Ok, so here is the deal.

We are in serious need of money. We are still thinking about taking out of the 401K but want to exhaust all other options first.

So I was sitting here thinking what could I sell? We have a mass amount of baby stuff. Here is the thing. We are waiting two more years to have anymore kids. I am sure by then there will be all this updated safer stuff and will probably want new. So in that instance I say to myself. Sell it now and quit drowning in bills.
On the other hand, I think, well maybe that is a dumb idea. If it is safe for my girls why wouldn't it be safe two years (4 from the time it was in use) later. So don't sell it and then I won't have to rebuy later.

What would you do?

And are there anyother ways to make quick cash?

TIA

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The chances are good that you won't need two of everything - maybe sell everything that you have duplicates of? However, if you are going to sell them at a consignment store, then you really won't make much money, so it probably won't be worth your time. You should wait until the fall and sell them at a mommy-sale if there is one in your area. I know that doesn't do anything for you right now though.

I'm not sure of how to quickly make any money except to cancel all extras that you use: exterminator, cable, other extras to free up more cash. Only cook at home. However you come up with the extra cash you need now is probably not going to solve your long-term problem so you may want to sit down and budget to live on what you currently make. Is your house payment too large? Car payments? Not knowing your situation, I'm not sure I can be of any help.

By the way - when I saw your post I giggled because I have several friends lately who sold their baby stuff and turned up pregnant the next month. I've heard that is the quickest way to get pregnant so be careful!!!

I've been through the very same dilemma. Here were are needing cash and out in the garage sit a fortune of baby stuff not doing anything for me. My big problem is the sentimental aspect of it. I'm all gun-ho about getting out there and wheedling it down and then my emotions get the best of me and I give up. I'm surprised I'm not one of those people on the Clean House show with a mountain of stuff and we aren't able to open the front door! Its a constant battle to keep things at bay but anyway...back to the baby stuff. I agree with the above poster on getting rid of the duplicates. Why not have a yard sale yourself and just get rid of what you know you can live without? Remember, if you did get rid of a lot of it, you can always go garage sale and thrift store shopping before the next one arrives. I mean, you'll have nine months! Also, what if you have a boy? You may not need all the girl stuff (although I can't IMAGINE trying to get rid of girl stuff when the boy stuff was super hard for me!!) The nicer things you might try and sell on eBay. I know depending on the name brand you can usually make some pretty good money that way. The thing I was thinking about with the garage sale is that you might be able to get rid of some other things in the house to help make money for you too instead of just relying on the baby stuff to bring in the money. Goodluck and let us know how it goes!!

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Mommy to Dakota, Wife to James
Proud Air Force Family

CRAIGSLIST!!!

It's FREE.....you can list your items with pictures, set a price and then have people email you (your email address is protected) to set up an appointment or to barter with you

I have used Craiglist a TON since moving here. Less of a headache than Ebay or a conseignement sale. I list my items. Post four pictures from different angles. Give a price and wait! I am not kidding when I say we have made over $500 since moving here in February!

Totally worth it! Try it!

I agree about Craigslist. It's free, and easy, and less work than a yard sale! Although what I did this week was have a sale with some friends. I marked all the baby clothes 50 cents each or fill a bag for $5. Kept it easy on me. Now nicer things, coats, snowsuits I kept aside and on my sign I had put those prices applied to these boxes only and had my other clothes across the yard. If I had priced items individually I woould've asked more money, but I wanted it gone.

Do twins run in the family, making you think you may have another set of twins? That'd be my only reason to keep the duplicates.

Also, take a good look at what you have, what did you truly not get use out of? For me, with the first 2 they did not like the swing. So we got rid it, and the 3rd LOVED the swing. Luckily my sister gave us hers.

I did Ebay last summer and made decent money with that. What i had the best luck with was my maternity clothes!

Good luck!

One other note about Craigslist;


To protect yourself and your home, if you are a little worried about strangers coming to your house without dh there, you can set up a meeting in a mall parking lot or something

For example: we sold dh's guitar and we asked ot meet the buyer in the JC Penneys parking lot. Once we got there, we called them on our cell phone and we met there at a specific location. It works out well!

Ebay to me is getting more and more and more expensive to list AND to sell. Their selling fees and then paypal fees are going up and up and up. It's crazy. It costs more to list an item anymore than to get a profit! So try Craigslist first .... then maybe a local conseignement store (60-40 split) or if you are really up fro the work, try a conseignement fair (70-30 split).

well i would split the stuff into "worth money" and just other baby stuff. you know, like kid/baby stuff that you wouldnt get much for if you consigned it - i would definatly have a garage sale for that stuff.


but i would definately do craigslist on the stuff that you can get more money for....because i know you would make more on it (and set your price) rather than sell it for nothing at your garage sale.

and craigslist is the easiest. yeah you give up the option of ebay and seeing how much people will really pay for it, but craigslist is just so simple.


other quick ways to make money

craigslist - go to help wanted, part time and they sometimes have one day only or very short working assisgnments

get a very part time job close to home just for a few months to get you out of this emergency

go to cash and vow to keep out of the grocery store - only went absolutely necessary

good luck

I'm in the same boat...hanging onto baby stuff just in case. as the girls get older, its harder to think about sleepless nights again though.

nevertheless, I did pack up 50 of our best 3-6 month dresses and brought them to a consignment shop. they offered $22. so I say craigslist or garage sale.

also, I think that we wouldnt need nearly as much stuff if we did have another baby. we had so many fancy dresses for our little goobers that just wanted to sleep. I think I'd buy more practical inexpensive cottons next time.

To answer you question. Yes twins are in my family. (Although I didn't know it until I became pregnant

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Sell the baby stuff. Keep certain outfits if you want but sell the rest.

You face a bigger money loss for retirement by taking out the money even if you pay it back. And two years is quite awhile, there's always the chance you might change your mind about kids when you get to that point.

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Devin

David 6, Alexis 2