Declutterfication 101

A lot of exiting things happened since I last wrote a few days ago. As you recall I wrote about setting up of a frugal budget and simplifying my home (nice speak for throwing away junk out of my home). Let me share them with you.

I decided I needed quick wins to start my pace and morale high. I tackled the most visible area in my home the dining room table! I had CD’s & DVD’s, books, a web cam and a power drill on the table. I thought man I can get rid of this pretty quickly. I packed everything into a bag and headed over to my local Cash Converters. I know these guys are pretty bad at offering good prices for your goods, but in the end it‘s the convenience you pay for. That is the convenience of not having to place an ad in the paper and waiting for somebody to respond. I was a man on a mission! Not necessarily desperate but definitely looking to prove to myself that I can do this simplifying-your-overly-complex-lifestyle-in-short-amount-of-time thing!

I left that shop with the biggest sense of self achievement since my degree graduation! This is despite the fact that I only managed to get about 1/3 of the price I actually paid for all of the stuff! Nevertheless it wasn’t about the money it was about me actually taking my first active steps in simplifying my life and reducing my debt burden! I drove straight to my nearest bank and deposited the money into my account!

What an awesome feeling when you bank balance increases!! :0)

So what does my place look like after the big “declutterfication”?

I will attach some photos later!

Here are some tips to get the most cash for your unwanted goods:

1. Stores expect to buy used items, but not abused items. All items must be in working order.
2. Make sure your items are clean. The buyer sometimes takes the item at face value. So the better it looks the more money you are likely to get.
3. Bring your electronic items with their accessories, like remotes, manuals etc
4. Try to ensure that items have batteries and/or are charged so that you can show the buyer that it works.
5. Sell technical items like cellular phones and computers as soon as possible. These items lose their value over time as new models come out continuously. So if you have an item like this, sell it now to ensure the model is still sought-after by someone else.
6. Keep in mind the supply and demand for items. For example, there is not much of a market for heaters during summer so you will make more money if you sell it in time for winter, but you will get it for a good price if you buy it in summer.
7. Have a look through the retail area in your local second-hand store. See what similar items are being sold for. They still have to sell your item/s for much less than they are currently being sold new. This will give you an idea of what you can expect to get for it.
8. Save time by bringing in a few unwanted items at a time. This way the buyer can give you a higher value by including some smaller things.
9. It is a good idea to look at what your item is being sold for now. The price of your item, new at the moment has probably changed since you bought it. Stores like Cash Converters value items according to what they are being sold for at the moment and what they can sell them for at a greatly discounted price.
10. If you have the original packaging for an item, take it with to sell. This can improve the amount you get for it.
11. Original invoices also help. It helps the buyer to determine what you paid for the item and provides a proof of ownership.
12. Cash Converters stores have a zero tolerance policy on buying stolen goods. If you want to sell something to them, take some form of identification and if possible proof of ownership. If you no longer have proof of ownership, they have other ways to determine if the item is yours.
13. When selling a printer (or similar item), ensure that it has all the software and cartridges.
14. When selling a computer, you will be offered more money if it has a valid Windows licence.
15. Stores pay more for trade-ins. In other words if you give them an item as part payment on something else that you want to purchase from them.
16. You can make more money by selling items when they are in demand. For e.g.: Lawnmowers in summer.
17. If you want to sell unwanted gifts, try to keep them in their original boxes.