10 Things to Sell (or Give Away) Before You Retire
Let’s face it—most of us have WAY too much stuff. If you’re getting ready to start your retirement phase, you may be considering downsizing. Fortunately, there are probably several things you can sell to clear out clutter and add some extra funds to your retirement nest egg. Regardless of which option you choose, you can sail into retirement with a streamlined lifestyle. So, let’s dive into some of the things you should probably sell, or give away before you retire!
1. Your Home
One of the key things you need to figure out when planning for retirement is where you want to live. This might involve selling your current home, which might be your most valuable asset. You can use the funds to buy a smaller place and deposit any leftover money into savings. Not only can downsizing save you money, but a smaller property can also save you time and effort. If you’ve paid off your house or lived there a long time, the equity in your house could change the trajectory of your retirement! You may even decide to sell your house and live a more nomadic lifestyle for a little while. Buy an RV and travel, or rent out houses or apartments for extended periods while you live the mobile life.
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2. Work Clothes
Once you’re out of the working world, you no longer need to wear business attire in your everyday life. Of course, you should hold onto one suit or some nicer dresses for weddings and other special occasions. But feel free to sell or donate what you don’t need. You can sell your clothes online, or sell them at your local consignment shop. You may be surprised at how much money you can make by selling these items! Now, if you wore a uniform at your day job, check with your employer. They may buy them back from you. If not, reach out to some of your fellow employees and offer to sell or give them to them.
Some sites where you can sell work clothes:
3. Toys and Baby Clothes
Nostalgia can be life-giving, but the stuff from your kids’ past is just taking up space at this point. However, some of those vintage toys may be worth more than you think. Before just giving those items away, be sure to check places like eBay, or even Facebook Marketplace to see what you can get for it. Baby and kids’ clothes can be taken to local consignment shops, thrift shops, or even donated to a local spot! If you have things that you really can’t stand to let go of, make them into something you can display! Turn baby clothes into a quilt or frame them so they won’t fade or get dusty. Small toys can go into a shadow box and be displayed where you can see them regularly. Now, before you start selling, check with your kids and grandkids. You might be surprised by what they want to keep!
4. Timeshares
If you were paying regularly for a timeshare for yearly vacations, you might want to reevaluate whether you want to be tied to that location and expense anymore. While it may make more sense to sell the timeshare and use the money to buy a vacation house, think about other options, too! You can move to a different location. Or you can buy an RV and go mobile. Exploring different vacation locations is also an option! If you do have a timeshare and decide to sell it, be sure to find a real estate agent who specializes in timeshares. Additionally, you can sell it to a clearinghouse company that buys and sells timeshares.
5. Cars
When your commute disappears, you may find that you don’t need your car anymore. Selling a car also means getting rid of insurance payments, gas, and all the other expenses that come with owning a car. Better yet, you can use that space in your garage to stage all the other items you’re going to get rid of as you downsize!
6. Furniture
If you’re downsizing, you’ll find that you won’t need as much furniture. So why not sell it to someone who will use it? You can also check with your kids, grandkids, and even friends to see if they want or need anything. If you have valuable pieces, you can make a significant amount by selling the furniture you won’t use during retirement. For regular pieces of furniture, hop on Facebook Marketplace, hold a garage/yard sale, and let the decluttering begin!
7. Books
Books can be a tough one to part ways with. But if you’re downsizing, books can take up space you don’t have. True collectibles, such as early editions, can be sold for a decent amount or kept if they hold sentimental value. However, you’re better off donating books without collectible value than trying to sell them. Thrift shops may not take them, but a local used bookstore could give you store credit for donating books. Donating to a homeless shelter, domestic violence shelter, prison education project, teen after-school program, or even your local library may be an option, as well!
8. Lawn Care Equipment
Whether you’ve moved somewhere with lawn maintenance or just don’t want to do yardwork anymore, you may no longer need all that lawn equipment. Fortunately, this is a great time to sell your yard equipment to someone who wants it! If you don’t plan to part ways with your houseplants or want to maintain a small garden, keep the necessary tools. But for the big lawn equipment, sell it if you aren’t going to use it!
9. Kitchen Equipment
If you won’t be hosting big dinners or are moving to a retirement community, you probably won’t need so many kitchen tools! Selling or donating your kitchen equipment starts to make sense. Big or small, things like fondue pots, food processors, and other specialty items are all things foodies and cooks love! Other items, such as crystal or china, might be the perfect gift for your kids or grandkids. General rule of thumb—if you can live without it, then get rid of it!
10. Heirlooms and Old Tangible Media
With all the streaming video services out there, you might not need to hang onto those old Disney VHS tapes. For other media, like home videos of important family moments, consider going digital! Photo services that transfer old tapes to DVDs or USB thumb drives include those of Costco, CVS, and Walgreens. That way you can keep those memories alive without taking up a ton of space.
Takeaway
When it comes to decluttering, you should keep all the things things that have true sentimental value. However, don’t hold onto stuff just for the sake of holding onto it! Not only will you feel better having a less cluttered house, but it’ll also be easier to move if you eventually end up downsizing. No matter what you sell, give away, or keep, you can step into retirement knowing that you are decluttered and ready to start your new chapter. Now, that’s what I call stress-free living!
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Originally published March 31, 2025
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