seller gets a neater home – and gets to pocket the profit as well.

Many people feel overwhelmed by their possessions and embarrassed that they’ve let things get out of hand. But Laura Moore, founder of ClutterClarity at Home in Cambridge, Mass., says it’s not a sign something’s wrong with them.

Getting rid of unneeded things can be a relief and bring financial rewards, she said. That’s because people often come across “buried treasures,” including stashes of cash and coins, unused gift certificates and cards, or useful items that were hidden away.

Moore adds that becoming aware of having too much stuff also can motivate a person to come to grips with overspending.

She told the story of a woman who sought help organizing all the things in her house. The woman blamed a lack of time, saying she worked 60 hours a week and was too tired at night and on weekends to deal with the mess.

It turned out, Moore said, that the woman’s way of relaxing after a day at the office was to go on the Internet and shop.

“When she recognized what she was doing, she was motivated to stop,” Moore said. A bonus was that less buying led to less clutter.

Mike Sullivan, director of education for the nonprofit credit counseling agency Take Charge America in Phoenix, said he often deals with people who complain they can barely make it from paycheck to paycheck, with little left over to save or to pay down debt.

“It hit me that there are many things people have to sell,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan suggests families begin by trying to identify the unwanted clothing, toys, tools, kitchen appliances, furniture and whatnot they want to sell. Then they need to think about where they can make the best profit.

“I recommend that families get together and try to schedule neighborhood sales,” Sullivan said. “If you get the whole neighborhood involved, you can share advertising costs and often attract more people.”

People also can take used items, especially clothing, to resale stores, he said.

“If people have designer clothes or specialty items, they might also consider auction sites,” he said. Among the most popular is online auctioneer eBay Inc.

Another way to find buyers, especially for larger items, can be through advertising in a local newspaper or on the Craigslist Web site, he added.