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Clutter in our homes is not only unnecessary, but it was once said that the state of our homes is simply a reflection of the state of our minds. Who wants to de-clutter their life and mind a little? I do, for sure, so let’s get rid of some physical clutter (and make a little cash while we’re at it!).

Rather than send your unwanted or unneeded stuff to the landfill, consider these two simple ways to de-clutter, one of which might also make you some money!

Sell your Clutter

The first way is to sell it, but the downside is time. It just takes time to post things, respond to potential buyers, sift through the spam and finally meet to make the transaction. Sometimes this option is totally worth it though and it’s always amazing what people are wiling to buy.

The easiest and most widely-used source for selling your stuff is Craigslist. Seriously, what did we do before Craigslist? If you live in more rural areas, this option may not be as viable, but you could always post in the city closest to you if you’re willing to drive in.

Posting on Craigslist is free, easy and convenient. You can post up to eight pictures and include a ton of text. So far my CL experience is limited to bikes, but just about anything you can think of could be sold this way.

Other options include listservs or groups. These have been popping up on Facebook and other groups like crazy, with buy/sell groups specific to location, point in life (moms, etc), and can be really great ways to sell your stuff. I recently used my town group to sell some Snowbabies figurines. I’ve been trying for years to figure out what to do with them. I felt bad donating since they are somewhat valuable, but they have no value to me. Within a day, a lady was interested in buying them all. Easy peasy and I made a bit of cash.

Finally, don’t overlook consignment or second-hand stores for your stuff. For clothing, Plato’s Closet buys gently used, name-brand clothing and the process is really easy. For jewelry (especially gold), you can often sell stuff to reputable jewelry stores. I’ve sold gold this way and it was an easy process. For unique items, do a little research to find the best market to sell it.

Tips:

Give enough detail on your posts. I go the personal route and say why I’m selling, what I love(d) about the item, how long I’ve had it, what it was used for and how often. I think in terms of marketing and use strong headlines, plenty of colorful detail and all the pertinent info (color, size, condition, etc.)
Give people easy ways to contact you. I use the route of saying to email, call or text. Young people would rather text and I want to make that option available to reach them. I list my phone number in a combination of numbers and text (222-five five five-9000 for example).
Pay attention to the posting. Responses early probably means you listed a reasonable price. If you don’t get any bites, consider editing the post and lowering the price. Keep posting it – someone will eventually want it.
Meet in safe, neutral locations that are easy to find. I like parking lots. I tell them what I’m driving, what time to meet and where. Bring someone with you for added security and only take cash for all items.

Donate your Clutter

The second option is to donate, which is a positive thing to do. This is by-far the easiest way to get rid of stuff. It’s often a quick drop-off, no fuss, no explanation, just a simple way to de-clutter.

Goodwill and similar outfits rely on donations to stock their stores, which supply income to their programs and overhead. Alternatively, donating to your local clothing drive or similar groups can help you give back to your community. Do a little research and ask around for places to donate goods. Many nonprofits accept cars and other random stuff that is like a donation.

Consider the needs of your community and be creative about donations. Blankets could be used by shelters, a collection of art supplies at schools or child centers, gym equipment by volunteer fire departments or community center gyms, etc. If you want to get the most mileage out of your clutter, consider who would most appreciate that item and figure out how to get it to them.

For big-ticket items, get a receipt for your tax deductible donation and bring that with you at tax time to get your deduction. I’m not an expert at this so talk to your tax preparer for more info.

Whether you sell your clutter for cash or donate it to those in need, the goal here is to plant a seed to consider cleaning out that attic or garage, going through that overflowing closet and making your space clutter-free. Good luck!

Have you de-cluttered in creative ways? Share your experiences in the comments.

{Photo Credit: puuikibeach}

Note: This post originally ran on the Prescribe Nutrition blog. Prescribe Nutrition is about nutrition for real life, meeting people where they are and offering resources to eat clean and feel your best. Run by two functional nutritionists, the programs are online, available to anyone, anywhere and they will change your life. For the better. Check them out – you won’t be disappointed.

When we think about wellness, it’s easy to look to the obvious facets: physical, mental/psychological and perhaps spiritual, but there are several other factors that influence our overall well-being. These include intellectual, occupational, emotional, environmental and everyone’s favorite, financial. Some facets affect health and well-being more directly than others, but they are all important in being truly healthy, well and whole.

Financial wellness is a tough one because most of us are never really happy with where we’re at. Financial situations change, stuff comes up, challenges arise and we may go from financially well to unwell, and vice versa, many times over the course of life. Start by asking yourself if you have enough money. If the answer is no, begin to contemplate why and what could change.

Being financially unwell is stressful and puts excess strain on our bodies, minds and spirits. It’s tough, I’m with you there. Money troubles seep into every area of life and have far more implications than we usually realize. Luckily, there is hope.

Remember that finances are a lifelong journey, don’t get overwhelmed. Just take it one step at a time. Here are three topics for you to consider in becoming more financially well:

Understand Your Whole Financial Picture

Finances don’t have to be complex, but you need to be aware of every piece of it and how it all works together. Take some time to look at everything you have, including:

Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
Credit Cards
Store Credit Cards
CD’s/Savings Bonds
School Loans
Car Loans
Other Loans
Mortgage
401K/IRA (Retirement)
Employee Stock Plans
HSA
Monthly Bills (Utilities, Groceries)
Car Insurance
Health Insurance
Other Debts

Start by making a list of everything related to money in your life, without assessing or criticizing it. What are you spending, where is your money going and when or how frequently? What are you saving, into what accounts and how frequently? Consider keeping individual files to help stay organized.

Once you have your comprehensive list, sit with it. Think about it. Become friends with it. Nothing on that list is good or bad, it just is. Now is a good time to put some goals around this list. Spend time considering what your financial goals are – do you want to buy a home in the next year? Quit your job to go solo? Pay down debt? Simplify your finances? Make a note of these goals and what items those goals focus on.

To be truly financially well, we need to have a full understanding of our finances. That doesn’t mean our finances have to be perfect, but we need to be in a position where our finances aren’t controlling us, stressing us out or limiting our potential to reach our goals. What that means for you is yours to figure out.

Assess Your Finances

Once you have an idea of your financial picture, the next step is to assess those items. This might be a dirty process, but is necessary. Set aside some undisrupted time and start with the accounts you use regularly. For many of us, this is checking, savings and credit cards. Print spending reports or find statements for the past 6 months for all those accounts and dig into the details.

I like to go through line-by-line and categorize everything, starting with regular expenses, perhaps more of the ‘need’ items (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, gas/transportation, car payment, school loans, etc.). Move onto the ‘wants’ which may include shopping, personal care/beauty, dining out, entertainment, etc. This is where the cringing begins ($500 on Starbucks, yikes!) or you might begin to notice trends in your spending.

Next, go through and assess income. If you have a steady job, this will be easy, but for those of us with less traditional income streams, this is especially important.

The first rule of financial wellness is to make more than you spend.

Once you have your assessment done, set it aside (maybe make a cocktail) and give yourself a break. After a bit, go back and start making some decisions. Use your goals as a guide and go through one category at a time with a fine-tooth comb. Could you save on gas by taking the bus more or working from home? Could you eat out less, choose less expensive places or cut out the drinks/appetizer/dessert? Could you turn your heat down a couple of degrees to conserve energy? Could you cancel subscriptions you don’t use? Cancel cable? Lower your phone plan? Change to a bank with fewer fees? Is there cheaper housing available? Should you get another or a different job? If you have a surplus, are you putting your savings into the best places? Could you capitalize more on pre-tax contributions?

If you don’t like what you see, consider instituting a budget – as simple or complex as you see fit. This is your financially process, and you will need to find a system that is appropriate for you and sustainable.

Finally, assess your other accounts. For loans, retirement accounts and the like – stuff that doesn’t see a high volume of debits and credits – check for fees or charges, make sure you are paying it on time and make note of whether there is a way to minimize that amount. For loans, can you refinance at a lower rate or consolidate? Is there a credit card with lower interest rate?

Be Honest About Your Finances

This is the hardest of all for many of us. You’ve done all the work to assess your finances, you understand where your money is going and you see areas that need improvement. Now you need make peace with that and make the necessary changes. If you can’t pay off your credit card each month, don’t spend recklessly. If you are invited to do something outside of your budget, tell them you can’t afford to do it. The truth is, you can’t. So don’t go.

I know, I know, this is a major burden on your social life or fun, but it’s the truth and ignoring this fact or being in denial about your financial situation will only make it worse. Debt, or spending more than you make, is a major energy drain and is stressful. What if you could get rid of that debt just by staying home a few nights a week – worth it? I think so, but ultimately, that’s your decision to make.

You don’t have to make a lot of money to be financially well, you just have to be responsible about the money you do have.

It’s easier to be in denial or ignore our financial woes, but that isn’t serving anybody. It’s time to get well. Take control of your finances and begin taking small steps to get to where you want to be. Set your goals, create a budget, become intimate friends with your financial situation and begin on a path toward financially wellness. It may not be easy, but it’s totally worth it.

Share you successes: Do you have any financial wellness tips to share? Put them in the comments.

{Photo Credit: Flickr Tax Credits}

2 Simple Ways to De-clutter your Life (& Make Some Money)