You’re working hard to cut back on spending, reduce your carbon footprint, and live a life of “less,” but what do you do with all that stuff you’ve accumulated over the years but no longer want or need? Sell it!

I’ve found a good filter to use when deciding if something is worth keeping is using this simple formula… only keep something if it is:-

• Useful
• Valuable or,
• Beautiful

There are a lot of tips and tricks that you can use if you are interested in selling what you see as junk, and these will help you ensure that you get the most for what you’re trying to get rid of.

1. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This is crucial if you’re selling items that are old and/or valuable, such as antiques, collections, or first-editions. Make sure to do some research and understand the basic value of an item before trying to sell it anywhere, whether online, in a yard sale, via a classified ad, or by using another method.
2. If it doesn’t have a lot of value, or isn’t in very good condition, consider letting it go for far less than you paid. This is going to happen far more often than not, such as when that shirt you paid $60 for will only fetch $5 at a yard sale. It’s frustrating to know that you’re not getting back what you paid, but that’s rarely going to happen, and getting more than what you paid is even rarer for most items.  A side thought… doesn’t this then help with managing our emotions when buying new things, knowing that very soon they’ll be worth much less than we paid?
3. Know what options you have available for selling items. For instance, websites like eBay are great for selling just about anything, but you’ll have to list the item (and pay the fees to do so) and ship it to the seller. That means at least a basic knowledge of shipping fees, packaging/handling fees, item value, and so on. Classified ads in newspapers—online or traditional—and yard sales are another option.
4. Items that do not sell can always be donated or re-purposed. For instance, old furniture is always just a few steps away from being reused for something else, such as dressers becoming TV stands, or trunks becoming window seats or benches. Local shelters are usually grateful to receive hand-me-down clothing, shoes, household items, books, and so on, and these count as freewill offerings to the Lord. After all, giving to the needy is something that He’d want us to do, right?
5. Don’t be afraid to throw away the trash. If you can’t sell it or donate it, it isn’t worth keeping in most cases. Even those sentimental items should be gone through if space is an issue for your family. I’m not saying toss it all, but decide what is actually important to you versus what you’re “saving” for a rainy day. Parents often want to keep everything, but this is rarely practical or feasible.
6. Be ready and willing to negotiate. There will always be people who want something for nothing, regardless of the value of the item. After doing the research on value for a particular item, be willing to negotiate within reason. Don’t give away an item worth thousands unless God has given you a specific word to do so…otherwise, you’re just robbing yourself and your family.

Once the junk is sold, don’t replace it with more junk. Often we find the whole exercise extremely enriching.  De-cluttering our homes often de-clutters our minds!

Put the money you’ve earned into paying off a bill, or add it to your family’s emergency fund or reducing debt. There are always other places that can use the additional funds without adding to the family’s stockpile of future stuff to sell. Be smart with your money, and seek God before spending it!