Have you ever wondered what the stuff in your house is worth? Not necessary items like your bed and your refrigerator – but items that have collected dust that you have not touched in years? I did – so it put them on Craigslist – and have found a hidden goldmine.

Considering that I am trying to lessen my load, and make some much needed cash, I decided to get rid of many items that I have collected over the years that have done nothing but take up space. So, I opened an account on Craigslist and spent the last few days taking pictures of the stuff I no longer want and placing ads for them – and realized that one man’s trash really is another man’s treasure.

From 45 records, to a kitchen table that has been sitting under my couch – to a desk that I got from Fillmore Real Estate but never sit at – I have discovered that the stuff I have amassed all these years has been found money all this time. To be honest, whatever I sell I will not miss, as I have not touched them since I took them out of the box when I moved. But if it makes someone else happy – and puts some cash in my pocket – than I see it as a win/win for both parties involved. And looking back – I wonder why I have not done this years ago.

All my life, I have been a packrat, constantly collecting whatever I could get my hands on. From comic books to bar memorabilia to knick knacks, if I liked it – I had to have it. Now, I have so much going on in my life that my love for material possessions has become nothing but an afterthought. So if that is the case – then why not unload it onto someone else for some cold hard cash – while making some extra space in my house at the same time.

This unloading of merchandise and gathering of cash would not be complete without Craigslist, which I consider to be the best site on the web. Each time I post another ad on the site, offering something of my own – I receive a response sometimes within an hour. And after a day or two of correspondence, they come here with money – and I say goodbye to another piece of my life that I no longer need and will not miss. What a concept.

As a matter of fact, I have someone coming here within the hour to pick up one of my file cabinets, another woman coming later to get my aforementioned kitchen table – and someone else coming tomorrow to get my Fillmore desk. In addition, I have put other items on Craigslist, including a few computer accessories, my mirrored bar signs, my mini-fridge, a Yankees frame – and some old end tables – which I have already sold.

As I continue to need cash – and flirt with the thought of moving out of state – I think that putting this stuff up for sale was one of the best decisions I have made so far this year. And I encourage everyone to look through their house and see what unnecessary items they have lurking around – which could bring them extra space in their home – and less space in their wallets.