How I Made Money Reselling Clothes While Living at My Parents’ House
After college, I had to find a way to make some money while living at my parents’ house and sending out job applications. What I discovered was a surprisingly lucrative side hustle—one that not only paid my bills but also taught me valuable lessons in business, marketing, and efficiency. Here’s how I turned thrift store treasure hunts into steady income.
Margins
The key to becoming a successful online reseller was understanding margins—the difference between the price I paid for an item and the price I sold it for. The greater the margin, the higher the profitability. Lowering my costs was just as important as finding high-demand products.
I learned quickly that sourcing all my clothing from Goodwill Outlets (also known as “the bins”) kept my costs extremely low, especially when combined with free USPS shipping supplies. Every dollar I saved on inventory and materials went directly into my profit margin.
Sourcing
The Goodwill Outlet had a golden rule for bargain hunters: once you bought 25 pounds of clothing, you got a steep discount. To maximize my savings, I made sure to hit that mark every single trip. My strategy was to shop for clothing in all sizes—men’s, women’s, and sometimes children’s—so I could reach 25 pounds more quickly.
It typically took me 3–4 hours to sort through the bins, but the payoff was worth it. Most items I picked up were women’s clothing (which generally had higher turnover online), but I made sure not to skip men’s items—especially in-demand brands like Patagonia, Nike, and Levi’s.
Let’s Do the Math
To qualify for the discount, I needed 25 pounds of clothing. Assuming the average article of clothing weighed 10 ounces:
10 articles of clothing = 6.25 lb.
20 articles of clothing = 12.5 lb.
40 articles of clothing = 25 lb.
At 25 pounds, my cost-per-item often dropped below $1, meaning even modest resale prices left me with strong margins.
Brands
Brand recognition made my job easier—customers already trusted the labels, so I didn’t have to sell them on quality. Over time, I developed an eye for spotting high-resale brands from across the room. I avoided fast-fashion labels like Forever 21 or Shein, as their resale value was too low to be worth my time. Instead, I focused on well-known, mid-to-high-end brands that held their value online.
Platforms
I diversified my sales channels to reach different audiences:
eBay – $7.99/month for 100 listings, with a global audience.
Poshmark – Free to list, with prepaid shipping labels provided to buyers.
ThredUp – Completely hands-off; they processed, photographed, and listed items for me (though with lower payouts).
Each platform had its strengths, and by using multiple outlets, I increased my sell-through rate.
Storage
Surprisingly, storage wasn’t a huge issue. I could fold and tightly pack items into plastic bins—about 50 articles of clothing per 12-gallon bin. This kept my operation neat and easy to manage, even from my parents’ house.
Pictures
My guiding principle: “Give them no reason not to purchase.” Buyers want to feel confident they’ve seen every detail, so I included 6 or more photos per item—front, back, close-ups of fabric, brand tags, and any flaws.
Equipment
Mannequin (optional) – I scored male and female mannequins from a store closing at the mall.
Lightbox (recommended) – Eliminated shadows and perfect for small-item close-ups.
Steamer (necessary) – Removed wrinkles and neutralized odors and bacteria.
Photography Lights (necessary) – Provided consistent lighting, even at night.
White Brick Wallpaper (recommended) – Created a clean, bright background that photographed well.
Pricing
Before listing, I always checked comps (comparable prices for similar items in similar condition) and priced competitively. I was open to reasonable offers—after all, I wasn’t in the storage business. The faster I sold items, the faster I could reinvest in new inventory.
The Takeaway
What started as a stopgap while living at my parents’ house turned into a small but profitable business. I learned how to maximize margins, identify valuable products, manage inventory, and reach a global audience—all skills that have carried over into my career.
If you’re looking for a low-cost, high-flexibility side hustle, reselling can be an excellent option. Start small, focus on quality, and remember: every dollar you save on sourcing is a dollar that can go straight into your pocket.