How I Made $500 Last Month Selling Random Stuff Online

Hi! I’m Kate, the face behind KateFi.com—a blog all about making life easier and more affordable.

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You know that moment when you look around your house and think, “Why do I even have this?” That was me last month. My home was cluttered with stuff I hadn’t touched in ages—a mix of impulse buys, old gifts, and things that once served a purpose but no longer did. Spoiler alert: I turned that clutter into cash—$500, to be exact—and you can too! Let me spill the tea on how I made it happen, what I sold, and my top tips to help you get started.

Step 1: Decluttering Like a Boss

The first step was embracing a mindset shift: if I wasn’t using something, it was just taking up valuable space. I started small, tackling one room at a time. Closets? Check. Drawers? Check. That mysterious box under my bed? Double-check. My rule was simple: If I hadn’t used it in the past year and it didn’t hold sentimental value, it went into the “Sell” pile.

What Worked for Me:

• Focus Areas: Clothes, shoes, tech gadgets, kitchen appliances, and unopened beauty products were goldmines.
• Sort Categories: I created three piles: “Sell,” “Donate,” and “Trash.” This kept things organized and manageable.

Pro Tip: Seasonal items (like winter coats or summer gear) tend to sell better if you list them during the appropriate time of year. Timing matters!

To keep myself motivated, I set small goals for each day. On Monday, I tackled my closet; on Tuesday, it was the garage. Breaking it into bite-sized tasks made it less overwhelming.

By Wednesday, I discovered hidden gems I had forgotten about, like a vintage handbag and a pair of barely worn boots. These finds gave me an extra boost to keep going because I realized I was literally sitting on money.

Decluttering also gave me a sense of accomplishment. Every empty drawer or shelf made me feel lighter and more motivated to keep going. By the end of the week, my house felt like a completely different space.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Platforms

Not all selling platforms are created equal, my friends. Different platforms cater to different audiences, so matching your items to the right marketplace is key. Here’s where I listed my stuff and what I learned:

• Facebook Marketplace: Great for bulky items like furniture or anything you want to sell locally. I sold an old coffee table for $75 within a day!
• eBay: Perfect for collectibles, electronics, and niche items. My old gaming console fetched $120 here.
• Poshmark: Ideal for clothes, shoes, and accessories. Clearing out my closet made me $200 selling trendy pieces.
• OfferUp: Another excellent platform for local sales. I offloaded a spare microwave for $50.
• Mercari: This platform was fantastic for smaller items that didn’t sell well elsewhere, like books and decor. I made an additional $30 here.

Pro Tip: Before listing, spend a few minutes researching similar items on each platform to see what’s selling and at what price.

I also experimented with niche platforms like Depop for vintage-style clothing and even tried selling an old bike on Craigslist. While it didn’t sell, the inquiries taught me about what local buyers were looking for.

One surprising win was trying Instagram Stories to sell a few trendy pieces. I snapped photos, added some captions, and shared with my followers. Within hours, I had two sales, and I didn’t even need to leave my house to drop them off.

Step 3: Creating Listings That Sell

Your listing is your sales pitch, so make it count. Here’s how I optimized mine:

• Photos That Pop: Use natural lighting and take clear, close-up shots from different angles. Highlight any unique features and be honest about flaws. For clothes, I used a hanger or mannequin to make them look polished.
• Detailed Descriptions: Be clear and concise. Mention key features, dimensions, and relevant keywords buyers might search for. Example:Instead of “Used Coffee Table,” write: “Modern Wooden Coffee Table, 40×20, Great Condition, Perfect for Small Spaces!”
• Pricing Strategically: I kept my prices realistic but left room for negotiation. Buyers love to haggle, so set your initial price slightly higher than your bottom line.
• Bundle Deals: For smaller items like books or kitchen gadgets, I grouped them together into bundles. This helped me move inventory faster and added value for buyers.

Pro Tip: The title and first image matter most. Make them eye-catching and keyword-friendly. For instance, instead of “Shoes,” try “Women’s Nike Running Shoes, Size 8, Like New.”

I also learned that including measurements for furniture or clothing made a big difference. Many buyers would skip over listings that didn’t include these details, so taking a few extra minutes to add them paid off.

Step 4: Managing Communication

Once my listings were live, the messages started rolling in. Responding quickly and politely was key to closing deals. Here’s what worked:

• Be Prompt: The faster you reply, the more likely you are to secure a sale.
• Answer Questions Thoroughly: Buyers often ask about measurements, condition, or delivery options. Be ready with answers to avoid delays.
• Stay Safe: For local meetups, choose a well-lit, public location. I often met buyers at a nearby coffee shop.

To make things even smoother, I pre-wrote standard responses for common questions. This saved me time and made me look professional.

I also used tracking numbers for shipped items and followed up with buyers to ensure satisfaction. This simple step led to glowing reviews and repeat customers.

What I Sold

Curious about what brought in the $500? Here’s the breakdown:

• Clothing and Accessories: $200 from Poshmark. This included gently used jackets, trendy dresses, and name-brand shoes I no longer wore.
• Furniture: $75 from Facebook Marketplace. My old coffee table found a new home in less than 24 hours.
• Electronics: $120 from eBay. My gaming console was a hit!
• Kitchen Appliances: $50 from OfferUp. That extra microwave finally served a purpose.
• Random Items: $55 from various platforms. Think books, decor, and even an old board game.

Hidden Gems: A vintage handbag I listed as “Boho Chic Leather Bag” on Poshmark ended up selling for $45. It had been sitting in my closet for years.

Another surprise was a collectible toy I found while cleaning out my attic. I had no idea it was worth anything, but a quick search on eBay revealed it could sell for $60. It ended up going for $70 after a bidding war!

Lessons Learned

1. Stuff You Think Is Worthless Might Be Gold to Someone Else: I sold an old board game for $40 that had been collecting dust for years.
2. Patience Pays Off: Some items took weeks to sell, but the money was worth the wait.
3. It’s Weirdly Addictive: Once I started selling, I couldn’t stop. I kept finding more stuff to list!
4. Organization is Key: Keep track of what you’ve listed, where, and for how much. A simple spreadsheet works wonders.
5. Leverage Reviews: On platforms like Poshmark, good reviews from buyers helped increase my sales. Providing excellent service goes a long way.
6. Small Wins Add Up: Selling low-cost items like books might seem trivial, but the earnings add up when done consistently.
7. Timing Matters: Some items, like holiday decorations, sell best during specific times of the year. Plan accordingly!

Why You Should Try This

Selling your old stuff isn’t just about making money (though that part’s amazing). It’s also about:

• Decluttering Your Space: A cleaner home feels so much better.
• Living More Intentionally: Selling made me rethink future purchases. Now I ask, “Do I really need this?”
• Eco-Friendly Benefits: Giving items a second life keeps them out of landfills. Win-win!
• Building Confidence: Negotiating prices and interacting with buyers improved my communication skills and gave me a confidence boost.
• Making Room for What Matters: Less clutter means more space for the things you love and use regularly.

Ready to Turn Your Junk into Jackpot?

If I can make $500 with minimal effort, imagine what you could do with a little hustle! So, what are you waiting for? Grab a box, start decluttering, and let the cash roll in.

And hey, if you’ve got some genius selling tips, drop them in the comments. Sharing is caring! 💸

Oh, and one last thing—don’t forget to treat yourself with some of that extra cash. You’ve earned it!