How to Make Money Spring Cleaning

The dread of spring cleaning can turn you green. This year, embrace your inner green-side by turning your trash into cash!

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pen
• Trashbags
• Tape
• Mailing Supplies, postage and boxes if necessary

Instructions

1. DIVIDE AND CONQUER!
   Grab your pen in hand and start writing down the rooms that need to be tackled this spring. Realistically plan your attack. Will you clean the bedroom Monday, and the kid's room Tuesday? Or, does one room a week better fit your lifestyle? It's easy to get discouraged and quit, and only YOU know yourself and your cleaning style the best, so make sure you don't set your goals to be too unrealistic. Post your list in an area you can easily see it. Than grab your cleaning supplies in hand and started conquering! And remember, you might find that you're sitting on a gold mine!

2. PILE IT UP!
   When spring cleaning, the easy approach is often my personal favorite! Figure out what piles you want to have. I go with the three step approach.
   Pile #1: Recycleables. Old magazines, newspapers, loose papers, that old soda can that mysteriously showed up under your bed all go here. Rubberband old tax papers and personal information so you remember to shred them first before tossing them in the recycle bin.
   Pile #2: Doesn't Belong Here. Children's toys showing up in your bedroom? These things all go in this pile. You can return them to the right rooms later.
   Pile #3: Make Some Green, or Throw It Away and Be Mean. Old jeans from six years ago, old palm pilots, books, things you can donate to charity, and more go here. Later when you're all done cleaning the entire house, you can further divide this pile.

3. SEND IN FOR CASH, OR CONSIDER IT TRASH?
   Check out "Tips" for a more complete list of items that can be considered for cash, trade, or donation. Than read the suggested money making ideas for that particular item.

   This isn't for the faint of heart. It does take some time to go to various places and keep track of items you may be mailing. It can be worth it if you are organized, and are selling things of larger worth that may be in higher demand. Start placing clothes and books into seperate trashbags, and packaging up those things you may mail. Label accurately and correctly to avoid errors. That way, you're ready when it's time to send it out.

Tips & Warnings

• BOOKS: SELL OR TRADE

• Old textbooks from semesters ago may help you gain a few dollars off the price you originally paid for them. Do a quick google search and type in 'textbook buyback.' Many different companies will pop up. Pick two or three that sound the best to you, then enter the books into each site. See which one will give you the best deal for the books you are trying to sell. Many allow you to print free shipping labels as well. Some online book buyers may be interested in your old reading books as well. Check out www.mybookbuyer.com. This company makes it easy to buy old books or textbooks and ship them. If you're an avid reader and can't part with your books without replacing it with another, consider joining an online book trading company. You can easily send your beloved book to a new owner and get a new bestseller inexpensively in it's place! Check out these sites: Bookins: http://www.bookins.com/index.php?invite=2MF7cN8cA and Paper Back Swap: www.paperbackswap.com.

• DVD's, CD'S, VIDEO GAMES, VHS TAPES, RECORDS, ETC: SELL OR TRADE

• Anything with electronics tricky to sell. Electronics depreciate fast. Check places like Amazon or EBay to see what used prices are going for a particular item before considering selling. That old record might yield a lot of money! Or, if you didn't like that new CD you got for Christmas, it may still be quite popular and get you a few bucks! Consider selling on a site like EBay if it's an older novelty or more popular item. Look into local DVD or video game stores that buyback used DVD's, CD's, VHS tapes, or video games. Or, joining online trading companies like www.swapadvd.com or www.swapacd.com. Try an online trading company like www.nintari.net for video games and DVD swapping.

• CLOTHING/TOYS/BABY ITEMS: SELL OR DONATE

• Go through items of old clothing. Wash, launder, and remove any stains if necessary. Then look at selling them if they are newer and in good condition. Check out places like Plato's closet if you are selling newer name brand clothing. Or local clothing consignment shops might take in older or less popular brands. Check out childrens consignment shops like Kid to Kid to sell used toys, baby items, books, clothing, and shoes. Anything that you feel might not be sellable can be donated to places like your local Salvation Army, or on networks like Freecycle. Freecycle is a fun organization for those wanting and offering free things. Post an offer for old clothes, pick the person you feel needs them the most, than set them out for them to pick up! You don't have to leave your house (but you won't receive a tax break and $$ by doing it this way). www.freecycle.org.

• HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLD DECORATIONS: SELL OR DONATE

• If in good condition, you can sell furniture or household equipment like vacuums easily. Post a free ad on Craigslist.com. Most household decorations won't bring enough cash to justify trying to sell, and most of the time donating is the best option. Try freecycle or donating to the Salvation Army. Also look into buyback versus donating an item. For instance, after our family went through three vacuums in one year, we decided to go for a more expensive brand. The store offered us $35 to buy our vacuum. We decided to donate to the local Salvation Army, and received a $60 tax break by doing so.

• KITCHEN CABINETS, LIGHT FIXTURES, FAUCETS, PAINT, ETC: DONATE

• Old household fixtures can be in high demand for those not able to pay for some of these rather costly repairs in a home. Kitchen cabinets can be donated to organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Check out http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx for a place to donate. Other places like freecycle would be good places to post usable light fixtures or faucets. Old refrigerators, mirrors, stoves, or dishwashers in good working condition might bring a good price on places like craigslist. Or, consider donating and receiving money for doing so! Your electric company may give you $30-40 for your old refrigerator and even haul it away for you free of charge! They do have a few stipulations, and pickup can be timely. When we donated an old fridge from the new house we moved into, it took about five weeks for them to pick it up, and they required we have it plugged in when they came to haul it away. If replacing appliances or windows, make sure that as you donate old items, you also get rebates for the new items! Some utility companies will give you a cash rebate or credit on your energy bill for choosing certain companies they have listed on their website when installing your new windows or furnace. Others give you a rebate or credit for choosing a specific "energy efficient" brand of refrigerator or clothes dryer. You may also qualify to get additional money on your taxes next year for that energy efficient appliance in addition to the rebate you received from your utility company!

• LAWN AND GARDEN SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, TREES, ETC: SELL OR DONATE

• Lawnmowers, snowblowers, and weedwhackers in good working condition might be able to fetch a pretty good price on sites like Craigslist. And, the ad is free to place. That nasty black walnut tree you've hated may be someone elses treasure! Certain companies may come and cut down your tree for free! (but leave you to the stump removal). Other companies will give you credit on your tree removal if you give permission to recycle the tree or allow the tree to be used to make wood chips, etc. Certain times of the year, the Arbor Foundation gives away free trees you can plant in place of the one you removed. Sod can easily be given away on sites like Freecycle or craigslist so you don't have to haul it to the dump! Outdoor dog runs can also bring you some extra cash when listed on sites like craigslist. Pavers, landscaping materials, decorative rocks, and railroad ties are more likely to leave your home if you give them away versus trying to sell them. Sites like freecycle are probably best for things like this. Shrubs, flowers, and trees are best when donated too. It depends on the type of plant, but most of the time, people don't want to invest in something they aren't sure may last if transplanted.

• TV's, VCR's, DVD PLAYERS, STEREOS, CAR DVD PLAYERS, CAR RADIOS, COMPUTERS: SELL OR DONATE Leave it to sites like EBay to search and see what you might be able to get for your used electronics. New and upcoming models are always popping up, leaving older models to depreciate quickly. List with sites like Ebay or Craigslist. You can even call around to local pawn shops to see if they are interested in buying a specific item from you. Otherwise, donate it.

• MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: DONATE OR HOLD ONTO. Consider donating some medical equipment to lower income medical clinics. Used glucose meters are often used by medical clinics to give out to patients newly diagnosed with diabetes. Often the cost of new lancets and test strips is cheaper for the older meter models as well. Other donatable medical equipment can be donated to clinics or the Health Department. Often, nursing homes will take in donations of wheelchairs, walkers, and toilet risers. Otherwise, you may want to hold onto it. You never know when you, a family member, or friend may need it. Often insurances don't cover the cost of certain types of medical equipment, and this can be expensive to buy.

• FLEX SPENDING ELIGIBLE ITEMS: CASH IN! I was amazed when I picked up an old receipt to my local grocery store how many over-the-counter items I bought could be used as a flex spending reimbursement. Check the detailed list of eligible expenses, than start submitting. You may find you've got an extra $25 you never knew you had! Save recipts and periodically go through them to check for reimbursable items.

• MEDICATIONS: TRASH. Never sell or give used medications to someone else. To save money on medications, ask doctors for samples if they prescribe you a medication in their office. Many pharmaceutical reps stock supplies for the doctors offices to give to patients to try. And always ask for generic if possible. To offset the cost of the pharmacy, call ahead and ask. Don't feel bad cost comparing what you will pay at the pharmacy. You shouldn't have to be surprised when you go to pay. Check places like Costco and Sam's Club. They typically charge less for many medications. Also cost compare places like Walmart and Target that advertise $4 prescriptions for certain medications. And look for rebate coupons as well. Places like CVS often give out $25 or $30 cash back or gift cards for new or transferred prescriptions. Others like Kroger stores advertise similar $20 gift cards for new or transferred prescriptions, but will often take the $20 off the cost of the prescription itself in lieu of the gift card.

Resources

• Spring into Action