My Monthly Resale Efforts in the Chicagoland Area

You might say we missed the call of spring cleaning by several months, but no harm done -- quite the contrary in fact. We were able to turn our spring cleaning into a full blown summer deep clean in which we went through our son's toys, my in-law's crawl space, our garage, and most of our house. In turn, we were able to convert a large portion of the accumulated stuff that we no longer needed or wanted into cash. Here is a list of the things we were able to shed, not only lightening the load of burdensome possessions, but making a tidy bit of cash in the process.

Fridge Pickup

Our electric company recently included a flier in our monthly bill advertising the pickup of aging, extra or unused refrigerators. They touted that not only would they have someone come and pick up the item and dispose of it, but customers would save on their electric bill by possibly eliminating an extra appliance that could be draining energy. Not only this, but they would pay $25 for the refrigerator. Our extra fridge was a real junker that came with the house when we moved in, so we were happy to be rid of it.

Total Received -- $25

eBay Store

Given, eBay stores take quite a bit in commissions and fees, but if you aren't internet savvy or just don't want to take the time and effort to set up an eBay account or go through Craigslist, taking your items to an eBay store is an easy way to earn some extra cash.

Here are the items we took, what they sold for, and what we received after eBay took their commission and fees. Several of the items were my mother-in-law's, so we had to give her a cut of the proceeds.

• Trumpet - Sold for $70. We received - $41.51

• Snare drum - Sold for $90. We received - $54.67

• Cuisinart food processor - Sold for $82. We received - $49.52

• Pasta maker - Sold for $30. We received - $15.42

Total = $161.12

Less $75 to mother-in-law.

Total Received -- $86.12

Half Price Books

For books, CDs and DVDs that I can't find a buyer for on the internet, through sites like Cash4books.net or Secondspin.com, I usually take them to Half Price Books or put them in a garage sale. I took quite a few books on this trip and didn't get quite as much as I'd hoped for, but something is better than nothing I guess. This summer's take at Half Price Books for one large box of books, and a few CDs and DVDs, was $20.

Total -- $20

Once Upon a Child

This sell back opportunity was a first for me. My three-year-old has outgrown many of his toys and clothing, some of which he never used much in the first place. My wife and I decided that rather than donating the lightly used items, we'd try selling them back. It turned out pretty well since we racked up $56.90 in resale dollars.

Total -- $56.90

Totals

Add the above totals to a garage sale we had for all the stuff we couldn't resell, from which we netted $180 after placing an ad in the local paper, and I can't say we did too shabbily.

The overall net profit for the month was -- $368.02.

Things we couldn't sell back or get rid of at the garage sale, we donate for our 2010 tax deduction, providing us yet more savings, and giving the items a second chance at life with a new family.

Disclaimer:

The author is not a licensed financial professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For financial advice, readers should consult a licensed financial advisor. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.