Closet Full of $$$

So we can forget about money ever growing on trees, BUT news flash - you can turn all those threads just sitting in your closet into INSTANT cash! All of my impulse buying and impromptu shopping sprees have left me with one asset - lots of pretty things! Who knew I had an emergency cash reserve staring me in the face every time I try to find something to wear. Gone are the days where you have to sell your unwanted items at some dusty consignment store that makes you wait 30 days before you see a penny. Now you can get CASH ON THE SPOT! It's the perfect time to do some spring closet cleaning. Remember if you haven't worn it in the last 6 months then you don't need it! DON'T BE AFRAID TO EDIT!!! After you have a pile of things you are ready to part with then head to the best Recycled fashion stores in your area. Recycled fashion stores are popping up everywhere. These aren't your typical thrift stores. They are trendy shops that specialize in offering quality, designer clothing to their customers. And best of all they buy gently-worn apparel EVERYDAY!!! for on-the-spot cash! It's that simple. Take in your bag(s) of potential resale items anytime & walk out of the door with cash in hand. Now I frequently make my rounds at these stores and here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. They are looking for all the LATEST trends. Anything you purchased within the last 18 months is a hot ticket item.

2. After they determine which of your items they are interested in, they will offer you either a 50% store credit or 35% cash for the retail value of the lot. Hey, it's not a whole lot but it's more than you would get it the crap remained in your closet getting smaller & more outdated.

3. They are looking for things that can be resold so if there are any major imperfections like fuzz, tears or stains you're better off donating these items to a charity for a tax deduction.

4. Make your rounds!!! Don't just try one recycled shop - hit them all up. I gather all my stuff in a suitcase & I go from store to store each season. They each ALL find something.

5. Research the different types of recycled shops. Some specialize in teen wear, others are for the career woman or only feature maternity clothing. All it takes is a little research on Google. But there are 3 recycled stores that have a special place in my heart. They each have several locations across the country & they work best for me. Check them out:

1. BUFFALO EXCHANGE

2. CROSSROADS

3. PLATO'S CLOSET

*Added bonus!!! The cherry on top is that not only are you de-cluttering your own life AND getting paid to do it BUT you've also just committed a very "green" act. The clothing recycling industry is part of a huge initiative that is working to prevent waste & pollution in our world. Talk about warm fuzzies...