Are you looking for ways to save or make money? Buying and selling used clothing can help you to save on clothing, and maybe even profit from the clothes you already own.
Although some people cringe at the thought of buying clothing used, it's actually a wonderful way to save money and buy higher quality clothing.
Benefits of Buying Used Clothing
- It's already stood the test of time. If it's an item that's was going to shrink, pill, or change shapes, it would have already done it. What you see is what you get – that's not always the case when you buy new clothing.
- It's way cheaper. Whether you shop garage sale, online, or at thrift shops, the prices for used clothing are undeniably low.
- You can afford higher quality clothing. Because items are used, they'll be deeply discounted. If you shop on a site like ThredUp, you can search for name brands, specific fabrics, and more. {If you use my referral link, you'll get $10 to spend for free!}
- Used clothes have less of an environmental impact. They aren't wrapped in plastic, off-gassing, or using up resources.
Even if you're not convinced that buying used clothing is a good option for you, selling your used clothes can be a satisfying, profitable way to declutter clothing, and make room in your closet for clothes you love.
How to Sell Your Used Clothing
- Have the right attitude. Not everything you own is going to sell. Even if you think it's great. Go with the idea that you're wanting to get rid of things, not profit. Then, when you profit, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
- Sell higher quality items through ThredUp. Again, it's best to have low expectations, and look at ThredUp as a chance to declutter instead of profit. Having said that, I always make at least $30 when I send in a bag of items to ThredUp. It's not nearly the amount that I originally paid for the clothing, but it's something. And, there's the added benefit of getting the clutter out of our closet.
- Sell children's items in a resale if you have one in your area. Preparing for resales takes a lot of work, but I've found that it's worth it. The first resale we participated in yielded us over $1000 for our baby swings, bouncy seats, etc. (we have twins, so we had two of almost everything!) Some resales offer a tagging service if you don't have time to prepare your items for the sale by yourself.
- Sell your clothing in bulk. Put a bunch of items that are the same size together, and sell them as a lot. I used to do this on eBay with great luck. I've also seen people do it on Facebook groups. This option is great for lower quality items that are still in good condition.
- Check out local consignment shops. They may be able to sell your gently used clothing for you. Find out the rules and specifications up front before bringing them your clothing.
Whether you buy used clothing, sell used clothing, or do both, it can help you move a few more baby steps toward your financial goals!