Spring Cleaning to Save Lives

Spring is just a few weeks away (yay!) and with it comes the itch to start "spring cleaning"; clearing out the clutter from your home. Before you donate or toss items, consider how you might use all your excess "stuff" to make a profit and raise funds for your Team in Training event.

Here are some ideas to raise funds using those items you don't need any more. And if you work for a company that provides matching gifts, you can double the funds you raise by donating them through your company's program!

Selling Locally
Examples: televisions, furniture, stereo or home theater equipment, appliances, automobiles, lawn equipment, home gym equipment, recreation equipment (bicycles, skateboards, punching bags), office equipment

Summary: These are items you'll want to unload locally, either because shipping is too expensive, the items need to be "test driven" by buyers, or because you just find it easier to sell to buyers who live near you.

Sites for Selling Locally:

1. Craigslist: http://www.craigslist.org
2. Cheapcycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cheapcycle_Groups/
3. National Thrift Store Directory: http://thethriftshopper.com/
4. eBay Motors: http://www.motors.ebay.com/
   

Books, CD's, DVD's, VHS Tapes
Examples: random books you have around the house, text books, out-of-print or hard-to-find books, compact discs, movies on DVD, movies on VHS

Summary: We all seem to acquire books that we read once and never read again. The same goes for CD's and movies. It's incredibly easy to unload these items on the Internet. Shop around the sites below and sell items at the places that will give you the most money for your "stuff". Put all of your unwanted media up for sale, and after your event, donate the unsold items to charity.

Sites for Selling Media:

1. Half.com: http://www.half.ebay.com/
2. Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller/sell-your-stuff.html
3. Powell's Books: http://www.powells.com/
4. Barnes & Noble Textbooks: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/frames/selltextbooks/index.asp
   

Original Art Work
Examples: Photography, drawings, illustrations, stained glass, homemade jewelry, paper or beads, other homemade crafts, designs for postcards or t-shirts

Summary: Do you have a creative streak? You can sell your original artwork or handmade crafts online in a number of places and in a variety of ways and donate your proceeds to your event.

1. Etsy: http://www.etsy.com
   
2. Zazzle.com: http://www.zazzle.com
3. Cafe Press: http://www.cafepress.com

Event Tickets
Examples: season tickets, individual sports tickets, event tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets

Summary: If you have season tickets or event tickets on hand that you don't plan to use, they can help you make money for your event! If you don't want to give up a full season's worth of tickets, select the specific games or shows you aren't interested in, and sell just those.

Sites for Selling Tickets:

1. StubHub: http://www.stubhub.com

Everything Else
Examples: Anything and everything! Clothing, small appliances, hobbyist equipment (photography, stained glass, computers), software, sports equipment, collectibles, memorabilia, electronics

Summary: There is one place where you can unload everything under the sun. Anything, and I do mean anything, that you can't sell from one of the above sections, should be considered for eBay. If you haven't used it, give it a whirl. Listing items is incredibly simple, and there's a reason why it's the world's largest marketplace. You might be amazed to find who's interested in buying that vintage "Rush" concert t-shirt from the mid-1980's!

1. eBay: http://www.ebay.com

Selling the stuff you no longer need is a win/win situation. You can clear the clutter from your life, make someone else happy, and raise money to fight blood cancers at the same time! As spring approaches, take a fresh look at all the junk lying around your house and think about how you can use it to raise money.

As always, good luck and GO TEAM!