3 Steps to Making Money on Craigslist

3 Steps to Making Money on Craigslist

Dear Frugal Friend,

You work hard to cut corners and make extra income on the side. You appreciate a good deal and enjoy it even more when it makes you money.  I am going to teach you 3 simple steps to making money on craigslist.  I made thousands doing this one summer when my husband was laid off.  It is easy and doesn’t take a lot of know how.   Craigslist is great to get amazing local deals on cars, furniture, and anything!  But, did you know it is also a great source of revenue.   Here are the three simple steps you can take to make additional income this week.

1. Watch craigslist for a great deal on furniture OR find it for FREE!
2. Paint it and fix it up
3. Resell it on craigslist for a profit

Now we will get a little more detailed. I prefer to find wood furniture.   It is sturdy and durable and easy to paint and fix up.  I suggest looking for items like tables, benches, and bedroom furniture.   Once you pick it up for free and get it home the first thing you need to do is wipe it down with a damp rag.  Then you will really be able to see what you are working with.  If you do not need to strip and/or sand it I suggest using a de-glosser before you paint.  It is a quick and easy step that will help the paint stick much better.
My community has a place at the dump where people can drop off paint and other items that cannot go in the dump. I suggest looking online to see if you r community has something similar.  I can go there and pick some paint and other items great for furniture and the best part is, it’s FREE.  So, you look on Craigslist and find a couple pieces of free furniture.  Go to your local dump and get some free paint.  You can also look for some sort of de-glosser.  Luckily shabby chic is still in so the furniture doesn’t have to be perfect.

TIP: Look for chalkboard paint for kids furniture! It is a fun and easy way to change it up. 

I highly suggest sticking with more neutral colors for the paint. I know you can be drawn to that bright purple but, black and white sell best.  If you really want to use a color go with an earthy green, or a solid accent color.  Most items will need two coats.  Once it is painted you can either leave it or sand a few places to add to the shabby chic look.

 TIP: Patio furniture is a big seller in the Spring! New cushions do wonders!

Now you can look on Craigslist for similar items to see what they are priced at. Make sure you price yours right around there or slightly under.  You should expect people to haggle when they come to look at it.  You should plan on the final sale price to be 10-20% less than it is listed for.   If you price it to move it should be gone within 48-72 hours.   My best item was a buffet I purchased for $20 and resold for $300.  Tell me in the comments below what you flipped.

Happy selling,

Life’s Baggage

P.S. Share this on Facebook to teach others how to make a profit on Craigslist.