Financial Fitness with The Money Doctor, October 4, 2026

Financial Fitness with The Money Doctor with Frances Rahaim PhD Turning Clutter Into Cash: Letting Go, Pricing Realistically, and Selling Smart Dr. Frances Rahaim and co-host Jess Tyler talk about turning household clutter into cash, from the mindset of letting go to practical ways to sell, give away, or recycle what you no longer use. Frances shares stories from her own cleanout, including a cast-iron doorstop and a Santa Claus head set out at the curb, along with tips on pricing, organizing, and choosing where to sell. A Change of Season Sparks a Cleanout Dr. Frances Rahaim, The Money Doctor, opens the hour with Jess Tyler by describing how a change of season sets people off. Frances describes how one urge, a bee in the bonnet to clean out a single closet, can quickly turn into a whole-house project, and she admits she has been working through her own home a little at a time. The two agree that the goal is to turn clutter into cash, and Frances explains that selling, donating, giving away, or recycling are all options. Jess mentions that many people are planning tag sales before summer ends and that she spends time on Facebook Marketplace. Frances adds that most people have more stuff than they use, and that clutter often holds weight, sometimes tied to a history of scarcity. Her point is that cleaning out and getting finances in order tend to go together. Hidden Value in Ordinary Household Items Frances tells listeners that what they paid for an object is not what it is worth today. She describes a cast-iron doorstop she has owned for thirty-five or forty years, bought for about $10 or $15, which she looked up online at roughly $149 to $175. She stresses that asking prices only show what sellers hope for, while sold prices show real value. Frances also recalls a Santa Claus head she sculpted as a young woman, which she placed in a bag at the curb as a free item and saw vanish in less than five minutes. Jess mentions the show Flea Market Flip, where buyers profit by fixing up finds. Frances says that Facebook Marketplace works well for bulky items, that eBay reaches a wider audience for collectibles, and that she once sold her old jewelry tools to a buyer in Connecticut who was just starting out. The Cost of Storing What We Own Frances explains that clutter is not only a housekeeping problem, because possessions already paid for can keep costing money. She gives the example of a boat that sits unused yet is dry-docked every year, and of replacement tools bought because an original could not be found. Closets are a common trap, since people often rediscover items they forgot they owned. Frances notes that the change of season is a good moment to sell, because others are redecorating, cleaning out, or looking for bargains. Jess adds that clothing kept for a future size often never gets worn, and that a transfer station can charge around $20 or more to take an old television or mattress. Frances agrees that a fee at the transfer station pays for an item that often ends up in a landfill, while someone else might fix or use it. Sorting Into Five Groups and Organizing Frances recommends separating belongings into five groups: things to sell, things to donate, things to give to friends or family, items for recycling, and items to discard. She advises working one closet or cabinet at a time rather than the whole house at once. For electronics, she points listeners to the Staples website, which lists many items it will take, sometimes for free. She says she was told that Staples recycles parts and destroys hard drives, a claim she repeats only as something she heard. For storage, she recommends dry cleaner bags for seasonal blankets, laundered and fully dry, with a sachet tucked inside. She also uses Ziploc-style bags of about 14 by 16 inches, labeled with measurements such as a 52-by-52 tablecloth, so each item can be found without unpacking the whole stack. Questions to Ask Before Letting Go Frances offers questions to ask before parting with an item. Have you used it in the last year? Is there a realistic expectation that you will need it again soon? If you did not already own it, would you buy it today? Do you already own something that serves the same purpose, like the artist's easel she is selling after realizing she paints only a painting or two every couple of years? She warns that the hardest part is often guilt over what something cost, which leads people to list items too high. Jess agrees that sellers often ask nearly full price for used goods that a new one would beat. Frances suggests setting a time limit, such as a month, after which unsold items are dropped in price, moved to another platform, or donated. Jess adds a parenting tip: children often play with a toy once they learn it may be sold, and parents can split the proceeds among savings, a new item, or a gift for family. Selling Venues, Pricing, and Listing Tips Frances walks through the places to sell, including Facebook Marketplace,