This is part of my Swift Decluttering For Clothes.

One reader asked:

Is it worth selling clothes at a consignment store?

The short answer is: Probably not. But it depends on a few factors.

Here’s how I think about it: Selling clothes through consignment is a lot like taking on a small side job. How much money do you need to pocket for it to be worthwhile?

For simplicity, let’s assume that your rate is $15 per hour. So only consign clothes if you can earn $15 per hour. This includes drive time.

When I was a kid, my Grandma made a few bucks consigning her Sunday church dresses. But the consignment store was 30 minutes away and the money she earned barely covered the price of gas. (She was friends with the store’s owner, so the monthly trips doubled as a social call and weren’t a complete waste.)

But maybe your situation is different. Maybe you have expensive clothes that will fetch a good price. If so, definitely try telling them through a consignment store. You never know until you try.

More Decluttering Questions:

I need a plan

Dealing with guilt

Which clothes to keep

Selling clothes