For someone who hates accumulating yard sales every Saturday morning. It was an apartment-lined street, and tenants in the process of moving out would often dump their stuff on the sidewalk and sell it.
But before assuming I can set up camp on the busy street in front of my apartment, I should check on a couple of things. First, is this permitted? I mean, even aside from acquiring a yard sale permit, which you should definitely look into, are you allowed to just sell stuff on the sidewalk? One Yahoo! writer had some simple, but good, advice:
“If you have noticed people selling things on a specific corner in your town or city, contact the town or city hall for advice. They will let you know where you can have a yard sale, especially if your apartment complex will not allow it. In any case, do not attempt to publicly sell anything without a permit, even on private property.”
Secondly, even if you are permitted to have a yard sale in front of your complex, you should probably check with your apartment manager to make sure it’s okay.
Take It to the Internet
If you have a few valuable things you want to get rid of, sites like eBay, Amazon and Craigslist are great old standbys. I’ve also sold and swapped furniture via Facebook status updates — it’s easier and you don’t have to deal with crazies, flakes or Paypal fees.
If you’ve accumulated cellphones over the years,this site seems to have a cool program that gives you a modest amount for them.
Community Garage Sales
I’m jealous that Seattle has West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. In Los Angeles, I encounter multi-family garage sales, but I can only imagine a whole day of garage sale-ing that involves an entire community!
If you’ve got friendly apartment neighbors, though, you can initiate the idea of holding a complex-wide yard sale. Again, permits and manager permission should be taken into consideration. If your neighborhood is planning an event on a particular Saturday morning, that morning might be a good time to organize the sale.
I used to live in a quadplex, and my neighbor and I once held our own combined garage sale. Thinking back on it, it would’ve been really fun to let the other quadplexes in the neighborhood know — maybe we could have made a fun,tax deduction is always nice. Just remember, tax law “requires that all household items given to charity must be in good or better condition,” according to tax pro Kay Bell.
Borrow a Yard from a Friend
I’ve been an apartment dweller for a while now, and back in Houston, my friend’s mom would always encourage me to participate in her semi-annual garage sale. Oh, how Mrs. V loved her garage sales. And she made them so much fun. There’d usually be four or five of us ridding our junk together on a Saturday morning. Lemonade or coffee was usually involved, and she lightheartedly competed with us to see who was making the most money.
If you’ve got a homeowner friend, they might not be opposed to letting you borrow their lawn for your sale. To repay them, you can offer to take care of selling any stuff they’re looking to unload.
Flea Markets/Swap Meets
Okay, I don’t have quite enough stuff to rent space at flea market, but I thought I’d toss in the option. There’s the cost of renting the space to consider, however. For example, while some SoCal markets charge as low as $7/day, others are as high as $70! Also, you may need to consider permits, registration and taxes, according to the Small Business Administration. They advise:
“Fairs, flea markets, and craft shows tend to require more paperwork and permits, since they are usually occupied by vendors or businesses, whereas garage sales tend to be run by individuals… Whenever you sign up to sell at a fair, flea market, or craft show, ask whoever is in charge of the event what paperwork or permits are needed. They can serve as a good resource since they should be familiar with the state and local procedures.”
For more information, check out the SBA’s page on the legalities of selling your stuff at flea markets. They also have some important advice on hosting yard sales — namely, checking with your city to see what the permit requirements are.
So there you have it — a few alternatives for all you apartment dwellers out there. We may not have yards, but we still have options.For my fellow renters, what other routes have you taken to sell your stuff? Any words of wisdom from seasoned yard sellers? Do share.
The Complete Guide to Teaching Kids About Money – MintLife Blog
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$400 emergency, and a third have saved nothing for retirement. Meanwhile, more than 60 percent of young adults under 34 say that thinking about their personal finances makes them anxious.
In many cases, these young adults feel anxious about their finances because they never learned about money growing up. Fewer than 20 states require high school students to take personal finance classes, even as studies show that young Americans want to learn about money and wish they had learned to be more financially savvy in school.
That’s where you come in. Giving your kids real-world lessons at home on how to manage their finances will go a long way toward helping them stockpile plenty of savings, stay out of debt and maintain healthy credit scores.
Read on to learn the critical money lessons you should teach your kids at every age, from their toddler years to their teen years.
Table of Contents
Start With Yourself: Be a Good Example
Smoking. Drugs. Bullying. All of these are topics that parents say they would rather discuss with their kids than the family’s finances.
Maybe you have struggled with using money responsibly in the past. Maybe you don’t want to tell your kids how much you make or reveal that you’re in debt. But it’s important that you become comfortable with talking to your kids about money so that they become comfortable using it.
Brush Up on Basic Financial Concepts
Pop quiz! If you take out a loan for $1,000 with a 20 percent interest rate, how much will you owe per year in interest?
The answer is $200. Did you know that? If not, you’re like almost two-thirds of Americans who have trouble calculating interest rates.
Take some time to brush up on basic financial concepts. Make sure you understand these topics inside and out so that you can answer your kids’ questions and provide the most well-rounded lessons possible.
Get Out of Debt
Every good lesson in using money responsibly starts with reducing or eliminating debt. More than family’s finances and get on the same page. This way, you can better understand your family’s financial goals and communicate them with your kids.
It’s also helpful to write down your family’s financial goals and display them in a prominent place in the home. For example, if your family wants to go on vacation later in the year, you could post that goal on the refrigerator to remind everyone why the family is saving.
Protect Your Kids
Another important component of putting your kids on the best financial track possible is thinking about what would happen if you could no longer take care of them.
Even though most Americans have life insurance, a good chunk do not have enough coverage. About half of Americans have $100,000 or less in coverage. It’s recommended that you have coverage equal to at least 10 times your salary. With kids, that multiplier should typically be even higher.
Also, make sure you have a will to ensure that your assets are properly divided and that your kids are cared for should something happen to you.
Younger Than 3
At this age, your kids likely just learned how to throw a ball overhand or to scribble freely on paper. They have no idea what money is or how it works — but that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce them to some basic money concepts.
Allow them to play with coins. Play store to introduce them to the concept of a marketplace. Even allow them to watch you pay bills. This helps them understand that money has a value and that items vary in cost.
Coin Identification Game
Show your toddlers different types of coins. Allow them to trace the outlines of the coins onto a piece of paper. As you color in the shapes that you traced, help them to match the coins to the drawings and repeat the coins’ names.
Coins are more fun for toddlers to play with than paper money, but you can also draw dollar bills and color those in to include in your toddlers’ homemade “wallets.”
The Play Store
Using the pretend money that you created from the coin identification game, gather a bunch of household items and allow your toddler to exchange the money for the items.
Kids already love playing store for the fun of it, but take this opportunity to show them that different items require different types of pretend money. For a twist on the traditional game, decorate price tags and attach them to the items.
Toy Calculator and Checkbook
Toddlers are always watching you, so why not use that to help them learn about money? When you’re paying bills with your checkbook and calculator, let them know that you’re buying things just like they do when they play store.
For even more fun for your toddlers, give them their own “checkbook” and calculator to play with while they watch you.
Ages 3 to 5
By kindergarten and pre-kindergarten, your kids have already seen you give something green to the pizza delivery driver or put down a piece of plastic on the table at the end of your dinner at a restaurant.
It’s your job to answer their questions and explain to them that they need money to buy things. As they reach school age, you can even allow them to manage a little bit of money on their own by way of allowances.
It’s up to you whether the allowance should be earned or given, but the important thing here is to teach your kids to save and to help them understand that they may need to wait before they can buy something.
Saving, Spending, and Sharing Jars
Gather three clear jars and ask your kids to decorate labels with “saving,” “spending,” and “sharing” for the jars. Piggy banks are great, but you can’t see what you’re putting in them, and you want your kids to be able to see the progress they’re making!
Explain that everything costs money. The money in the “spending” jar can be used today to buy anything your kids want within reason. If they want something that is more expensive, they will have to wait until their “saving” jar has enough money in it.
You can also encourage your children to put a couple of coins or a dollar bill or two in the “sharing” jar, and help them think of charities for the money.
Needs vs. Wants Shopping
Let’s say your kids want a $10 stuffed animal. Help them count out $10 from their jars. Have them take the $10 to the store and hand the coins and bills to the cashier. Allow them to see how much money is left in the jars, and explain to them that if they spend money this time, they’ll have to wait a little bit before they can buy something again.
If they don’t have enough money in the jars, help them understand how much they have and how long it will take to save enough for the stuffed animal given their current savings rate.
Imaginary Restaurant
What kids don’t like to play restaurant? At the end of the game, remind them that they can’t leave the table without “paying” the bill.
This is also a good opportunity to introduce your kids to the relative value of coins and bills. Show them that one-dollar bill equals ten dimes or four quarters.
Ages 6 to 10
While teaching kids about money is critical at every age, this age group is especially important. Researchers believe that kids’ money habits are formed by the time they turn seven.
Give them a firm foundation in protecting their money in savings accounts (and earning interest), shopping around for the best deals and understanding the different ways that money can be spent or shared.
Opening a Savings Account
Take your kids with you to the bank. Explain to them that putting your money in a bank is better than stockpiling money at home because a bank protects your money and pays you interest.
Explain that the bank pays you interest as a reward for keeping your money in that bank, instead of at another bank. Also, explain that interest is a cool concept because it keeps growing the longer you keep your money in the bank.
You can illustrate this concept by asking your kids to set aside $1 from their allowance. Tell them you’ll act like the bank and pay them 10 percent, or a dime, in interest for this $1. They’ll now have $1.10. Explain to your kids that you’ll pay interest on this $1.10 in a month and that they’ll receive 11 cents instead of just a dime. Allow them to see how interest keeps adding up!
Coupons and Comparing Prices
It’s surprising how much your kids can learn about money at the grocery store! If you use coupons, ask your children to help you clip them and identify the corresponding products at the store. Make sure they watch as the cashier scans the coupons and shaves dollars off your bill.
Additionally, look closely at the unit prices of products. Ask your kids to help you determine which products offer a better deal (a lower price per ounce, for example). This is also a good opportunity for your kids to practice their basic math skills.
Career Exploration
It’s important for kids to know that money is not just spent on physical goods, like food and toys. Explain to them that money is also spent on services, like labor. This is a good time for you to tell them what you do to make money and encourage them to start thinking about what they might want to do when they grow up.
Charitable Giving
Since many of your kids’ money habits will be formed during this time, make sure to explain the importance of giving back to their communities and to those in need. You’ll want to tell your kids that they are part of a larger community and that everyone in the community is responsible for those around them. This includes a responsibility to give your time and some of your money to community causes.
Help them connect with a cause they might care about, like a local animal shelter that rescues stray cats or an environmental group that plants trees in the local park and explain that they can give some of their money to help others. Helping them to understand that not everyone has the money they need will help them appreciate their money and grow to be more giving adults.
Ages 11 to 13
Your kids have already opened savings accounts and have seen how money seems to show up out of nowhere. It’s time to explain how compound interest works and explore other places to store your money. They also can begin to learn more about the worth of objects around them.
Exploring Compound Interest
Finally! You get to share the wonders of compound interest with your kids. Play around with a couple of classic examples that show that savings can really add up, but only if you start saving early.
For example, if they save $100 every year starting at 14, they’ll have $23,000 when they’re 65, but only $7,000 if they start saving when they’re 35.
Encourage them to play with an online compound interest calculator that allows them to input the specifics of their bank accounts and play around with different time periods and interest rates.
Investment Games
Show your kids that you can store your money in other ways that could make you more money than a traditional savings account. However, be careful to warn about the risks of losing more as well.
Have your kids pick out a couple stocks that relate to their favorite hobbies. Track how the stocks perform every week for a given amount of time and award a prize (maybe a pizza dinner or a movie night) to the winner.
Yard Sales
Your kids should have a pretty good grasp on how to value different objects already, but allow them to develop these skills even further with a yard sale (and clean out your basement in the meantime).
Put them in charge of planning the yard sale, finding things to sell, setting the prices, and interacting with customers.
Ages 14 to 18
By this point, you’ve helped your kids learn about money for more than a decade. Now it’s time for them to start working and thinking about college before they eventually go off on their own.
Be prepared to answer many questions during this time, as there are many essential financial You’ll need to cover everything from paychecks to checking accounts, credit cards, and social security.
Breaking Down the Paycheck
As your kids earn their first paychecks, they might not like what they see. The total might not match the amount they had banked on earning. Now’s a good time to explain taxes.
Explain the different types of taxes to them and show them where the taxes go, whether it’s to Social Security or Medicare or elsewhere. Also emphasize the importance of saving and encourage them to open an individual retirement account.
Perhaps your daughter or son will want to make some extra cash. Encourage them to be resourceful and help them look for opportunities like babysitting or selling old clothes.
Debit Cards
Before your kids head off to college and eventually open their own checking accounts, they might want some practice at home. Consider opening a joint account with your kids to give them access to a bit of money. You can monitor their spending using online apps and ensure that they’re making healthy financial decisions.
Their names can also be on the checks associated with the account. Take this opportunity to teach them about writing checks and balancing checkbooks.
Credit Cards
Kids can’t enter into legally binding contracts, such as credit card agreements until they are 18. One way around this is to add your kids as authorized cardholders under certain circumstances.
Whether or not you give your kids access to your credit cards at this point, you must teach them to use credit cards responsibly. Explain that they should use a credit card only if they can pay off the monthly payment in full. Talk about the dangers of debt and how missed payments decrease credit scores and make it harder to secure loans.
Finally, stress the importance of exercising caution and avoiding suspicious websites when entering your credit card number online.
Social Security Numbers
It’s likely your kids will be asked repeatedly for the last four digits of their social security numbers. Make sure they memorize all of the digits before they go off to college so that they’re not caught off guard.
Every parent wants their kids to be financially healthy — to have plenty of savings, know how to budget, and avoid the troubles that come with bad credit. But your kids won’t know how to be savvy with money on their own. Take the time to teach them good tips at every age and set them up for success.
Additional Resources
Find games, activities, and information about money for kids at MyMoney.gov.
Follow the FDIC’s Money Smart for Young People lesson plans.
Explore the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Compound Interest Calculator.
Learn how to explain taxes to kids at USA.gov.
Investigate different types of coins and learn more about the U.S. Mint.
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Have you ever hosted a yard sale with dismal sales? You made a dollar per hour for your efforts. No fun.
Last weekend, I hosted a garage sale with my brother, my ex-wife, and my girlfriend. It was a raging success. We cleared out tons of stuff, and we netted over $2500 in the process.
I’ve hosted many yard sales over the years (and shopped at dozens more) and have developed some strong opinions about what works best. I’ve heard people complain that garage sales aren’t worth the time. But they can be quite profitable if you do a few simple things.
Happy customers browsing our sale…
Yard Sale Tip Sections
With so many tips, we divided them into ten main sections that cover all the aspects of hosting a yard sale.
If the subject was too large, we broke the main section down into sub-sections to highlight specific topics. Click on any of the hyperlinks to go immediately to that section or sub-section.
Yard Sale tips we consider essential are marked with a happy star ?. But don’t ignore the other tips! They’re all important to know.
Define Your Goal
The kind of event you hold depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, and it’s usually one of two things:
Get rid of stuff (fast) or …
Make as much money as possible.
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Scheduling Your Sale
Take Advantage of Different Seasons
Whether you’re trying to get the most money for your things or to sell them as quickly as possible, consider how timing can affect your choice of location, what you sell, how you advertise, and even how often you schedule yard sales.
For example, if you’re moving and you can’t take it with you, a yard sale is the perfect solution. But you may also be up against some tight deadlines that complicate things. How do you make it work in February, or if you only have a weekend, or you won’t have anyone to help you?
On the other hand, if you have a lot of time, you can maximize your result by scheduling a few events that target special or seasonal items. What should you know about merchandising to get the best price?
Depending on your area, you may find that one-day sales are more beneficial. Experiment with which day is best. Maybe a Thursday afternoon/Friday combination is great, or just Fridays.
? You may think it’s best to schedule a yard sale in the summer months, but it’s possible to have a successful yard sale any time of year. In fact, you might even be able to capitalize on the fact that it’s February or November and there aren’t as many yard sales. Think about the pros and cons of each season.
Springtime
Advantages:
In northern climates, a yard sale in spring is an invitation to spend money after being cooped up all winter. There’s an air of optimism that could boost how much you’re able to sell.
Disadvantages:
Weather patterns are often unpredictable, and that could affect turnout. Pay particular attention to location and logistics. Shelter is critical to protect your merchandise and keep customers happy despite conditions.
Advertising:
Be clear about how rainy weather will affect the hours of your sale.
Good Items to Sell:
Sports equipment
Camping gear
Gardening tools
High-quality children’s clothing
Patio furniture
Summertime
Advantages:
The hot, sunny, lazy days of summer make it easier to attract a throng and hopefully increase sales. And since the days are longer, you may only need a single day to sell all your items.
Disadvantages:
Heat and humidity are concerns in summer, so it’s important to provide shade and a place for customers to sit.
Advertising:
It’s even more important to differentiate yourself in advertising. Find your hook free ice water, a kiddie pool, a neighborhood back-to-school sale.
Good Items to Sell:
Back-to-school clothes
Furniture and household goods for dorms/apartments
Outdoor toys bikes, camping gear
Books (especially children’s books)
Electronics
Autumn
Advantages:
Fall still offers pleasant weather, but the most hard-core (read: negotiate-like-crazy) customers are burned out.
Disadvantages:
Depending on your area, wind and weather patterns can be unstable. That doesn’t usually affect turnout, but it’s another reason to protect your merchandise.
Advertising:
Your customers may be looking for, or college students may need, your furniture and household goods to furnish dorms or apartments. Highlight these items in your advertising, as well. Maybe even title your sale as a Back-to-school yard sale!
Good Items to Sell:
Winter items
Exercise gear
Picture frames
Holiday decorations
Collectibles
Wintertime
Advantages:
In the lower latitudes, winter yard sales may continue on just as they do in the fall. Not so in the cold climate of the higher latitudes. Still, motivated buyers find motivated sellers in the winter months too. The winter months may be the best time to find bargain-hunters.
Disadvantages:
In winter, location and logistics are critical. A community or church hall may offer the best environment for a yard sale if they will work with you. Even a storage facility may permit a yard sale on their grounds if you’re a customer.
Advertising:
Give clear directions for parking and how to access any buildings.
Good Items to Sell:
Space heaters
Firewood
Tools
Furniture
Clean linens and blankets
Merchandise
With yard sales, word gets around. So stock your sale with lots of stuff to pull the biggest crowds and generate buzz.
Locate and sell anything you no longer want or need. Aaron LaPedis, author of The Garage Sale Millionaire, suggests taking an inventory of all of your possessions in order to determine what you should sell and what you should keep. “Make sure you go through your house top to bottom — every closet, drawer, nook, and cranny,” says LaPedis. “Nothing is too small or too big to sell.” And make sure you have enough stuff.
? Don’t base what you sell on what you would buy. You never know if someone likes to fix broken things or is looking for materials for an art project. If it’s something you don’t want and it’s safe, put it in your garage sale.
Offer to sell stuff for family and friends. Ask around to see if anyone has big-ticket items to sell. Not only does this help them, it also could potentially draw more customers to your sale.
Look beyond household stuff as your merchandise. Do you have plant starts you could pot and sell? How about leftover building or landscape materials?
Take the time to wipe off the dust and dirt. Clean stuff sells better. Period.
Differentiate!
All garage sales are basically the same. Find a way to set yours apart, whether it’s by theme, price, scale, or amenities. Last weekend, for instance, I billed ours as a “geek garage sale”, and emphasized that I had graphic novels, board games, and computer gear. My Craigslist ad brought folks from far and wide because of this. They bought the geeky stuff, but they also bought kitchen gadgets and yard art and clothing.
Label your sale. Lots of graphic novels, board games, and computer gear? Bill it as a “geek yard sale.” We did this last weekend and my Craigslist ad brought folks from far and wide because of this. They bought the geeky stuff, but they also bought kitchen gadgets and yard art and clothing.
Free delivery! If you have several large items to sell, another way to differentiate yourself is to find a couple of volunteers with trucks who wouldn’t mind delivering items — for free — after the sale.
Partner with your neighbors! Neighborhood garage sales attract tons more customers, so talk to your neighbors and spread the word ahead of time to arrange multiple sales. Find out what your neighbors are selling and offer to refer your customers to them. Or, better yet, hold your garage sale during an established entire-neighborhood garage sale day.
Offer free lemonade, cookies, or even just ice water. Most garage sales are held on hot days so a jug of watery lemonade or refreshing ice water is a nice gift for your customers. Don’t forget that visiting pets get thirsty too.
Engage the customers. Be friendly. Chat up the people who stop by. Be engaging. When parents with young children visit, I always find something to give the kids for free (often it’s whatever they’ve gravitated toward). I also throw in freebies for folks who buy lots of Stuff. This builds goodwill, especially among the other customers who are watching things transpire. I believe we sold more because Kim and Kris and I were friendly and fun.
Advertising
Getting the word out about your sale is critical to your success. In the old days, advertising meant sticking an ad in the newspaper, which would normally cost around $20. Newspapers may still be useful today, but other (free!) methods exist.
Here’s how to advertise to get more customers today.
Neighborhood Publications:
If you’re hosting a yard sale along with others in your neighborhood, check if they publish the yard sales. This may be free or cost a nominal fee.
Craigslist:
To get the most value from a Craigslist ad…
Advertise the date and location of your sale.
Add pictures and descriptions of the nicer items.
? Put up ads for the most valuable things in their respective categories on Craigslist. Some people might not be browsing in the garage sale section but might see your ad for the table set in the furniture section and come to the sale for it and more stuff.
Once it sells, delete that listing immediately as a courtesy.
Make your Sale Shareable. Social Media is your Friend:
?Facebook, Twitter, Instagram use them! The entire week before the sale, post on social media about your merchandise. Include pictures. During the day of the sale, update your status or tweet on what you still have available.
Nine Tips to Make your Signs Sizzle!
Your goal is to get as much traffic as possible. If your signs are unclear or difficult to read, people won’t waste their time, especially if there are dozens of yard sales to choose from. Simple is best!
I’m shocked at how ineffective most garage sale signs are. It’s like people don’t care, or as if they don’t spend twenty seconds putting themselves in the shoes of their customers. Keep signs clean and neat. Make sure everything’s legible. Make sure nothing’s ambiguous. Clear signage is worth its weight in gold. Our signs included the address, the date and time of the sale, and an arrow pointing the way. I hung a dozen of them along the major traffic roads in the area, funneling people onto our street.
Our signs also had the address and an arrow pointing the way…
Design to inform and intrigue
Use bright colors to attract attention.
Use a thick marker of a contrasting color to make big, bold text.
Adding a border around your text may increase readability. Remember that your customers are cruising by at 35 miles per hour!
Have large arrows pointing in the correct direction. It’s so much easier to follow arrows than to slow down to read an address.
Remember that superlatives rule Awesome! Blowout! Epic!
Where’s your sign?
Post multiple signs around your neighborhood.
Place signs at nearby major intersections and at each turn along the way.
Also, take a practice drive past one of your signs. Do people have time to read it, make a decision, and make the turn, before they’ve driven past it?
After the sale is over, remove all the signs!
Supplies
The right supplies can make your sale run more smoothly. So as you get closer to the big day, gather everything you need.
Borrow tables and shelves to display your merchandise. Having a check-out table can be helpful. It helps people know exactly where to go to ask a question, and placing the table near the exit allows you to welcome people in while watching that they don’t walk off with anything.
? Apron or fanny pack for the money. I use a cheap cloth apron/utility belt from the local hardware store. It works beautifully. Some people use fanny pack or a zippered bank deposit pouch.
Markers, scissors, masking tape, price stickers, and poster board. As you change prices throughout the day, you’ll use these items. Also, use these supplies to mark items that are NOT for sale.
Paper/pencil. Use this as a ledger to jot down a description of each item and how much you sold it for or to place stickers on a page for each seller. (This can help make it easier to settle up after the sale if you have a neighborhood event.)
Calculator. Having a calculator will expedite your checkout line and make it easier if you’re not especially gifted at math!
Batteries. Keep an assortment of batteries on hand so that a prospective buyer can test that old Nintendo Gameboy for himself.
Extension cords. If you are selling electrical items, make sure you have an extension cord handy or display these items near a plug so people can test them.
Bags/boxes for customer purchases. Collect free bags/boxes before your sale so your customers can haul away their purchases.
Hangers and a method to hang clothes. Searching through hanging clothes is much easier than pawing through a table covered with clothes.
Plenty of cash. Get two rolls of quarters, a stack of 50 $1 bills, 10 $5 bills, and 5 $10 bills. Do it two days before the sale so that, if you forget, you can still get the change on the day before.
Pricing
Know your purpose. “There are two types of garage sales,” an old man told me last weekend. “One is to make money. The other is to get rid of Stuff.” Know which type of sale you’re holding and why. Your purpose will affect how much you negotiate and how much you give away for free.
As mentioned above, be clear on the purpose of your sale. Are you selling things to make money or to get rid of them? This question affects everything you do, from how you price things to how willing you are to negotiate. Surprisingly, you can often make more money (and get rid of more junk) by pricing things low. (If your goal is to get top dollar, you should really be selling on eBay or Craigslist.)
Oh, and lose your sentimental attachment. Unfortunately, no one cares how much you paid for an item or how many memories are attached to it. It’s a sunk-cost. They just want a bargain!
How to Establish Price
Know the value of your items. By doing some research on eBay or Craigslist, you might discover that some of your items are worth way more than you thought. However, this does not mean you should actually charge those prices. By attending yard sales yourself, you’ll have a general idea of what an acceptable price is. Also, you’re probably safe by pricing things somewhat below what the area thrift stores charge.
Don’t price your stuff too low. People like to bargain, so allow some wiggle room. Also, you want to make money. You can always have a 50-percent-off sale over the last couple hours.
Price items like a store. If you have a lot of something, “Buy 3, get 1 free” works really well.
Other pricing strategies. Fill this box for $10 or fill this bag for $5. Anything not valuable can go on tables dedicated to that and you will get rid of all sorts of stuff that people might not buy individually but might stuff in a box.
To Price or not to Price.
Pricing items is a pain, no question.
Some people find it more profitable not to price anything because customers are turned off if the price is too high.
However, most customers prefer priced items, if only as a starting point for haggling.
Opting for a hybrid approach may require pricing larger items, or grouping like items on a table and then placing a sign on the table for the prices.
You can also place anything worth less than $5 or $10 on a table with a note to make an offer.
Another innovative approach is to mark by colored stickers only and having a master price list or two. As the day goes on, you can easily change the master price lists without changing prices on the individual items.
Be Willing to Bargain, but be Less Flexible at the Start.
If you just want to get rid of your stuff, you probably won’t mind haggling over anything.
But if you’re interested to make some money for your efforts, don’t haggle over a low-priced item or two. If your customers buy several things, cut them a deal.
Also don’t cut prices by much the morning of the sale, unless they are buying a ton of stuff. Tell them that you’ll cut prices a couple of hours before the end of the sale, and if they’re willing to take the chance, they can come back later. Or offer to take their phone number, and say “I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable selling it at that price. Would you like me to call you if it’s still here at the end of the day?”
By the end of the sale, it’s best to practically give things away rather than face the prospect of having to deal with it later.
Staging
Too many garage sales are a haphazard collection of Stuff piled every which way. Don’t be like that. Take lessons from supermarkets and department stores. “Organize things so they’ll catch the shopper’s eye,” Kris says. “And don’t have depressing music playing.” (At the start of the sale, I had some New Age music on the stereo. “It sounds like a funeral,” she told me. She had me put on Elton John’s greatest hits instead, and people loved it. Sales improved!)
If you really want more bang for your buck, borrow from the big retailers’ playbook for how to display your merchandise.
Prepare your window display. How do regular stores get people to stop in? By creating intriguing/beautiful/interesting window displays. You won’t have window displays but use the concept. You can lure more customers by placing highly-desirable items near the road.
Move your customers to the right. For whatever reason, shoppers prefer to move through stores counter-clockwise. To get your customers to do the same, you can set up a table with free lemonade to the right, or display good items (but probably not the most expensive), or colorful, items to the right. You may want to place your most expensive/desirable items in the back of the garage, on the wall. As long as your customers can see these items from the garage door, they will walk past all your other items first.
Display items to their advantage. Too many garage sales are a haphazard collection of stuff piled every which way. Customers want bargains with the feel of a store. Put the highest value items at eye level or clearly marked on a high-value table. Organize things so they’ll catch the shopper’s eye. Hang up clothes, sorted by size, with the sizes clearly labeled.
Slow your customers down. Instead of lining your garage with long tables, consider staggering them in such a way that your customers slow down — without creating bottlenecks, of course.
Make it cohesive. Establish themes. While you can group like items together, also consider grouping items of the same color, or by theme. One theme could be music: Gather old instruments, CDs, and old speakers together.
Shed a little light. Lighting is important in big box stores, and it’s just as important at your yard sale. Make sure all light bulbs are working in the garage. Consider setting up table lamps and white Christmas lights to brighten the atmosphere.
Promote expensive items. Big-ticket items can be tough to sell, but you can do it with a little extra effort. For example, if you have a digital camera to sell, gather all the bits and pieces and place them together on a table along with a printout of the Amazon page for the camera.
Think like a customer. As soon as you’ve opened and fielded the initial flood of shoppers, walk through your sale as if you were there to buy something. How does it feel? Are things clearly marked? Is it easy to move around? Visualize any potential bottleneck areas. Are your books on the ground in boxes or are they placed neatly on shelves and tables? As things sell, move items around to fill in the gaps.
Make it easy for shoppers to test electronic items. If it is a sound or video electrical item, take a retailing idea from the pros and set it up to play. A TV that is playing will sell much better than one that is off. This is also true of sound electronics. Play videos on TV. People will start watching and ask to buy the video.
Create visual interest. While you want all the customers to see into your garage clearly, don’t forget that staggering items at various heights along your garage walls creates visual interest and allows better visualization.
Display impulse purchases. Wherever customers check out, conspicuously place inexpensive, fun items.
Have a box of free stuff. Nothing is more fun than finding something for nothing, so place a large, well-marked “FREE” box close to the curb. Mention the free box on the main Craigslist ad and place an individual Craigslist listing in the Free category.
Complementary items. Have a pile of complimentary items and let buyers pick one item to go with each purchase. It could be any old junk, but people will love getting a freebie.
Set up a lemonade stand. Instead of giving away free lemonade, your child can sell lemonade — and make her own money!
Be the Pinterest of yard sales. Your customers may think something looks cool, but they aren’t really sure how they’ll use it. Consider displaying some of your merchandise on furniture you have for sale. By displaying the item in an interesting way, or even printing out some craft projects you found on Pinterest, you may inspire your customer to take the treasure home.
Avoiding Problems
The Early Birds.
Warn in your ads that “early birds pay double.” Otherwise, you’ll be stuck fumbling for change and entertaining these folks rather than getting your items ready. Or if you don’t want early birds to show up, don’t put your entire address in your ad. Then, just before you open, put out the signs and open the garage door. And don’t take money (meaning, no sales) until you are ready.
Future Burglars.
Unless you personally know them, don’t allow anyone in your house. If they ask for a bathroom, direct them to the closest public restroom.
Do NOT Use a Cash Box.
Carry your money on you at ALL times. You don’t want to present a target for casual thieves. More than that, you don’t want to be duped by professional swindlers who run distraction con games. It happens. It is devastating to see the profits from all your labor and the proceeds from your hard-to-part-with items vanish in an instant. This happened to a woman on our street on the last day of the sale last year. Do NOT use a cash box. I use a cheap cloth apron/utility belt from the local hardware store. It works beautifully. Some people use fanny pack or a zippered bank deposit pouch.
Don’t Bad-Mouth your Items.
A decade ago, Kris and I held a garage sale with a group of friends. One guy constantly told customers what was wrong with the items they were purchasing. “Oh, that book is awful. That’s a terrible movie. That skillet doesn’t heat very well. That game is boring. Needless to say, we sent this friend inside to drink beer ASAP. Your goal is to sell the items. Don’t lie — just emphasize the positives. Oh, that book is very popular. That movie won three Oscars. That skillet is great for pancakes. That game is fun for kids.
The Hostess with the Mostest.
If having a group yard sale, pick the best location in terms of traffic or accessibility or parking (and don’t forget to clear parking spots on the big day for customers). Offer the host a bonus such as a percent of the sale or a hosting fee. Also, go over ground rules such as the bargaining policy, etc.
(If you have an option to select the home where the sale is hosted, select a home with a shaded drive, if possible.)
Wrapping It Up
Have a plan for what you’ll do with your unsold merchandise.
Some non-profits will pick up unsold stuff, so research this ahead of time.
If you are going to drop anything off at a thrift store, know their drop-off times/days. Also, check to see if there are any limitations on what they accept.
Post on the local freecycle (www.freecycle.org) that, after a certain time, whatever is left is free for the taking — and remember to include your address. If you’re lucky, people will schlepp it away for you!
Even after years of purging, I still have too many books…
We’d only intended for ours to be a two-day sale, but we did so well that we decided to open Sunday too. This time, we re-branded. Because we still had shelves filled with classics, graphic novels, and photography manuals, we billed ourselves as a “book sale”. Surprisingly, this still brought folks in. Traffic was much lighter than previous days, but we still cleared $400.
In the end, we sold $2,454.90 worth of Stuff. Kim and Kris and Jeff didn’t do as well as I did — none of them spent a lifetime making foolish financial choices and “collecting” books and records and comics and other toys — but everyone seemed happy with the money they earned. And as for me? After years of battles, I think I’ve finally won the war on Stuff!
A great yard sale begins with a great plan. What are your best yard sale tips?
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
The advent of fall serves as a good reminder that you may need to correct course and keep your financial responsibilities in mind. On the first day of fall, the autumnal equinox, the lengths of day and night are roughly equal, and the daylight grows shorter from there. Use the diminishing sunlit hours to get you and your money back on course after a summer of sun and fun.
Start over
Every year at back-to-school time, there are ads for notebooks, fancy pens and backpacks. Even if you don’t have children, the fall season brings to mind stacks of blank paper, waiting for you to write your story….or re-write it! Are you financially off-track and your money goals are nowhere in sight? Start with a clean slate and get back to basics. Create fresh goals. Redo your monthly budget. Commit anew.
Become a night owl
We turn our clocks back on November 1. Use that hour to reflect on your day, unwind and set action items for tomorrow that will keep you on the right financial path.
Spring cleaning isn’t just for spring
If you live in a cold climate, now is the time you are pulling winter gear out of storage. Purge ill-fitting or never-worn garments and gear and have a fall yard sale. You’ll clear space in your life and earn a bit of money you can put towards your saving goals.
Give your bills a checkup
Scrutinize your bills. Are you paying the right amount for utilities, cable or broadband, phone, and other recurring monthly expenses? Are there any hidden fees? This is a good time to get organized, adjust your data plan or cut some channels out of your satellite TV package to save a few more bucks.
Pay attention to open enrollment
Many employees benefit plans run open enrollment — the period when you can make changes or sign up for new benefits — at this time of year. Instead of ignoring those flyers or emails, open them! Make sure you are taking advantage of vision, dental, and health insurance, and contributing to your employer’s retirement plan. Look at how much you spent this year on healthcare costs and see if a healthcare savings account may benefit your family. Keep in mind that Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment for 2016 is from November 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016.
Stock up for next year
Now is the time to purchase used summer gear like patio furniture, pool toys and bikes. When others are deciding what doesn’t get to stay in the garage for another year, you can snag a great bargain on something you’ve wanted to add to your warm-weather activities. Grab it now and look forward to using it next year.
Resist the pumpkin spice latte
You can’t open your eyes in September without seeing an ad for a pumpkin spice something. It can be tempting to embrace the fall flavor, but did you know that a pumpkin spice latte can be as much as $5.25? I don’t know about you, but every year I succumb to the advertising pressure and long for the tasty warm treat. It’s a good reminder to skip the coffee stop and make your latte at home and save a fiver. Or at least custom order yours, which could save you half the cost!
Watch the calendar
The countdown to Christmas is alive in social media feeds. Whatever winter holiday you celebrate, plan accordingly. They happen at the same time every year, so now’s the time to make your plan — don’t let them sneak up on you and force you into overspending on food, travel, or gifts at the last minute.
Snuggle and save
When it gets cold outside, we tend to stay in, watch movies or invite friends over. While this routine may get old by March, at least you’re not out somewhere spending money! Silver lining, right?
Kim Tracy Prince is a Los Angeles-based writer. If she didn’t have a husband and 2 young boys who love sports, she’d save money by staying in and reading all the books that she never has time for.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
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My New Financial Reality in the “Real World”
Swedish death cleaning is the process of paring down your personal possessions in a thoughtful, intentional manner before your death, so your loved ones don’t have to. The term was popularized by the 2018 book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” written by Margareta Magnusson, and later by a reality TV show based on the book.
As Magnusson writes, “It does not necessarily have to do with your age or death, but often does.”
The idea behind Swedish death cleaning
Maybe you spring clean every year. Perhaps you’ve recently decluttered your basement before a garage sale.
This cleaning is different.
It’s a thorough accounting of every possession you own, one by one. Yes, this even means facing that one bin filled to the brim with family photos and the filing cabinet stuffed with paperwork dating back to 1992.
The goal stretches beyond tidying up. It requires challenging yourself to let go of many possessions, including those with strong emotional connections. This doesn’t always mean throwing them away or donating them — it could mean finding them new homes with family and friends.
Swedish death cleaning can have a transformative quality and often serves as a transition to a new chapter of life. It might accompany downsizing homes or the death of a spouse. It’s also unavoidable. Death cleaning is a fate that awaits everyone’s belongings, according to Magnusson.
So, the choice you face is not whether death cleaning makes sense for you — it’s whether you’ll choose to face this inevitable task when you’re in a position of control, under a timeline and conditions of your choosing, or whether the job will be foisted upon your loved ones after you die. Either way, it’s coming.
If you delay, you might be forced into rushing through it. You may not have the energy to go through your things in the manner you’d prefer. And, if you delay too long, you risk having others making decisions about your things for you.
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Benefits of Swedish death cleaning
Swedish death cleaning is likely to be difficult. It will probably take a lot of time. Encountering a lifetime of memories, good and bad, can be emotionally draining. Saying goodbye to some long-held objects that embody these memories is hard.
So why do it? Magnusson cites many reasons:
It can be liberating. Simplifying your life can bring a feeling of freedom to focus on something new.
You can avoid burdening others with the task. Death cleaning can be even more burdensome if you wait until the end of your life. And if you outright refuse to do it, you are essentially forcing your family and friends into eventually doing the same job for you. If you don’t want to organize your own things, why do you think they would want to?
It’s an opportunity to reflect. Though difficult, you’ll likely rediscover memories you have long forgotten. This can be a positive experience.
It can spark important end-of-life conversations with friends and family. These are conversations that they or you might otherwise avoid.
You can pass along helpful or important items. Giving a beloved object to a friend or family member can be a chance to recognize the importance of a relationship or pass on a family story or tradition. Something practical, like furniture or kitchenware, might have outgrown its use to you, but could be extremely helpful to someone just starting out.
Cleaning and estate planning
In practical terms, letting survivors sort through your belongings after you die can also make it more time-consuming to settle your estate. Even if you trim down your possessions now, you’ll still have things that require sorting through after your death. That’s where estate planning comes in. While the book doesn’t discuss the details of formal estate planning, it’s a logical extension of the philosophy behind Swedish death cleaning.
Suppose you have a will and appoint an executor, who is responsible for settling your estate. That person is generally tasked with selling your property, if you have any, which would likely require getting your house cleaned and belongings appraised. That could take months or even years if your home is filled with decades’ worth of items, and the cost of doing so would generally come out of your estate. Aside from being emotionally burdensome for survivors, the effort could also be a drain on your estate, and your heirs could be left with fewer assets, which might take them years to access.
Slimming down your possessions now and making your wishes clear for what remains can streamline this process.
How to start
Begin with the typical storage areas — basements and attics, for example. There’s a good chance you’ll find hastily stashed things that will be easy to part with. Culling clothes and furniture are other ways to make quick, visible progress.
Ask friends and family to assist. In addition to helping you go through boxes, they might discover things they’d gladly take off your hands.
Attach notes to objects or make piles as you go. This way, you can easily remember where it goes — to someone else, to a donation center, to a yard sale, etc.
Save the most emotional things for last. Be patient with yourself.
Cleaning and your finances
Swedish death cleaning is an all-encompassing endeavor, which means at some point you’ll need to review your finances. Magnusson says this can include tasks like writing a will or making a plan for usernames and passwords to your important digital accounts.
Organizing finances can be the most challenging part of the cleaning process — but it might be the part that will aid your executor and heirs the most. Here’s how to get started.
If you’ve been looking for a new home in Utah’s current market, you know pickings are slim. Most buyers know what a few gallons of paint can do. But if you’re willing to take on a couple of additional projects, you can turn that ugly duckling house into an affordable dream. Here’s a few ugly features that aren’t too tough to take on.
Something underfoot. Floors. Buyers and sellers frequently have different tastes in what’s under their feet. If the seller replaces the carpet before the home is listed, expect a portion of the cost to be factored into the price (listings that say “all new carpet” are going to cost you more). You’re also unlikely to get top-of-the-line carpet if the seller replaces it simply to list. If you’re not scared of living temporarily with threadbare, stained carpet, request a drop in price in the form of a flooring allowance when you make your initial offer. You may also give the entire room a lift by replacing skinny baseboards with the clean lines of the more modern 5” style. Baseboards are easy to replace and cost around $1.50-$3.00 per foot at home improvement stores.
Fireplace blues. A fireplace is a focal point. But an old-school fireplace with brass trim, mauve tile, ugly rock, or beige brick is an eyesore to just about everyone. Few sellers update the fireplace before putting the home on the market. If they do, they’ve probably updated the entire house as well and are asking a justifiably premium price. But a fireplace eyesore can be easily fixed after move-in with paint (1 gallon: $35), new mantle ($150 and up), or even new tile (DIY for ~ $100, depending on the tile chosen and how much you’re replacing). Be sure to determine if your choice of materials is rated for high heat before starting.
Chained in. A fenced-in backyard is a huge plus even when the fence is not quite your style. Chain link is and looks cheap, but it’s also easily covered. Plants, just as fast-growing bamboo, grape vines, or Virginia Creeper look great year-round. If you need complete cover ASAP, look at privacy netting in decorative patterns (around $2.50 per linear foot). You may also find someone who’s looking to unload scrap fencing or barn wood at a very low price—both make great, rustic fencing options that can be strapped to an existing chain link fence for an all-new look.
Old-school appliances. Regardless of what the listing states, retro doesn’t apply to avocado green appliances or cream-colored dishwashers with fake wood grain trim. But here’s the deal: if those appliances are still in the home you buy, you can bet they’re workhorses, just not pretty. If a seller spends the cash to update the appliances just to sell the house, you probably won’t get top of the line or even the appliances that you may want—and you’ll pay a premium. There are numerous ways to solve unattractive-but-working appliances, however. Search yard sale sites (like KSL Classifieds or local Facebook groups) for people who are remodeling. When people purchase brand new homes they often opt not to keep the builder-selected appliances. Keep your eyes peeled for individuals selling all new appliances—or even entire kitchens!
Dismal driveway. No one ever bought a home because of the driveway… but a cracked one in desperate need of repair drastically reduces curb appeal and brings the listing price of the home down. As a buyer, you’ll benefit from the lower price and you don’t even need to do the driveway repair work yourself. A professional will break up and haul away the old driveway and pour a new driveway all for a couple grand (depending on square footage).
Remember, those nice-looking renovated homes will not only cost you more, but chances are you’d choose different appliances, carpet or flooring for yourself. Buy the house that’s located where you want to live and that has the views and schools you want, then take the time to make the needed updates and repairs as you can afford them.
Inside: Do you want to make quick money? If so, you’ll love this collection of ways to make cash in one day. Start these tasks and start making extra cash fast.
In today’s world, there are many ways to make quick money in one day.
The internet and technology have created opportunities that were non-existent just a few years ago. You can now make money in your PJs from the comfort of your own home! I do!
We all have those times when we need cash fast. Maybe it’s for an emergency car repair, an unexpected medical bill, or a last-minute plane ticket home.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways to make quick money in one day.
We will include some of my personal favorites as well as methods I researched.
In today’s blog post, we will outline the best ways to make quick money in one day.
How can I make immediate money?
If you need immediate money, you need to look for ways to get cash in your hand quickly.
This would be by selling your possessions, participating in focus groups, find a gig job that pays cash tips.
These ideas will get cash in your hand within 24 hours.
How much money can I make in one day?
Many people wonder, “How much money can I make in one day?”
The amount of money you can make in a day depends on a variety of factors, such as your job, side hustles, and financial opportunities.
With a bit of hustle, creativity, and smart financial decisions, it is possible to make up to $1,000 a day.
However, you need to develop a smart strategy for achieving this goal. Investing in education will help you put that money to work growing for you.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
50 best ways to make quick money in one day
Making money quickly is possible with some time and effort.
There are a lot of ways to make quick money in one day. In fact, many ideas center around how to make money online for beginners.
Here are 50 of the best methods that you can use to make some extra cash.
1. Work on freelance projects
Working on freelance projects can help you make quick money in one day by providing you with one-off jobs that can benefit from your skill set.
With the percentage of freelance workers in the workforce climbing steadily, there are many online marketplaces that make it easy to connect with businesses and individuals who need your services.
Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal allow you to create a profile and showcase your work, making it easy for you to set your own rates and decide on the length of the project.
Additionally, the more experience you get, the more you can charge and the higher your demand will be, potentially leading to full-time work.
2. Sell items on consignment
Selling items on consignment can help you make quick money by providing an easy, fast way to earn a profit from gently used items.
With consignment shops, you can take your clothes, electronics, jewelry, musical instruments, or even your car to be sold without having to take an active role.
For a cut of the profits, your items will be placed in front of buyers, allowing you to make quick cash.
3. Take on odd jobs
If you’re looking for ways to make money quickly, odd jobs are a great way to do so.
Think of day laborer types of jobs. You can use an app like TaskRabbit to find work in your area.
Some of the common odd jobs you can consider include:
Gardening – you can offer to do gardening work such as weeding, planting, mowing, and trimming.
Furniture Assembly – if you have experience in assembling furniture, you can offer your services to people who need help.
Cleaning – you can offer cleaning services to keep homes and offices tidy.
Painting – you can offer your painting services to those who need help with their walls.
General Handyman Work – if you are good with your hands and have experience in repairing and fixing things, you can offer your services to people who need help.
Moving Gig – people are always looking for help with moving.
4. Trade Options
If done correctly, trading in options can help you make quick money and generate substantial returns in a relatively short period of time.
However, trading options come from experience and should not be taken as a get-rich scheme. Personally, I trade options for a living.
You can make quick money trading options if you know what you’re doing. The key is to identify when the market is going to move in a certain direction and then make the right trades to capitalize on the profits.
Here is the one and only investing course I recommend.
5. Become a rideshare driver
Becoming a rideshare driver can be an easy and convenient way to make money quickly.
All you need to get started is a valid license, active insurance coverage, and an approved vehicle. With Uber and Lyft, you can set your own hours and receive a base rate plus tips and distance or time-based bonuses.
From one of our rideshare drivers, we learned some tricks of the trade such as working in peak hours or in areas with popular nightlife scenes or active airports.
6. Offer house cleaning services
Nowadays, people don’t want to learn their own house, so starting a house cleaning service is a great way to make quick money.
With countless opportunities available online or on local job boards, you can easily find a job that works for you. There are even ways to market yourself so potential customers can find you!
If you have a background in cleaning and don’t mind physical labor, you can make up to $25 an hour or more.
Becoming a housecleaner is a great way to make extra money on the side and you can even make up to $200+ per weekend.
With a bit of effort, you could have a great side-hustle in no time!
7. Rent out your parking spot
If you live in a busy area and have a spot that’s in high demand, you can easily rent out the space for a premium price.
This can be especially profitable if you live near an event center and can offer parking to visitors who don’t want to pay a premium to park in a lot or parking structure. You can put your parking spot to work with services like Just Park or Neighbor.com and earn up to $300 per month.
Renting out your parking spot offers a great way to make extra money while utilizing unused resources or space.
8. Proofread documents
Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, a teacher looking for extra income during summer vacation, or someone with a passion for grammar and punctuation, you can make up to $65,000 a year by proofreading documents.
Make sure to take a Free Training Course: Caitlin Pyle offers a free workshop on how to use the most popular proofreading tool and how to become a work-from-home proofreader.
With some hard work and dedication, you can start earning quick money as a proofreader. Good luck!
9. Walk dogs
Walking dogs can be a great way to make some quick money.
Apps like Rover provide pet owners with a platform to find dog walkers in their area and pay for their services.
A dog walker can make $15-18 per 30 minute walk, with occasional bonuses for boarding or pet-sitting. This is a simple way to get your exercise and make cash.
10. Take an online survey
Companies and websites are always looking for consumer feedback in order to improve their products and services, and offer incentives such as cash, rewards, and gift cards for filling out surveys that can take as little as a few minutes.
Popular survey sites like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks offer these incentives, enabling individuals to make a few quid in just a few minutes of form filling.
Most surveys will only take a few minutes, so you will have to do a bunch to add up to serious cash for your feedback.
Here are the top legit survey platforms:
11. Sell your old junk
Are you looking for an easy way to make some extra money? Why not start by looking around your house and attic/basement for things you no longer use?
You can turn those things into cash by selling them online or having a yard sale.
With a little effort, you can easily make hundreds of dollars by selling your old stuff. It’s a great way to declutter your home and make some extra cash in the process.
Make sure to list your items with attractive descriptions and photos to draw in potential buyers.
12. House sitting
House sitting is a great way to make quick money. It allows you to watch someone’s home while they are away and take care of tasks such as feeding pets, watering plants, and taking out the trash.
You can usually make between $25 to $50 per day depending on the market demand in your area. It’s easy to start, with most sites having a minimum age requirement and a sign-up process that takes only minutes. Payment is typically made when the job is completed.
More importantly, beyond making good money, you are able to housesit in beautiful locations that you may not be able to do otherwise. Personally, this is something I want to start doing.
Build your profile on Trusted Housesitters now.
13. Babysit
Babysitting is a great way to make extra money, especially for those who are looking for flexible jobs that match their availability.
Whether you’re an experienced babysitter or a novice looking to give it a try, there’s no doubt that you’ll find plenty of opportunities available. With a little bit of effort and a lot of dedication, you can make a great living out of babysitting.
Most babysitters earn way more than minimum wage making this a great gig.
14. Deliver food orders
Delivering food orders can make you money quickly by taking advantage of the increasing trend in the popularity of food delivery apps.
With driver-friendly apps like Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, all you need is an insured vehicle and a smartphone to start delivering food to customers in need.
The pay per delivery can go even further if you work on busier nights like Friday or Saturday. With many apps, you can also choose your own hours and the flexibility to work as much or as little as you’d like. This can be a great way to make some fast cash on the side.
15. Earn money with eBay
eBay is an amazing platform for anyone looking to make some extra money by selling items they don’t use. Whether you’re looking to get rid of an old phone, clothes, or books, eBay is an easy and accessible way to do so.
You can start by selling items you don’t need or don’t use anymore.
You can also consider buying items at a low price with the intention of selling them at a higher price.
If you’re looking to make a full-time income from home, selling items on eBay could be a perfect way. You can start small by buying a thrifty item for a low price and selling it at a much higher price.
With the right knowledge and resources, you can make money on eBay easily. So get started today and watch your earnings grow!
16. Write articles for websites
Writing articles for websites can be a great way to make quick money in one day.
With the increasing amount of new content created daily, business owners often don’t have the time to create content for their websites themselves.
Freelance writers can fill this gap by providing quality content for clients in exchange for payment. Depending on the complexity and length of the article, writers can make anywhere from $25 to $500+ in a single day.
By specializing in a niche, writers can showcase their work as samples to potential clients. Furthermore, writers can establish relationships with other bloggers in their niche, guest blogging, and approach websites in their niche with their writing services to further increase their chances of finding work.
17. Become a pet sitter
Personally, I have a friend who makes money by being a pet sitter and has help from her kids.
With Rover, pet owners in your area can easily find and hire pet sitters for their pets. Dog sitting is the most popular pet sitting activity, and it can earn you around $20-35 for overnight stays.
Plus, you get to decide when and how you want to work, and you can fit it around your own schedule. With the right amount of communication and excellent service, pet owners may even offer you recurring gigs.
18. Participate in focus groups
Participating in a focus group can be a great way to make quick money in one day.
Focus groups are usually based on interesting products or services, and they can pay participants anywhere from $50 to $400 for their time. Not only is it a great way to make money quickly, I have found many focus groups can also be a lot of fun.
The hardest part with focus groups is it is not a steady stream of income as you may not qualify for each opportunity.
19. Do yard work
Just like housecleaning, this is a popular job to be hired out.
Yard work such as basic gardening and landscaping, shoveling snow or salting walkways, and even cleaning gutters can all be done for a fee. Advertising your services through flyers, door knocking, or posting on local job boards can help you find potential customers.
By doing quality work, you can turn this into a weekly gig for quick money.
20. Shop at thrift stores and buy low and sell high
You buy items for a fraction of the cost and resell them for a higher price. For example, you can find brand-name clothing, electronics, antiques, and children’s toys at thrift stores that you can resell on online platforms such as eBay, and Facebook Marketplace.
You can also look for items marked as “free” on the side of the road and spruce them up to sell for a profit.
Shopping at thrift stores can help you make quick money in one day, and with time and experience, you’ll discover which items sell the fastest and for the most money.
To make money flipping items, you must do your research upfront and know how much you can pay for something while still turning a profit. With time and experience, you will learn which items sell the fastest and for the most money.
21. Photography gigs
You can make money with photography in two ways:
Turn your photographs into cash by selling them through stock image websites such as Shutterstock or iStock.
Offer your photography services for family sessions, birthday cake smashes, and even weddings.
Either way, you are able to turn your passionate hobby into a way to easily make a decent income in one day.
22. Participate in sweepstakes
Participating in sweepstakes can help you make quick money in one day by giving you a chance to win big.
Yet, this option comes with a lot of RISK!
There are a variety of competitions and prizes available, ranging from online product giveaways and gift vouchers to big-money TV game shows. You want to look for sweepstakes that are free to participate in and not pay money.
This one ranks up there with the left hand itching principle.
23. Use your Writing Skills
Are you looking to make money with your writing skills? There are lots of opportunities available that pay you to write. From blogging to freelance writing, to reviewing music, you can find the perfect job that allows you to utilize your writing skills and get paid.
You can also make money by helping people refine their writing. If you have a good grasp of grammar and can help people write in a more engaging and structured way, then you can charge for your services.
Publications often hire freelance writers, so that’s another avenue to explore.
No matter what you decide to do, there are plenty of ways to make money with your writing skills – all you have to do is find the right opportunity for you.
24. Become a home staging stylist
Becoming a stylist can help make quick money in one day by offering services to those who are in need of help staging their homes for sale.
Realtors often hire outside help to ensure that the home is presented in an attractive and appealing way, and these services can be provided for an hourly or flat fee.
This is a great part-time gig.
25. Donate plasma
You can make money quickly by donating plasma.
Plasma is the liquid part of the blood that contains antibodies. It can be used to create medications and other medical products. Plasma donation is a safe procedure that can help people in need.
Typically, you walk out with cash immediately.
Check with your local blood bank or hospital to learn more.
26. Host workshops
Hosting workshops can be a great way to make money in a short period of time. There are endless webinar ideas you can try, such as live-at-home fitness classes, cooking, a writing workshop, an Excel class, nutrition coaching, or even a first-time homebuyer class.
With the rise of video conferencing, it’s easy to set up webinars to teach people your skills and knowledge.
Typically, you will need to build an online presence with a social media following to hold successful workshops.
27. Trade Stocks
Trading stocks can be a lucrative way to make quick money, but it is essential to understand the risks involved.
With the help of online market trading platforms, anyone can start to trade stocks with a minimum amount of money.
Learning how fast you make money with stocks, but realizing you need to learn to trade stocks is like going back to school for a stock trading education.
Although trading stocks has the potential to generate quick money, it is important to note that all trading involves risk and that you should only invest what you can afford.
28. Become a courier
Being a courier is a great option for flexible income, as they allow you to set your own hours and work as much or as little as you’d like.
Think outside the box of UberEats or Instacart. This would likely be for a local business that needs to move documents from location to location.
You will need to be reliable and trustworthy.
29. Deliver Pizza
Even today, this is a classic gig to make quick money by delivering pizza!
Businesses are desperate for workers, so finding a job should be fairly easy. However, be prepared to work more than one day.
30. Repurpose your skills
Those skilled in writing, graphic design, coding, bookkeeping, or any other number of computer-based skills, can use these sites to find freelance jobs that require their skills.
Additionally, those with knowledge or experience in a particular field can create and sell an online course via a platform like Teachable or Podia.
Too often, we overlook the things that we are the best at, yet repurposing your skills us a great wat to make money.
31. Dog groomer
The income potential as a dog groomer is considerable.
According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners spent $136.8 billion on their pets in 2022.
Dog grooming is a easy way to make money.
Over to pick up dog poop and you can double how much money you make.
32. Sell your unwanted items
Selling unwanted items on eBay and Amazon can be a great way to make quick money.
By scouring online retailers, local thrift stores, and yard sales for hidden treasures, individuals can find consumer goods for cheap and then resell them for extra profit.
Selling on Amazon also provides an opportunity to source products for fulfillment.
Additionally, apps like LetGo, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace make it even easier to make extra money, as people jump on items quickly.
For those with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, buying items at a low price and then reselling them at a higher price can generate a decent side income.
33. Sell Printables
If you’re creative, you can create and sell digital products like ebooks, courses, templates, and graphics.
Digital downloads are also becoming increasingly popular, as they require no shipping or fulfillment costs and you can easily make them once and sell them hundreds of times over. Depending on the craft and the demand, your potential earning potential can be quite high.
In fact, selling printables is a popular summer jobs for teachers!
So why not give it a shot? With the right strategies, you could start making a few hundred dollars a month with very little effort.
34. Crafts and handmade goods
One of the best ways to make money quickly is by selling crafts and handmade goods on websites like Etsy.
From jewelry and candles to sourdough bread to quilts and custom T-shirts, there is a huge variety of items that you can make and sell. You can also design and sell custom stationery, pillows, tote bags, coasters, cosmetics, and more.
35. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is an online business model that allows entrepreneurs to start an online shop without having to keep a product in stock. Instead, a business makes a sale and then passes the order along to a third party, known as the dropshipper, who ships the product directly to the buyer.
Dropshipping is a great way to make money quickly, as it requires minimal upfront investment and overhead.
With dropshipping, you can add products to your store without having to buy them in bulk, and you don’t need to worry about shipping or fulfilling orders.
36. Affiliate Marketing
Renting out your property can help you make quick money in one day by taking advantage of the services offered by websites like Airbnb.
Affiliate marketing is a way to earn money by promoting other companies’ products or services. You can do this without a website, by sharing affiliate links on social media, a blog, online forums, post comments, and with friends or family.
When someone buys a product or service via unique affiliate link you provide, you get paid a commission.
It is possible to make money quickly if you have a social media following or a website, as you can start promoting all sorts of companies, products, services and offers online.
37. Work for tips
Making money quickly by working for tips may sound intimidating, but it is actually very achievable with a bit of hard work and determination.
Tips are normally paid in cash, which is exactly what you need.
Jobs that pay tips:
Waitstaff
Bartender
Bellman
Drivers
Casino dealer
Golf caddy
Babysitters
Also, many jobs that pay weekly work for tips.
38. Rent out your property
These services allow you to rent out a room, a condo, or your own home if you’re away on vacation.
Airbnb has revolutionized the hotel industry by allowing everyday property owners to lease their place to travelers. By creating an account and listing your property, you can immediately start earning passive income.
With the right location, you can create a steady stream of income that can help you make quick money in one day.
39. Join a MLM
Joining a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) company is one of the most popular ways to make money these days. With an MLM, you can potentially make a lot of money by building a team and earning commissions from their sales.
But you need to be careful and do your research to make sure it’s an opportunity worth pursuing.
MLMs can be profitable, but it can take a lot of time and effort to get them off the ground and make them successful. You need to be prepared to take the time to build your team, train and support them, and provide them with the resources they need to succeed.
Personally, I have tried making money with an MLM and found out that it was not worth the time or effort.
40. Collect and sell scrap metal
Collecting metal items such as old swing set parts, metal toys, and other bits of metal can be sold at scrap yards or redemption centers for a small sum of money.
Iron, steel, aluminum, brass, and copper are the most commonly traded types of scrap metal, and the prices vary depending on the type and amount of metal.
This is a simple way to make money if you put in the resources. Just don’t steal metal because that can get you in severe trouble.
41. Deliver for Food Delivery Apps
This industry is booming with no signs of slowing down. You can easily make $100 a shift by delivering food!
Sign up for driver-friendly apps such as Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber Eats. These apps allow you to set your own hours and work as much or as little as you’d like.
Make sure you have an insured car, truck, bike, scooter, or motorcycle. Depending on what you choose to use, certain apps may have different requirements.
Go to the restaurant and pick up the order. You’ll be paid a flat delivery fee, an additional fee per item ordered, and 100% of the tips customers choose to give you.
Deliver the food to the customer.
Get paid instantly, usually within the same day.
Maximize your earnings by delivering for multiple apps at once. This will give you access to more orders, and a larger area to deliver in.
42. Become A Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are in demand right now.
Consider becoming a virtual assistant with no experience to help small businesses with tasks like scheduling appointments and managing emails.
Typically, small businesses are looking for someone to take a short-term 3-month stint or a long-term relationship.
If you have marketable skills, you will make an outstanding virtual assistant.
43. Cook and deliver food
Cooking and delivering food can make you money in one day, especially since the demand for convenient delivery is increasing.
If you are cooking food on your own, you need to check with your local state and city regulations to see if you are allowed to sell food from a home kitchen. These food regulations are tough, so make sure you comply with these regulations.
However, many busy families are looking for a personal chef and are willing to pay for the service.
44. Trade-In Programs
Trade-in programs are a way for people to get quick money by selling their old phones, tablets, and other electronics. These programs give customers the opportunity to receive cash or gift cards in exchange for their unwanted devices.
You can trade in your own unused or unwanted electronics or for neighbors who don’t want to deal with the hassle themselves.
When selling through a trade-in program, customers are usually asked to provide a description of the device and its condition. The amount of money received depends on the device and its condition.
Plus you are helping the environment by keeping old devices out of landfills.
45. Become a social media influencer
If you have a large following on social media, you can make money by becoming a social media influencer and promoting products or services.
There are a number of ways to make quick money as an influencer. You can promote products or services by posting about them on your social media account.
Obviously, you must thrive using social media.
46. Flipping items on Poshmark
Making money on Poshmark by flipping items can be a great way to make cash.
You can find items to resell from big box retailers, online retailers, local thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. Potential items you can flip for profit include brand-name sneakers, clothing, and purses.
You should also figure out which items sell the quickest and for the most money.
Poshmark also has a “bundling” function which allows you to group similar items together for a discounted amount. This is a great way to make more money as you can sell multiple items in one go.
This platform allows followers, so it is easy to build return buyers.
47. Start a small business or side hustle
Small businesses and side hustles can be a great way to make money quickly. Consider your skills and interests and start something that can help you turn a profit.
No matter how you do it, starting a business can be a great way to make money and meet new people.
Building your side hustle to a full-time income will not happen overnight, but you will make progress with hard work and dedication.
48. Take advantage of Swagbucks
Swagbucks is an online rewards and survey platform that provides numerous opportunities to make money.
With Swagbucks, you can earn money by completing surveys, watching videos, playing games, and even shopping online. With each task, you can earn anywhere from $0.40 to $2.00 in SB points which can be redeemed for cash back or gift cards.
Plus, when you sign up, you get a $10 bonus and can even get 500 SBs for referring a friend.
49. Tutoring
Tutoring is a great way to make quick money while using your knowledge and expertise to help others. It involves providing instruction to an individual or a small group on a particular subject, usually to help them improve their understanding.
Tutors can work with students in person or online, depending on the subject and their availability.
No matter your educational background, you can make money tutoring as long as you have a deep knowledge of a subject. With the right resources and platform, you can find tutoring gigs in your area and start making quick money today.
50. Make money with your phone
Making money with your phone is possible with a little bit of effort. You can sign up for apps to complete small tasks and earn money quickly.
Alternatively, there are plenty of mobile apps such as Ibotta, Rakuten, Shopkick, Swagucks, or Receipt Hog which can help you make some extra money with simple tasks.
You can also take on odd jobs through apps like TaskRabbit to make cash.
Finally, you can trade stocks on your phone.
There are so many ways to make money with your phone today.
FAQ
Yes, it is possible to make passive income. This type of income is earned with little effort or direct work.
It can come from investments such as returns and dividends, as well as from sources like stocks, rental properties, and online businesses.
With some creativity and diligence, anyone can create multiple sources of passive income. It may take months or even years to build up these streams of income, but the potential rewards are worth the effort.
Many of the statistics are leaning on the fact that you need a side hustle to make ends meet or get ahead financially.
I started a side hustle to make money to afford what we wanted to do. Personally, my side hustles are blogging and day trading stocks.
The best side hustles are the ones that you are passionate about. More than likely, you will be spending time on them in your free time, so you want to enjoy them.
Regardless of what type of side hustle you choose, you can make extra money on the side. To maximize your earnings, you can even combine several different side hustles together to create multiple income streams.
I always say, if I can make $100 a day, then I am making $3000 a month. That will make a difference in my personal finance situation.
Before you can make $100 a day, you need to find out how you will make money. Look for opportunities that match your skills and interests. Some examples of this include driving for Uber, selling your skills on freelancing sites, creating an online store, or even starting your own blog.
Learn how to invest 100 to make 1000 a day.
When looking to make $1000 fast, you need to up your game – specifically, the time and energy to make your goal happen.
You could start by looking for high-paying side hustles such as trading stocks or options, becoming a freelance writer, setting off as a virtual assistant, or by selling products online.
The key is to make $1k a day consistently. Then, you will be working on how to turn 10k into 100k.
Which Quickest Way to Make Money in a Day Will You Choose?
There are many ways that you can make quick money in one day.
Whether you want to start a side hustle, do some odd jobs, or make money online, which option is best for you?
Whichever option you choose, make sure that you choose something you will enjoy doing as well as the quickest way to make money.
We covered fifty options to make cash and start making extra money today!
Which one is your favorite?
Mine are trading and writing. Comment below on which method you will choose.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
Summer is an extremely popular time to move. Many people avoid moving during the other months due to their kids being in school and not wanting to disrupt the school season. Once school’s out in May or June, then people start their journeys to their new homes and cities. Another reason people often move in the summer is that it’s much more pleasant than trying to move in the cold, rain, snow, or ice! Whether you are moving cross-town or across the country, here are a few tips to save money while moving.
Consider when you’re moving
As we mentioned, most people move during either the late spring, summer, and early fall. And based on the laws of supply and demand, it’s likely to cost more to move then vs. moving in the offseason, all other things remaining equal. If you have kids whose school schedules you don’t want to interrupt, you may not have a choice in what time of year you move.
Even if you’re moving during peak moving season, you might consider saving some money by not moving on the weekend. Again, weekends are when many people move, so many moving companies will charge more for a weekend move. If you have the flexibility to do so, consider moving during the week. If you’re using a professional moving company, ask them if they will give a discount if you move during the week.
Don’t move everything you have
Once you’ve figured out when you’re planning on moving, it’s time to figure out WHAT you’re moving. No matter how much stuff you think you have, you actually have way more. It’s amazing how much you accumulate over the years. Make sure you carefully measure the dimensions of your new home to figure out what will fit. Sell, donate or give away anything that won’t fit in. The earlier that you start the process, the better off you will be.
If you have the flexibility to start moving a few weeks or months before you need to move, you’ll have the time to be able to sell things you don’t want to take with you. If you’re not able to have a garage or yard sale yourself, you might have a friend or family member that is having one. See if they will let you sell some of your items at their sale either on a commission or for a fixed price. If you put it off until the last minute, you’re likely to find yourself giving things away for free or, worse, paying someone to haul it away.
Whether you are moving within your same city or to a new city will have an impact on how much you need to get rid of. When you move long-distance, you’re limited to whatever gets shipped or put on the truck. For shorter moves, you can make multiple trips. Whether you’re moving to a smaller or larger place plays a big part as well. In any case, it’s a good idea to try and downsize as much as possible.
Saving money on packing supplies
There are a few ways that you can save money on packing supplies like boxes. The best way to save money is to get boxes from someone who moved a week or two before you did. They’ll likely be happy for someone to take their boxes away. Unless you know someone that’s recently moved, there aren’t a lot of places to reliably get free moving boxes. One option can be Uhaul — while their boxes aren’t free, they will buy back any boxes that you don’t use. That way you don’t have to worry about overpaying for boxes.
Pack it (or move it) yourself
Another great way to save money while moving is to move things yourself. Now is a great time to call in those favors to get help from your friends, family and church. Of course, the feasibility of moving yourself will depend a lot on your specific situation. Where you’re moving, how much you have to move, and how many people you can call on will be major factors in whether moving things yourself is even possible.
Even if you are hiring a moving company, you can still save money by doing the packing yourself. Most moving companies will pack things for you, but it definitely drives up the cost. Remember that if you do pack things yourself, you may be responsible for any items that are damaged during the move.
The Bottom Line
Moving can be a stressful time, so it depends on your own specific situation how much you want to focus on saving money vs. saving your time. If you can be flexible, try to move during the week and/or during the offseason. The next most important thing to save money while moving is to start early and downsize your possessions as much as possible. The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to sell the things you can’t take with you. If you can find someone who moved shortly before you, ask if they have any moving boxes you can use, and pack and move as much as you can yourself to save money while moving.
Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further
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Dan Miller is a freelance writer and founder of PointsWithACrew.com, a site that helps families to travel for free / cheap. His home base is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and 6 kids. More from Dan Miller
Published: by MSM Team on December 18, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Traci emailed in this reader tip:
I had been planning a yard sale for months but this summer I decided I didn’t have enough or valuable enough things to make it worthwhile.
About this time, I joined a handful of Yard Sale groups on Facebook and bought a few things through them. After purchasing a few things from others and realizing how easy it was to post things for sale also, I decided to list a few items around the house.
Within minutes — even seconds, sometimes — I had people interested!
I started cleaning out closets and found so many other things that I wanted to get rid of. It felt great to purge and makes some money, too. Items that I have sold so far have been: adult and children’s clothing, toys, kitchen items, furniture, books, and movies.
Money is tight this Christmas, but by selling items on the Facebook Yard Sale Groups, I was able to pay cash for Christmas for my entire Christmas for my family and even had some extra money leftover! The best advice that I have for selling on local Facebook Yard Sale groups would be consider the time and gas you are spending to buy or sell an item. If you have to travel far, this could be eating your profit or savings.
Post that others need to pick up in your city. I like to try to arrange pickups or drop-offs either in the morning or evening as to not interrupt my daily work, school, and family routine.
I also don’t have strangers come to my home. Remember safety first and it is best to meet in a public place like a shopping center or, even better, the local police department parking lot.
Also remember that people have busy lives and things happen that they have to reschedule a transaction sometimes. With that said, if someone is not being respectful of your time or you are not comfortable with something, don’t meet with them.
I am not stressing about Christmas this year and have not put one thing on a credit card that I will regret having to pay for later! -Traci