👗 Where to sell your clothes and make money

Stat Of The Day

$13.3 Billion

Add to cart much? New numbers show last week’s Cyber Monday was America’s biggest online shopping day ever. At one point, consumers were spending $15.8 million every 60 seconds. The insane grand total? $13.3 billion—up 7.3% from last year, reports CNN.

Where To Sell Your Clothes And Make Money

If you’re among those who splurged on Cyber Monday (or any day), your bank account might need a little CPR. For some, that could come in the form of selling what’s in your closet to make extra money.

Over at HerMoney.com we’ve rounded up the best places to sell clothes and make money. Note too, the list isn’t limited to your attire. Selling what your children have outgrown, like toys, can be a great way to make an extra buck, too.

"Kids outgrow clothes pretty quickly, so Once Upon a Child is an excellent option for getting rid of gently used children’s clothes," writes Brittany VanDerBill. "You bring in clothing or even toys and their team checks everything over to make sure they’re up to quality standards. They pay you cash that same day."

For more on how to cash in on your closet (including the way one HerMoney staffer made $300 in just ONE weekend), head here.

This Week In Your Wallet

Not today, porch pirates. 41% of Americans have had packages stolen from their front porch in the past year, up from 35% in 2022, according to a recent survey. In the wake of the uptick, online shoppers are ramping up efforts to safeguard against porch piracy. "To deter them, Americans are shelling out for such high-tech gadgets as doorbell cameras, $400 lockboxes or self-service locker rentals," reports The Wall Street Journal. "Now there is also insurance. PorchPals, a subscription-based startup, says it will cover the cost of your stolen packages. It costs $120 a year and covers up to $2,000 of deliveries, or up to three claims a year."

Resolving to save more for retirement in 2025? As Michelle Singletary reports for The Washington Post, a number of changes go into effect in the New Year that will up the contribution limits for 401(k)s and other workplace retirement accounts . Even if you can’t max out your savings, as Singletary suggests, you should still challenge yourself to do more in 2025. "Look at your credit card and bank statements over the past six months and total the amount you spent eating out. When I have had individuals and couples do this, they are surprised at what they find," she writes. "One couple, in just a three-month period — had spent about $1,500 on meals outside the home."

Step away from the toilet paper. If the talk of tariffs has you panic buying, financial planners have a message for you. Just stop. "Don’t buy things earlier than planned because of fears that tariffs will increase prices," writes Medora Lee for USA Today. "Purchasing now on a credit card doesn’t help your finances if you’re paying a high interest rate on the balance." Instead, focus on paying down your debt (HerMoney can help you with this), upping your credit score and knowing how to get a good deal if prices do increase. "Sign up for coupon sites, find a store that matches or beats (prices) and negotiate. Put it in your (online) basket and wait 24 hours; (retailers) will come back to you" with a discount," suggests Bobbi Rebell, a certified financial planner and personal finance expert at BadCredit.org.

Something special for you — and everything you hold special

Before the year ends, do something special for yourself and your future. Get your complimentary Retirement Review and financial plan with Edelman Financial Engines. You’ll receive:

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A customized roadmap for your optimal retirement, with personalized investment recommendations

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This free offer¹ ends on December 13. Sign up for your review here.

Things That Make You Money

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Ready to get your side hustle on? Here are 7 online side gigs worth your time, even if you’re living the retiree lifestyle.

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Whether it’s sending holiday cards or hanging lights, there’s no shortage of people looking for help with their holiday to-do list. As The Knoxville News Sentinel reports, this could mean extra $$$ for budding entrepreneurs.

Ask Jean

Today’s question comes from Sarah. She writes: We’ll be purchasing our first home in the New Year. We’ve spoken to two lenders so far. Can you explain the process and when to "shop" so it doesn’t impact our credit?

For many people, buying a home is the biggest financial move they’ll ever make – so congrats on taking this important step in your life!

If you’re in the market for a new home, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer, it’s important to know how to qualify for the best rate on a mortgage. This involves two things – shopping around, and making sure your own credit is in tip-top shape. Start by requesting free copies of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus. This will give you the opportunity to review your credit history in detail, and correct any mistakes that might be harming your score (you can typically access your credit score for free via one of your credit card providers.)

As you may know, pre-qualification is the first — and easier — step in the mortgage process. It can be done online or over the phone and is usually free of charge. It involves giving your lender general information about your financial situation, including your assets, liabilities and income, that the lender then evaluates to give you an idea of the mortgage amount for which you would qualify. Notably, it doesn’t include an analysis of your credit report. It’s simply an opportunity to discuss your homebuying needs and goals with a lender and explore their loan recommendations that might be best suited to your situation.

Once you’ve found your dream home (or, decided you’re ready to get pre-approved for a mortgage), you should start shopping around in earnest with banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders. You will want to do this in a condensed time period. When you shop for a mortgage, all inquiries made within a 45-day period count as a single inquiry. If you still want to explore other options beyond that window, don’t stress. "Even if a lender needs to check your credit after the 45-day window is over, shopping around is usually still worth it," explains the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "The effect of an additional inquiry is small, while shopping around for the best deal can save you a lot of money in the long run."

Submit your questions to Jean here.

More For You To ♥

💻 Do you have a "functional resume?" You’re gonna want one if you’re looking for a new job in 2025. That’s according to Erin McGoff, the go-to internet bestie for all things career growth, who weighed in on everything you need to know about getting a new job in the New Year on the latest HerMoney Podcast*.

👑 Calling all Golden Bachelor fans! Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts, fan faves from the first season of the Golden Bachelor, will be joining host Jean Chatzky on the December 11 episode of "Your Money Map," sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income. Join the party here, beginning at 2:00 PM EST, on Wednesday.

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¹ Limit one complimentary offer per household, per 18 months. Offer ends December 13, 2024, and is only applicable to households with a minimum investable assets of $250,000. Offer criteria may be waived at Edelman Financial Engines’ discretion.