How to (Ethically) Get Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff

If we have stuff we neither want nor need, what should we do with it?

A lot of people save items for “someday,” but Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, aka The Minimalists, advise against that. The Minimalists have a 20/20 rule, which states that if you can get an item within 20 minutes for $20 or less, you don’t have to keep it for “just in case.” Also consider that people buy just about anything, even broken, nonfunctional tech they use to repair other things. You never know what you can get if you’re willing to part with something you may otherwise trash or stash away.

So now that you have stuff you want to unload, we have solutions.

When Cash Would’ve Been Better Than a Sweater

It’s sweet to receive a gift, but when it’s the wrong size, color, or just not your style, it makes sense to not wear it and keep the tags on. That way you can take advantage of the opportunity to sell it as a new item—NWT (New With Tags)—which brings you the most bang for your buck.

The only game in town for online reselling used to be eBay, and for years it was the best place to find and sell sold-out, discontinued, or vintage items in multiple categories—clothes, shoes, electronics, sports gear, cars, etc. Many people have made jobs for themselves side-hustling on eBay.

If it’s clothing you want to get rid of, there are sites dedicated to this, and they each offer something a little different.

ThredUp makes it easy for sellers by sending “cleanup kits,” bags with prepaid labels that you fill with new or gently used items and send back for the company’s secondhand experts to sort through. Once they determine what your stuff is worth, you can get credit to spend on the site or cash via PayPal.

PoshMark created an easy-to-use system where sellers download an app, take pictures of the items they want to sell—which can be fashion, beauty, or home decor—and create a listing. PoshMark shares the listing on its network, but the platform works similarly to a social media site, and sellers who share other sellers’ posts and build a following do better than those who set it and forget it.

For PoshMark, it’s also essential to take great photos and to be knowledgeable about the items you’re selling. Items that are no longer available but in are high demand will sell faster. If you want tips on selling, YouTube videos can help with strategy.

Mercari offers sellers the opportunity to load clothing and accessories plus electronics, home decor, vintage, and luxury items such as Gucci and Christian Louboutin. Mercari also offers an easy-to-use app and gives buyers an option to pay over time.

Depop has niches in streetwear, sneakers, designer clothing, and jewelry, as well as sports equipment, music, books, and art. Curtsy offers a little bit of everything but has an extensive selection of dresses—for everything from gala wear to prom dresses to sundresses—in an easy to shop and sell format. For luxury designer goods, The Real Real is the spot.

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