It doesn’t matter what season it is,
spring cleaning can bring out the best in your home and make you feel a lot
better about yourself. The only problem is, once you’ve finished, you can be left
with piles of stuff to get rid of. It’s up to you what you do with your
rubbish, but here are ten tips for reducing waste. If you’re lucky, you could pocket some extra cash for
rainy days or for dealing with rising gas or electricity prices.
1. First sort out anything metal, which you can either sell to a scrapyard, or
arrange for a local scrap dealer to collect it from you free of charge.
2. Sort any remaining waste into boxes. Fill the first box with things to sell,
the second with things to swap or give away, the third with things to recycle,
and the fourth with things to throw out.
3. With any luck, your biggest box will be filled with items to be sold. Just
because you’ve dieted out of your favourite clothes doesn’t mean they’re
necessarily destined for the bin. Spend a few minutes setting up an account on
an auction site like eBay and prepare to
be pleasantly surprised at how much money your unwanted clothing can earn.
4. If you find yourself with unwanted or unused electrical items, DVDs, phones
and suchlike, you might like to try a buy-back schemes. Simply go online,
register your items and then post them off in return for a cheque or online
payment.
5. Many large towns and cities have shops that buy and sell used goods and this
can be a quick and convenient way to clear your clutter and fill your purse at
the same time. Make sure everything is clean and in good working order first.
If you have the original boxes and instructions, make sure you include those
too as they will make a better impression.
6. Your second box will be full of items that still have some life in them, but
that aren’t really in saleable condition, such as toys that aren’t played with
any more. These are perfect for a swap-shop session with your friends and
neighbours. This can be a particularly helpful way to dispose of outgrown
school uniforms and equipment in an environmentally friendly way.
7. If you don’t have time for swapping, then there are many outlets for
donations. Schools will often take uniform and equipment in good condition to
sell on or loan to people on low incomes.
8. Alternatively, you can donate to a wide variety of charities without leaving
your home. Many charities deliver collection bags. Simply fill the bag with
your unwanted items and leave outside your door on the designated collection
day.
9. Watch out for recycling points. Many local convenience stores and larger
supermarkets have recycling points where you can donate clothing and shoes.
They may not be in excellent condition, but charities can still sell them on
for recycling and raise money.
10. When you reach the third box, this should be items that you can recycle. So
watch out for things like cardboard, plastic milk containers, glass jars and
bottles and recycle them in your appropriate bin. Most recycling bins are full
of air, so squash plastic bottles and flatten boxes before recycling.
After following these ten tips, you should be left with hardly anything that
can’t be sold, swapped, donated or recycled. So, you can put the little that’s
left into the refuse bin with a clear conscience.
As most of you are aware I am on on a weight loss journey. So far my grand total is 61lbs lost which is amazing but it's definitely beginning to become a strain on the old purse strings. Obviously I am over the moon at such fantastic results and although I still have a long way to go, losing such a substantial amount of weight means lots of new clothing being bought. I am finding it difficult to keep replacing certain wardrobe essentials each time I drop a few inches from my body so I am really trying to keep the spending to a minimum.
I said right from the start that my ultimate treat for reaching my goal weight would be a huge shopping spree to celebrate and I know I will be bursting with joy when I am able to slip my slender self into a nice pair of G Star jeans or a slinky little black dress. Until then though I am making do with the bare necessities when it comes to clothing.
As a result of the weight loss I found my wardrobe was overflowing with clothing which no longer fitted me and with them all being in good condition I decided they were too good to just throw away and I was going to make a few quid out of them if I could. My first thought was Ebay. Having used them previously I was aware of how things worked on the site and felt confident I could get a sale on there. Obviously when selling on Ebay you need to take all the relevant fees into account when deciding if its the best place to sell your items. If after the fees and charges it works out to still be financially beneficial to sell on Ebay then go for it! Millions of items sell every day on there so your almost sure to get a sale. If its not really worth your while selling on there then you will be pleased to know that its not the only place to sell your clothes. You have all heard of Music Magpie right? The place that buys your old dvds, cd, phones etc? But.. Did you know they also buy your old clothes too? They give great rates especially with designer labels. Another great thing with them is they offer a free posting/courier service so you are not troubled with posting and packaging problems/charges.
Failing being able to sell online, then car boots are always a winner. Whats more you are more likely to sell bulk/job lots at car boots especially if they are all of the same size. There are hundred of car boots held every weekend, just search in Google to find your nearest.
Whatever you do don't just chuck them away. Earn a few pound from your old clothing and put it towards something special. I made a tidy little sum from a bundle of clothing which was just too big for me. I am going to put it towards my big shopping spree as a reward for reaching my goal weight.
When it comes to buying gifts, weather its for a birthday or Christmas, I much prefer buying for younger children. I loved it when Aalliyah was younger, say 4 or 5 years old as she was so easy to buy for. Anything pleased her no matter how small. I have to say I am very lucky to have such an appreciative daughter. Even though she is now ten years old she is grateful for any and all gifts received. Obviously as she has got older her taste has gotten a little more expensive and her wishlists now always seem to include the latest gadget or game. Her most desired item right now is a mobile phone. It seems she is one of the few poor deprived children left in the school that doesn't own one! What will social services think!! ;-)
I never really buy Aalliyah many expensive gifts throughout the year or for no particular reason which is why she is so appreciative on her birthday or at Christmas when she gets something extra special. I love this because so many children are brought up not wanting for anything. I know kids younger than ten who have the latest Iphone, laptop and more, which in turn makes them unappreciative with anything they receive.
Anyway.. With all the technology that's out there there will always be a new phone or games console coming out. I am sure that I am not alone when I say how frustrating it is to buy a games console only to learn of an updated model being released just a few short months after I've purchased it. I have come to learn that these sorts of items never completely lose their value and there will always be a market for them. I sell things regularly and games, consoles, mobiles phones etc are the easiest thing to sell.
I can guarantee that nearly all of us will have at least one old item laying around the house somewhere gathering dust. Maybe an old mobile phone or computer game? So if you;re thinking "Where can I sell my DS?" or "How much is my old PlayStation worth?" Don't just leave it there in the back of the cupboard , clear the cobwebs, dig it out and make a few spare pennies for yourself. There are places in your local high street, like cash converters who can offer on the spot cash for various items, especially electronic items, so if you're looking for some quick cash then these places are your best bet. These places do tend to give you a slightly lower rate than selling online. If you are not in a huge rush for the money i'd recommend getting online to sell your items. How about listing them on Ebay? (Take the listing/sellers/paypal fees into account when selling on Ebay)
Another great site to use us Music Magpie who offer decent rates for things like computer games, consoles, mobile phones and more. Which ever way you choose to sell your items just make sure you do! There must be thousands of pounds worth of old, unused electronics, just laying around, forgotten about and unused in peoples homes. It's not always easy for us mums and dads to get our kids the latest things on the market, but at least if you cash in on your old gadgets and gizmos you can put a little extra cash back into your pocket!
*Please see individual websites for selling details/regulations.
