And just like that, the year flew by and the holidays are upon us. Whether you celebrate with gifts or trips, extra cash is something we could all use. But getting another job may not be practical for most of us. So here’s what you can do to make extra money for the holidays, all from the comfort of your home.
Get Into The E-Commerce Game
Selling online is not a new concept and there are so many e-commerce platforms online that make it easy to do so. You’ve heard of eBay and Amazon but there is a slew of other online marketplaces that are even easier to use. Here’s an overview to give you an idea.
Poshmark
Poshmark is a great platform if you have fashionable clothes, shoes, and accessories that you may want to declutter. They make it super easy to list and once your item sells, it is even easier to ship. Poshmark sends you a shipping label straight to your email.
All you have to do is print it out and use a USPS-free envelope or box that is at your local post office, tape it, and drop it off. Poshmark is a great place to make extra money and you can scale it up or down as much as you’d like.
Read Next: How I Make $1000 A Month On Poshmark (And How You Can Too!)
Mercari
Mercari is another marketplace similar to Poshmark. However, it is more common to sell electronics, sports equipment, and other homeware than they would be on Poshmark. Mercari is similar to eBay in this respect without the crazy fee structure of eBay.
Mercari takes a flat 10% commission plus a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30. Shipping can be on your own or through Mercari. If you choose to ship with Mercari, they will send you a shipping label to your email.
Mercari also recently added a local option where a driver can pick up and deliver locally. This is perfect for bulky, awkward, or fragile items that may be difficult or too expensive to ship longer distances.
Read Also: Poshmark vs Mercari vs Depop Comparison
Depop
Depop is another selling platform like Poshmark and Mercari. However, you can also sell to an international audience. While Depop’s main user base is Gen Z, it is a great place to sell vintage, Y2K, and street fashion items. Depop’s fees are also a flat 10% like Mercari with a PayPal processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30.
Depop’s main appeal over both Poshmark and Mercari is being able to sell to a worldwide audience. You will need to arrange the shipping on your own though but it is very easy to do. We show you how in the article linked below. You will need a shipping scale and a measuring tape though since you will be shipping on your own.
Read Also: How to Ship Worldwide on Depop in 2021
Sell Local
If you don’t want to bother with the hassle of shipping and dropping off packages, you can always sell locally. Places like Facebook marketplace, OfferUp, and Nextdoor allow you to list items and have the buyer pick them up.
Selling locally also means you get to keep 100% of your negotiated price with the buyer without having to pay a platform fee of any kind. As long as you’re comfortable dealing with people in person while they pick up items, selling locally can be a great option.
What Can I Sell Online?
You may be surprised by what you can sell online. The first step is to declutter items that you may no longer want or have a use for in your closet, garage, or the rest of your home. Even if you have broken electronics, you may be able to sell them for parts.
Once you have everything you can let go of sorted, choose the platform you would like to use, and start listing! It may take a few days or weeks to get your first sale depending on the demand for your item. However, once you put in the initial work, you’re casting the net to make extra money.
Last Tips To Make Extra Money
There are a ton of resources on making money online, specifically through selling items. But one of the hardest things to wrap your head around this as a beginner is having a proof of concept.
Following others that are successfully doing it on Instagram or YouTube may be the first place to start. Seeing how others source items to sell, whether via wholesale, hand-made, or second-hand stores, will open your eyes to the possibility.
Shipping can also be a barrier to many that may want to sell online. We have a ton of resources here at the blog to make shipping simple and affordable. Check all of our shipping tips here and get started!