Turn Clutter into Extra Cash

Janet Bodnar shows you how to turn your throwaways into treasure.

Need extra money? How about turning the clutter around your house into cash? One senior editor here at Kiplingers recently made an easy $200 by selling flatware he and his wife no longer used on eBay, where you can unload everything from furniture to collectibles and clothing. Or post your wares on it on Craigslist. Sell your books on Amazon. One Web site, Gazelle.com, specializes in buying computers, cell phones GPS devices and other electronic gear. The key is to research similar merchandise and price yours competitively. The price of gold is always fluctuating. But even if you dont get top dollar, you can still get a pretty penny for jewelry you no loner wear or bling that reminds you of a beau whos best forgotten. One reliable source of information what your baubles are worth is the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. And heres an idea you might not have thought of. You dont need a second home to cash in on the demand for vacation rentals that are less expensive, and more homey, than hotels. Instead, you can rent out your principal residence. One Kiplingers reader has rented out her home in Stowe, Vermont, for anywhere from one night to seven weeks. Depending on the season, she can rake in from $400 to $1,000 a night.

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