More money: sell your old stuff

I generally have good control over the impulsive urge to spend money, and I don't normally buy high-dollar items. So, when I saw the blender of my dreams (a Vita-Mix), I deliberated long and hard before deciding to make the purchase. I did my homework, found out that even used Vita-Mix blenders sell at nearly the same price as new ones on eBay, and determined that the best deal to be had was buying a new Vita-Mix directly from the manufacturer. They come with a 7-year warranty, and their customer service is outstanding. And, aside from the cult-like following that Vita-Mix has, it's a really good product. (Full disclosure: I am only a Vita-Mix owner. I do not have any financial interest in Vita-Mix, but I might become an affiliate in the future.)That's all well and good, but how do I come up with the $513.73 that the Vita-Mix costs? Ignore the fact that it's really overpriced. I had to come up with that money, or forever suffer the pangs of longing for the smoothie-making machine of legend. So, I got creative. I made a list of all the places that I could come up with the extra money, without dipping into our tightly-budgeted monthly income. Here's a short excerpt:

1. $100 per month allowance (my wife and I each get $100 to spend however we choose)
2. Money from working for apartment owner, cleaning apartments
3. Sell my old stuff on eBay

That's right, #3 was the winner. I found two old educational courses that I paid hundreds for, and auctioned them on eBay. The result? I grossed over $600, and after eBay fees and 10% tithing were subtracted, I had just enough to buy my Vita-Mix and some fruit for smoothies. Total time invested: two hours.

Get rid of your old stuff that you haven't used in over a year. You say, "But I'm going to use it…" Nope, you're not. If you haven't already used it, or haven't used it in over a year, it's never going to get used. Clean out your closet, make some easy money, and make your blender dream come true.