This post may contain affiliate links which may compensate us based on your interaction. Please read the disclosures for more information.
Cleaning up your space has its own rewards, but it also presents opportunities to make some extra money. Read on for three ideas worth considering.
Most people would agree that spring cleaning isn’t the most exciting way to spend your time. Yes, you’re rewarded with a clean and more organized space at the end of it. But it would be a lot nicer if you had a little more to look forward to, like extra cash.
It turns out there are actually several ways to turn a profit off of spring cleaning. Here are three ideas for you to try.
1. Sell unused items
Selling things you don’t need anymore is a great way to make a little extra cash, and it’s never been easier to do. You could go the traditional route and hold a yard sale. But you can also snap a few photos and post your items to an online marketplace so it can reach a wider audience.
When deciding where to post your purchases, consider whether you’re comfortable shipping the item or not. If it’s large or bulky, you may prefer to advertise it just to those who live in your area and can come pick it up in person. Smaller items are easier to ship anywhere, so you could consider listing those on a site like eBay.
Keep in mind that things may not sell right away, so if you want to do this, you might have to continue storing them for a while. Price plays a big factor in this. If you want items to sell quickly, consider reducing the cost. You can check out the price of other, comparable items online to get a sense of what’s reasonable.
2. Donate items
Donating unused items may not provide you with extra cash today, but it could help you save on your taxes the next time you file them. You can write off donations to qualifying tax-exempt organizations. But in order to do this, you need some sort of documentation to prove that you actually made the donation.
The organization you’re giving to should be able to provide you with information about what you need to claim the tax deduction. If the total dollar value of your donations exceeds $500, you’ll need to fill out Form 8283 and submit this with the rest of your tax return. And if your donations exceed $5,000, you’ll need an appraisal to prove their value.
In addition, you’ll need to itemize your deductions in order to claim this deduction. But this isn’t always the way to go. Many people do better by claiming the standard deduction for their filing status, and if you’re one of them, you won’t be able to claim any savings for your charitable donations.
3. Help others with their spring cleaning
If you enjoy helping people get more organized, you could turn spring cleaning into a side hustle opportunity. Reach out to friends and family members in your area to see if they have any spaces that need cleaning up. Offer to assist them or do the work for them for a fee.
Social media makes it pretty easy to advertise your services to those in your area. Between that and word of mouth, you may not need to pay for any advertising at all. And you can take on as much or as little work as you want.
Check online to see what others in your area charge for similar cleaning services. If you want to draw in new customers right away, consider charging slightly less until you build up a solid client base.
You may not make enough off your spring cleaning to afford a fancy vacation or a new car. But even if you’re able to add a few hundred dollars to your savings account, that’s something to be proud of.
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR until 2024
If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR until 2024, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.
In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
