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I’ve been back and forth in my head as to whether or not to write this post. Some of this info may be nothing new to some of you, some of it may be really helpful. Take it or leave it. Either way, here it is.
Decorating can be expensive. And I do it cheaper than most.
Sometimes, DIY projects cost more money than I thought they would. Its still cheaper than paying someone else to do it or buying something new, but sometimes I just spend more money on it than I thought I would or I look back at what I spent and am like, “Wow, maybe I should have waited on that one.” Seriously, it seems like I can’t go to the Home Depot once a week without spending $75 on projects.
That may not sound like a lot to you, but to this frugal gal, it is.
And it adds up.
I have learned to be resourceful and find money.
You see, I go out to my backyard and start digging, hoping to find mason jars full of cash that someone before me forgot they had buried.
Ok. I lied.
I don’t do that, but I know of a place where that is rumored to be true.
And no, I won’t tell you where.
Here’s how I find money to pay for all my DIY projects.
And occasionally to feed my family. I mean really, projects or my family eating?
Its a clear decision.
Projects!
I’m joking.
1. Sell items on Craigslist
I keep Craigslist in business. Seriously. I sell anything that my family no longer uses on Craigslist. When the kid outgrows clothes, they go on Craigslist, when I get tired of those candles sconces, they go on Craigslist, when I switched out my living room chairs, they went on Craigslist. People on Craigslist probably know my phone number by heart now. Which is scary. Y’all if something happens to me, find out who viewed my Craigslist postings last.
- Clean out your closets
This may be a no-brainer to some folks, but go through your closets. Get rid of what you haven’t worn in a while. Go through your kids closet. If it doesn’t fit, don’t keep it! Group all the same sized items together and list them on Craigslist. I typically ask $1 – $3 per piece of clothing and give a discount if they buy it all. Usually, someone ends up buying it all. Its out of my way and its money in my pocket.
- Get rid of decorative pieces as your style changes
Once I get tired of decorative accessories, I first ask myself if I can make it over in some way that I would still like it. If the answer to that is no, then it goes on Craigslist. I always ask a little more than what I’m willing to take for it, because people will want to bargain with you.
- Go through your garage and craft room
If you are a DIY-er or crafter like me, you may have random things laying around that at one point, you thought you must have for a project, but now you don’t really need it or like it anymore. Maybe you are like me and have 15 bottles of old glass jugs that resemble moonshine bottles and you really don’t need all 15. Put them on Craigslist. Those jugs I thought no one would want, sold in a day.
- Sell your old furniture as you buy new
When I purchased my new Ikea wingback chairs you may have noticed in my home tour, I knew in order to pay for them, I would need to sell the chairs that were presently in my living room. I sold one to a friend and one on Craigslist. Selling the old chairs paid for more than half of my new chairs.
- Be sure to renew your listings on Craigslist
There are thousands of new posts on Craigslist every day. If you don’t renew your postings, they will get lost in oblivion. Once you post to Craigslist, go into your account and hit that renew button beside your listings every couple of days. This simply moves your post back to the top of the category you are selling in.
2. Sell items on Local Facebook Yard Sale Groups
Did you know that many areas have local yard sale groups on Facebook? Yep. I’m a member of four different yard sale groups in my area that have thousands of members. I post on there regularly. Those people know me well now too. To find the yard sale groups in your area, just do a search for them. Type in something like “Chicago yard sale” or be more specific and type in an area or suburb around you. You may have to hit the “Request to Join” button in the right corner of the page.
- When you put an item on Craigslist, put it on your Facebook Yard Sale Groups as well
A huge timesaver and great way to get your items out there in more than one place is by listing them on Craigslist as well as on Facebook. Every time you renew a listing on Craigslist, go to the Facebook yard sale groups and “bump” your items back to the top, by simply commenting on them. I usually just write “bump” as my comment or “Still available.”
- Make sure you follow the rules of the Facebook groups
Many groups will typically have rules that are pinned to the top, they will usually tell you how many times you are allowed to bump a post or how to go about selling an item on there. Also, if you have your item listed in more than one group, list it as cross-posted, so others will know it is listed elsewhere as well.
3. Yard Sales
I keep an ongoing pile of items I no longer want. Some of the larger items or ones I think would sell on Craigslist or Facebook get listed there, but if they don’t sell, they stay in the pile until its time for the yearly shindig that we call a yard sale. And if they don’t sell at the yard sale, its off to Goodwill with them.
How do you find money?
Liked this one? See these too then!
Three Things That Could Cut Your Electric Bill in Half – don’t miss these simple ideas to save you a little green!
15 Days to a Clutter-Free Home & Some Extra Cash– declutter and make a little money in the process!
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Jeannine says
Do you have Craigslist people come to your house? What’s your advice on that?
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I have them come to my house if its a big item, like a piece of furniture or something. But, if I can meet them, I usually do!
polly plum says
Do you all feel safe having strangers come to your house? I don’t know if I do. Then they’ll have my name and my address. I don’t know why, but I’d feel safer having a yardsale, outdoors. But in our town we aren’t allowed to . We can participate in group yard sales, like in a park parking lot, but not in our yard/driveway.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I typically meet people with items unless they are large furniture items.
Stephanie says
That’s my issue with Craigslist, too – I’m out in the country and I know some folks on Craigslist are “prowlers” which me uncomfortable.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Yep, some are Stephanie. You do have to be careful. I always try to meet people whenever possible. If I can’t meet them and they come to my home, then I try to have the items ready for them to look at on the porch or the garage or someplace that’s more open and not right in my home.
Stephanie says
Oops – I meant “makes me uncomfortable.”
Yeah, good ideas. I just can’t carry big furniture up from the lower level basement to leave in the elements (no garage but huge basement). My neighbor has offered to come over, sit on the front porch and clean his gun while strangers come to see stuff. LOL (Yep, I’m in the south!)
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Honey, I know exactly what you mean – I’m in the south too! Love it!!
Lindsay says
I feel like there should be a category of “Have a friend like Lindsay that wants all your old stuff and is willing to buy it from you… even when you aren’t even thinking about selling it, she’ll buy that ottoman.”
Can I hire you to sell my stuff? I pay in alcohol.
Also – Um… those bottles are gone?! What?! I thought they might be in the garage or something! I wanted that green one for a lamp! 🙂
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Hahhaha! this is true! And lucky you, I kept that green one. Do you really want a lamp out of it? BTW, I sell anything for alcohol.
Lauren @ The Thinking Closet says
Sharing this on my FB page today!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Lauren!
Elisha @ Pneumatic Addict Furniture says
I do the same things! Right now, I bring in WAY more money from selling on craigslist than I do from the blog (working on getting it the other way around). Its nice to have a way to fund my hobbies. I can sell one piece of furniture and it buys me the materials for 4 more! So glad you shared this! DIY projects aren’t always free.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I’m the same way, Elisha! I sell a ton on Craigslist! Love it!
Ellora @ Creatively Southern says
Great tips! My decorating addiction can get expensive and I seem to accumulate more stuff every year. I mean how many fall wreaths does one person need? ha! I’m glad you commented about how you handle people coming to your house with Craigslist. This is some helpful information and I so need to get more into Craigslist! I never thought about selling clothes there.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I’m with ya, Ellora!! Craigslist is where I sell most of my stuff! Love it!
Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says
Great ideas! I use Craigslist a lot to buy and sell. With our recent move we sold $7000 of furniture and accessories in one week on craigslist. Thanks for joining the Open House party.
xx,
Sherry
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
That is awesome that you sold so much on Craigslist! Way to go! Thanks for always hosting!
Lacey says
Great post! I never would have thought to sell smaller things on Craigslist.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Glad it was helpful, Lacey! I used to be the same way about selling smaller items on Craigslist and then one day, I just decided why not try it? And it worked!
Jamie says
This is awesome! Love, love, love these tips!!
Hugs,
Jamie
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Jamie! Gotta make the money somehow! haha!
Kathryn says
Great tips! I usually just donate all that stuff, but maybe I should try to sell things first. Thanks!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Glad they were helpful, Kathryn! I do try to sell first and then donate whatever doesn’t sell in the end!
Dee Williamson says
Yes, I’m the same way at Lowes. I can’t walk out empty-handed. Thanks for the info!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
So glad someone else is there with me!!!
Kelsey says
Great ideas Jenna! I belong to a couple of facebook groups – they are called swip-swap groups here and sell the kids’ old clothes and other random items but I always forget about Craigslist. I guess I just haven’t had that great of luck in the past and feel like I get more spam email than anything from it. I’m trying to organize and clean things out around here so I need to try to sell and get some more crafty $$ – the budget is LOW this time of year 😉
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
It is low here too, Kelsey! I think its that way for everyone after the holidays! I love FB groups and Craigslist for selling stuff – we seriously made $150 in two days last week from selling stuff on there!
Joyce De Vere says
Just call me J.D. please and how do you post stuff on Craig’s List ?? With pictures??
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Hi Joyce! If you go to Craigslist, you can set up an account. In your account, you can create a new posting and after typing a description, it will give you the option to add photos!
Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says
I usually take my nicer clothes to consignment, then i get a check every month–even if it’s only 20 bucks…it helps!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
You are right, every little bit helps! I tried consignment once, but it didn’t go so hot for me. Boo.
Ann says
Just caught this today in 2015. I’ve been in Utah 18 months now from the Seattle area
and I gotta say Craigslist really doesn’t work here for me. It’s so frustrating that people
don’t go that route. I’ve tried selling American Girl dolls that are retired, furniture,
collectible dishes and not one response. In the Seattle area, Craigslist was wonderful to
sell on and shop from. I just don’t get why it doesn’t work here. I started in August and
went through Thanksgiving trying to earn money for Christmas. No inquiries at all. I
almost feel like I need to drive back to the Seattle area with my stuff, post there while I stay
in a hotel…but then there goes the money– at least gas is cheap now. Any ideas??
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Wow Ann, I hate to hear that! I’m not sure why it is that way there. I’m not really familiar with Utah at all. Have you searched on Facebook for local yard sale pages? That might be another route.
Carolyn Carpenter says
There is another option for selling your stuff. Bdiggity.
You register and post free and you can easily add a photo if you like. This website is attached to radio station websites and I’ve been told that KVEL in Vernal, Utah will have it within a few weeks! But you can find it now at bdiggity.com. I hope this helps.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Haven’t heard of this one, Carolyn! Thanks so much for the heads up! I’m off to check it out!