Okay, so I saw this article title, “Makeshift Money,” in the NYT, and it got me thinking. I’ve always been interested in side hustles, so I figured I’d dive in and see what it was all about and, you know, try to actually do some of the things they talked about. Document the whole messy process.
First, I read the article. Multiple times. Took some messy notes. It talked about all sorts of random ways to make a little extra cash, from selling stuff online to, like, renting out your… driveway? Okay, weird, but I was game.
Phase 1: The Great Closet Purge
The article mentioned selling used clothes, so I started there. I dumped everything out of my closet and drawers. Seriously, EVERYTHING. It was horrifying. I had clothes I hadn’t seen in years. Stuff with tags still on. What was I even thinking?
Then I sorted. Three piles: “Keep,” “Maybe,” and “Definitely Gone.” The “Maybe” pile was the biggest, naturally. I tried to be ruthless. If I hadn’t worn it in a year, it went in the “Gone” pile. Except for that one dress… and that sweater… okay, the “Maybe” pile was still pretty big.
- Day 1: Closet explosion. Sorting. Mild panic.
- Day 2: More sorting. Took pictures of the “Definitely Gone” stuff. The lighting was terrible. My apartment is not a photography studio.
- Day 3: Researched online platforms. Felt overwhelmed. So many options!
Phase 2: Online Marketplace Mayhem
I decided to try one of those online clothing resale places. I won’t name names, but it rhymes with “Schmoshmark.” I spent hours writing descriptions. “Like new condition!” “Super cute!” “Only worn once!” (Lies, sometimes. But minor lies.) It’s surprisingly hard to make an old t-shirt sound appealing.
Then I waited. And waited. A few “likes” here and there. One lowball offer that I immediately rejected. This was harder than it looked.
- Day 4: Listed about 20 items. Felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
- Day 5: Crickets. Checked the app obsessively. Still crickets.
- Day 6: One offer! For $5 on a shirt I listed for $20. Declined. Felt slightly insulted.
Phase 3: The Driveway Debacle (Briefly Considered)
Remember that driveway thing? I Briefly consider and Quickly Give up.
Phase 4: Small Victories (and More Waiting)
Eventually, I sold a few things. A skirt. A pair of jeans. Not exactly “makeshift money” pouring in, more like a slow drip. But hey, it was something! I calculated my earnings after fees and shipping. It wasn’t much. Enough for a couple of coffees, maybe.
- Day 7-10: A few sales trickled in. Shipped stuff out. Felt vaguely like a small business owner. A very, very small business owner.
So, that’s where I’m at. The “Makeshift Money” experiment is ongoing. It’s definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s more like a “get-a-few-extra-bucks-after-a-lot-of-effort” scheme. But I’m learning. I’m decluttering. And I’m slightly less broke than I was before. I might even try that… other thing. We will see the results in next blog.
