Taking out the clutter is part and parcel of a thorough cleaning. But instead of throwing away your belongings, you could try profiting off your used items while you're at it.
Here are some suggestions on where you can unload your stuff for cash.
#1. Facebook: If you don't feel comfortable selling to a complete stranger, you might want to first list your items for sale on your personal Facebook page. Many of my friends have bought and sold items from their Facebook networks with a lot of success. The bonus of using this social media network to sell is that it's free to list, and you'll be dealing with people you know.
#2. Amazon: Amazon is a popular place to sell used items, and it really makes the selling process easier and more secure. You can get rid of a wide variety of items in this online marketplace — anything from books to cooking equipment — with ease. The nice thing about it is that you don't have to monitor your account and rush to the post office as soon as your item has been bought — you can opt to send all the items to its warehouse first, and the firm will ship out the goods as people purchase them.
#3. StubHub: If you're looking to do away with event tickets, StubHub is one of the best options out there, simply because of the ease and security.
#4. Gift Card Granny: Have a bunch of gift cards left over from birthdays and holidays? According to Gift Card Granny, you can sell them for up to 93.4 percent of the value on this site — a seriously great deal.
#5. NextWorth: This site is one of the most well-known marketplaces for used electronics. What's great is that it gives you the option of either shipping the items to NextWorth or trading them in at any Target near you for store credit.
#6. Consignment store: There's always the good old-fashioned option of selling your items at a consignment store. The benefits of doing this include not having to carefully craft listings, no visits to the post office, no delivery charges, and you can get rid of multiple items at once. One drawback? You might be able to get a better price online.
#7. Craigslist: Craigslist is definitely a great place to sell because of its reach, and the wide variety of items sold. It's good because you can stipulate that the buyer pick up the products at your convenience so you won't have to be responsible for delivering them. You also have to jump through fewer hoops on Craigslist, and it's much easier than Amazin to list items on — although it'll also be easier to fall for a scam on the site.
#8. Pawn shops: Of course, it's much harder to sell certain items, such as jewelry, online. But pawn shops are good places, like local jewelers, to sell your bling. Be sure to negotiate to get the best price, and if you're not satisfied, you should compare price quotes from different establishments.
#9. CoupRecoup: Don't let your daily-deal impulse buys collect dust and expire before you're able to use them. Sell them on CoupRecoup, a coupon resell site that has worked very well for me in the past.
#10. eBay: We're all familiar with eBay, the ultimate online auction place where you can sell virtually anything. That said, there's a bit more competition on eBay since there's an influx of sellers, and you'll have to educate yourself on the strategies to make a good sale.
#11. Threadflip: Overwhelmed by eBay and Craigslist? Sell your clothing and accessories on Threadflip, a site that makes resale a lot easier. It has a "white glove service" that helps list, price and ship the items for you. The interface itself looks more palatable, what with the great pictures and cool social features — which might mean a higher chance of finding buyers.