Clean Up With Spring Cleaning

With the warmer weather, many people will soon be doing their annual spring cleaning. Rather than throw everything into the garbage to be hauled away to a landfill, consider some alternatives that not only will help the environment, but may even be able to make you a buck or two in the process.

eBay: The axiom "One man's junk is another man's treasure" has never been truer than today with online auction sites such as eBay. All of the stuff that you decide you no longer need can be placed on eBay to earn some extra dollars.

The issue most people have with eBay is the time involved. Depending on the amount of stuff you no longer need, it could take several months to clear it all out if you place it on eBay yourself. Doing it yourself will likely get you the most money, but if the main priority is to get the items out of your house as quickly as possible, eBay still offers an option.

There are plenty of people who will sell your stuff on eBay for a percentage of the profit. You can search on the eBay site for "trading assistants" in your area to help you sell the stuff. There are also more and more retail outlets where you can bring in your items and drop them off for the store to sell on eBay. If it's a choice between throwing it into the trash and making a few bucks, this might be the way to go.

Craigslist: Another option is to place your unwanted items for sale on a site like Craigslist. This is especially useful for larger items that would cost quite a bit to ship. Since Craigslist is a classified outlet connecting buyers and sellers near your home community, it will be much easier to sell large items such as furniture and appliances where locals can come and pick them up, rather than through an online auction. Unlike eBay, there are no fees to list an advertisement, so it can also be a good place to list items that you aren't sure will sell.

Garage sale: If you have a large assortment of items that you want to get rid of, a garage sale may be an option. While it will take some preparation and time, it can be a fun family event. It will also make you some extra money for things that you were going to throw out anyway, and you can clear your house of all the unwanted items over a weekend.