If you live in the Northeast as I do, you know what a long, cold, precipitous winter we’ve had. Today, it’s sunny and cold, and the spring flowers are starting to pop up through the ground. Which means that spring is just around the corner- yippee!

So now that Mother Nature has given us a hint that warmer weather is coming soon, it’s time to go through that closet you’ve been ignoring all winter and clean it out. Find the clothes and items that you didn’t wear or use last season. Dust them off and sell them! C’mon, be honest and ruthless in your assessments and just let them go. You know that you are not going to wear them, so give somebody else a chance. It will free up your storage space and help increase your positive cash flow too.

As a proponent of online selling platforms, I encourage you to set up a free account with e-bay. They have listing sales going on all of the time to encourage sellers to put up listings at no cost. The only time you will pay fees is when your item sells. Just take a picture or two of your items, enter your description and selling details and your sale begins! Make sure your shipping is fair and accurate, it will encourage more bids. And don’t be greedy, your items are bringing in nothing while hiding out in your closet, so take what you can get! IPHONE alert- check out the free app for selling on ebay. Simply snap a pic with your smart-phone and you are well on your way to your first listing!

What’s that-  you don’t want to sell online? That’s ok!

Just look in your local papers for consignment shops. They are popping up all over around my area and it’s a great way to unload extra clothing or household items for a profit. Simply bring in your items in pristine condition, (ahem, would you buy dirty clothes? Yuk!). The shop will give you a receipt and then will put your items on their racks. Each shop is a little different, but most have a “going rate” for like-items such as jeans, shorts, blouses, shoes, etc. They will tell you how and when to check in with them to see how much you made. And you can tell them to donate what doesn’t sell, or you can pick it up again.

Speaking of donations, if all of this is too much work, then consider packing up your unwanted items in green bags and take them to your local charitable storefronts such as St Vincent De Paul, Salvation Army or Goodwill. You get a tax deduction and they get to make some money by reselling your items. Still too much work? Then call your local chapter of  Big Brothers, Big Sisters or Veteran’s Association- they will come to your house!

May your spring cleaning projects bring you extra room in your closet and extra dollars in your wallet!