If you are like most of us you have things in your house or garage that you just know you are never going to use again.  You've got a number of options available to get rid of them but have you ever considered consignment shops?  These just might be the ticket for those specialized items or if you don't want to go through the circus we call garage or yard sales.

A little while back my wife and I decided to have a yard sale and we agreed that if the stuff in the garage had not seen the inside of the house in at least five years, then it was up for sale.  Turns out we didn't have a big enough lawn to display all that stuff.  So we tried a different approach and looked around for consignment stores.

Now these stores come in all kinds of varieties.  We found one that dealt in upscale furniture and that's where our antique copper vat went along with a nice wingback chair went.  Clothing we took to a local thrift shop.  Then the real jewel was a store we found that did a lot of sales in china and kitchen gadgets.  That's where the Lenox china from a previous marriage went.

Consignment stores typically work on one of three payout methods.  You can get cash on the spot but that's becoming pretty rare and it is also the lowest payout you'll receive.  Often times they'll offer you store credit for your merchandise.  This is not a bad deal if you shop their on a regular basis and you like the stuff they carry, but if you don't then it's a waste of time.

The most common deal is a true consignment.  You'll sign an agreement that details out what the shop will price the items at and what your share of the sale will be.  However they will also have a clause that will allow them to discount the price if the item isn't moving.  Typically these agreements are for 45 days.  After that time you can retrieve your item or have the shop donate it to charity.

If you've brought in clothes and they don't sell, then you probably are not going to be able to sell them yourself either.  Have them donate the clothes because these shops usually give to the homeless or battered women shelters as opposed to the mainstream charities.

So if you need a little cash, Google consignments shops and find a few in your area.  You also want to call them before you go because many have specific days and times that they do buying.

Finding ways to make extra cash around the house is just one of the things that Jessica Boyd enjoys writing about.  She also has a great interest in Plus Size Clothing and you can find all her latest tips and ideas about Plus Size Workout Clothes by visiting MyPlusSizeClothing.Com