If you are looking for some extra cash to add to your savings accounts or if you're in need of money for an unexpected bill, believe it or not, there's a pretty easy way to come up with the cash. Really, the only things you need are an internet connection, a computer and a digital camera. If you have these things, you can list a few items on Craigslist and make some quick cash. This is a good way to make money without having to take on an a second job and you don't have to pay taxes on it!!



Stop for a second and take a look around your home. I'm absolutely SURE there is something that you don't use anymore and it's sitting in the corner gathering dust. Like the old saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure.





Image Courtesy: Orin Zebest

I recently sold a laptop and a TV stand on Craigslist. The laptop was just sitting around not being used since I bought a new MacBook. The TV stand was out in the garage taking up the precious bit of space I have left. In fact, if I wasn't paying attention when I got out of the car, I would sometimes bump into it with the door of the car or my knees.

If you want to sell your item quickly and for top dollar, remember these tips:

Description.

Give a good, clear and

accurate

description of the item; including the item condition. For electronics, make sure you list the model number and specs of the item. For example, if you are selling a digital camera, make sure you tell how many megapixels it has and what the zoom is. If you are selling an item of furniture, make sure you include measurements. You don't want a potential buyer to get to your home and not buy the item because it was not the size they were expecting. Make sure your item title is specific and eye-catching. Make sure your buyers know how to contact you. If you are going to list your email address, you should probably create a secondary email so you aren't giving your primary email address out to total strangers (think spam).



Pictures . Take good, clear photos of your item. I personally would not buy anything if there was no picture of the item. Putting up a stock photo is better than nothing but a photo of the actual item is preferable.



Condition . Take a few moments to cleanup the item you are selling. My TV stand was all dusty and dirty and it didn't look good at all in that condition. I took a little time to clean and dust it and it looked good as new. I would much rather buy an item that is clean and in good condition instead of one that may be in good condition but needs cleaning.



Price . This is very important if you want your item to move quickly. I'm not saying you should give the item away but it does need to be priced accordingly. If a new item is selling for $50, you don't want to list your used item for $55. If you aren't sure how to price your item, do an internet search and see what other similar used items are selling for.



Using the tips above, I was able to get rid of 2 items I was no longer using and bring in about $500 in additional cash. I need to take some time to go through my closets and find more stuff to put up for sale. Not only can I declutter my home; I can make extra cash doing it.