Get Rid of Clutter and Make Money

Summer is here and I’m in full cleaning mode right now. To be honest I stay in some kind of cleaning mode pretty much all the time, but in the past, I got into a routine of cleaning and decluttering as soon as my kids finished their school year so I could redecorate the schoolroom for the next year. And even though those days are gone, I still use this time of year to declutter and reorganize. 

For those of you that do still homeschool or have kids that age it’s a great time to sell any books, clothes, or even toys for that matter. Items like that sell very well on eBay, but if you don’t like the idea of online selling then you can have a yard sale, or if you have enough stuff maybe even open a booth in a flea market in your area. The point is that some of the items you haven’t used in a long time might be just the thing somebody else is looking for.

Here are some tips to declutter your home and maybe make a little extra money too.

Start Small

Normally I like to get the biggest job out of the way, except when it comes to decluttering. But this is a job that can get overwhelming pretty quick, so it’s best to start small and once you clean out a small space you’ll be more confident to tackle a large one.

Gather Supplies

For me it’s trash bags and a few cardboard boxes, but you might like baskets or bins. Make some labels for your boxes like trash, donate, or sell. I also like to have cleaning supplies so I can clean and reorganize the items I’m keeping.

Make Time

If you can get your whole family on board to help out, schedule a block of time that everybody can work together on a specific room, or each work on their own space. Small amounts of time spent decluttering adds up, so don’t feel bad if you can only stand to declutter for 10 minutes at a time.

Set Rules & Ask Questions

I like to set a rule that if it hasn’t been used in 6 months to a year, it’s has to go.  If you haven’t used an item in the last year, you probably won’t use it in the next year.  Ask yourself these questions as you encounter each piece of clutter:

• Do I use this? 

• How long has it been since I’ve used it? 

• Will I use it again? 

• Is it worth the space it takes up in my house? 

Don’t Feel Guilty

We’ve all done it at some point in our lives… we bought something we never used, it happens. Maybe it’s a gift that you wanted to like, but didn’t. It might even be something that you loved, but just don’t use anymore. It’s okay to get rid of all of these things.

Once you’ve trashed or donated your items you will feel a little lighter. Your house will be easier to keep clean and organized.

If you keep some items to sell, make sure you don’t keep them too long. If you have a yard sale, plan on donating the items that don’t sell. If you list the items online, set a time limit and if they don’t sell, donate them. Don’t let anything stick around very long and mess up that good clutter free feeling.