Millions of Americans still pay full manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) for clothing, electronics, furniture, and household items. Are you part of this statistic? In today’s era of OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, and NextDoor (just to name a few), the act of paying full retail is a choice of the past! Not only do we have the option of purchasing pre-owned, but we can also resell our clothing, shoes, accessories, and even make-up!
In 2013, I promptly left a corporate job to begin an entrepreneurial path with my husband. In this chapter of my life, I learned a lot about my spending habits and my relationship with money.
Alongside a laundry list of side hustles, I realized I had a lot of extra “things” that I didn’t need or use. I stumbled across Poshmark and began to post my gently used (sometimes never used, tags attached) clothes, purses, and shoes. I also posted skincare items & perfumes that were collecting dust. In the first month of using the app, I made $250! I was able to sell my unwanted items and shop the re-commerce apps to purchase my first pair of premium yoga pants. I wanted to reward myself after completing my yoga certification, and I was able to get 2 pairs with money left over!
After receiving constant compliments on my high-fashion-deeply-discounted yoga pants, I was drawn back to the re-commerce sites. Even as our discretionary income increased, I still preferred shopping the gently or never-used items before browsing brand-new. I reprogrammed myself (and my husband) to shop on re-commerce apps like Facebook Marketplace & OfferUp first, before heading to Amazon or the local mall.
When we relocated from Los Angeles to Dallas, we moved a house full of furniture and household items that we had for over 10 years. Most of it was still in good shape but we wanted an upgrade to go with our new home. During this simultaneous selling & purchasing process, we made $550! Cha-ching! We are not alone, last year the average person made $978 in a month on OfferUp selling items during Spring Cleaning. Last Spring we scored a free trampoline and table for our daughter!
Over the last year, we saved $2,518 by purchasing pre-owned! We sold a couch and dining room table profiting $360. When shopping these apps/sites, I suggest purchasing from smoke-free and pet-free homes to assure you are getting clean and gently-used products. There may be a bit of compromise on convenience, you may have to coordinate with another individual for delivery/pick up. Be smart and safe. Follow your instincts and consider traveling with a friend when visiting unfamiliar places.
Another benefit of reselling is to tidy up your life! Have you heard of the KonMari method? This is a system of simplifying and organizing your home by getting rid of physical items that do not bring joy into your life. It was created by organizing consultant Marie Kondo and described in detail in her best-selling book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” Take a moment after reading this blog, pick something from the very back of your closet or from underneath your bed, hold the item and ask yourself, “does the item bring me joy?” If the item does not truly bring you joy and you are only holding onto it “just in case” or because you might like it again one day, then its time to let it go! This method helps me clear clutter, create stress-free space and I feel more relaxed and productive. Imagine that!
Re-commerce is the new era of earning extra income and smart shopping. Along with the financial and stress relief benefits of these apps, recycling goods also decreases your carbon footprint! The average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing every year totaling 26 billion pounds of textiles.
Save the planet, make some money & keep your space tidy. You deserve it all! #recommerce xo,Alicia Harrison
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