Consumers May Find Debt Help Through Spring Cleaning

   

Posted: Apr 7, 2010

Spring cleaning may be the perfect time for Americans to take inventory of their possessions and get debt help from those items they no longer need.

While garbage bins and garage sales may be the only option for some items, there are several resources available to consumers aiming to profit from old possessions, according to a recent report by SmartMoney.com.

"We Americans are in love with our stuff, and we have too much of it," Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, told the website. "If you haven't used it or worn it in a year, sell it."

Secondhand bookstores and websites will often take books off consumers' hands, while consignment shops are a profitable destination for lightly-worn clothing. Both of these options depend on the store's supply and demand, which can make it difficult to sell back out-of-season items. There are also several websites willing to buy used — and sometimes damaged — electronics.

Consumers can also save money on storage by reducing their possessions.

A growing resell industry may make it easier for consumers to earn money from their possessions. The number of secondhand shops has increased by five percent in the past three years, according to the National Association of Resale Professionals.