We are all looking for a little breathing room right now. Like many of you, I’ve spent time looking for the "perfect" side hustle. I’ve looked at everything from freelance writing to complex ecommerce businesses. But I realized I was ignoring the fastest, easiest source of cash available to me.

It was sitting right in my garage. And my attic. And that junk drawer in the kitchen.

The "Estate Sale" Reality Check Before I retired, I worked in the estate sale business. I spent years walking through homes, helping organize and sell housefuls of forgotten items. I saw firsthand that almost every house is filled with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars in inventory that the owners just see as "clutter."

We tend to think our old stuff is worthless because we are tired of looking at it. But to a collector on eBay, that old tool, vintage Pyrex bowl, or obscure manual might be the exact thing they’ve been hunting for.

My $1,000 Downsizing Challenge I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is. Instead of just talking about "making money," I’m going to generate an extra $1,000 in cash purely by selling things I already own.

No buying inventory. No complex business plans. Just me, my smartphone, and a trip to the post office.

Why I’m doing this (and why you should join me)

I need the space. My wife and I are ready to declutter.

I want the cash. Inflation is real, and an extra $1,000 goes a long way.

I want to show you it’s possible. I want to prove that you don’t need to learn to code or start a YouTube channel to make money online. You just need to recognize the value in what you already have.

Follow the Journey Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting updates here. I’ll share:

What I found (and where it was hiding).

How I researched the price (so I didn’t get ripped off).

The exact eBay listing I used.

The final profit after fees.

My first item goes up tomorrow. It’s a remote control I found in a drawer that I almost threw in the trash—but it turns out it might be worth $30.

Stay tuned.