Retirement is a great time to sort through items and declutter your space. Getting rid of things you don't have room for, whether you're downsizing or simply discarding things you no longer need, can be therapeutic.
But knowing where to start can be a challenge. The following are a few items you might consider tossing or selling to earn some extra cash.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with a debit card
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover® Cashback Debit account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1 <p>See website for details.</p>
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Learn more about the Discover Cashback Checking account
Work clothes and shoes
/images/2023/03/23/woman-with-senior-lady-shopping-for-clothes.jpeg)
If you worked in a buttoned-up office for years or even decades, you likely won't need all those suits and skirts anymore.
Sort through your closet for things that you want to save, such as a nice suit or two for formal engagements like weddings or parties. Then, create a donation pile for any work items that you don't need anymore.
Doing so will free up space in your closet and give you a decluttered sense of accomplishment.
Employment paperwork
/images/2023/07/01/man-holding-paper-bin-in-hand.jpeg)
You likely have work papers that have piled up over the years that you can toss now that you have retired.
Just be careful. You may not want to get rid of important papers related to taxes, life insurance, or health care coverage.
Make three piles for papers you need, papers you want, and papers destined for the trash. This will help you organize the process.
Transportation passes
/images/2023/07/01/business-man-throwing-garbage.jpeg)
Go through all those extra public transportation passes you collected and toss out expired ones.
If you still have current monthly passes, use them up by enjoying all the places you never got to visit while you were working.
Get instant access to hundreds of discounts
Over 50? Join AARP today— because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks like discounts on travel, dining, and even prescriptions.
Get 25% off membership — just $15 for your first year with auto-renewal — and a free gift if you join today.
Your second car
/images/2023/07/01/senior-couple-selling-car.jpeg)
Now that you're retired, you no longer need a car to commute to and from work. If you are a two-car household, consider getting rid of one car.
Doing so can save money on car payments, insurance, and monthly gas costs. It will likely be even easier to ditch your second vehicle if you and your spouse are retired.
Business travel items
/images/2023/07/01/woman-putting-laptop-in-case.jpeg)
Are you tired of getting on a plane every week to travel for work? The good news is that you don't have to do that anymore.
Think about ditching your work suitcase that you've shoved into too many overhead compartments.
Trending Stories
Household items
/images/2023/07/01/woman-taking-picture-on-tablet.jpeg)
Retirement might also mean it's time to move or downsize. If so, eliminate things you won't have room for in your next home.
Consider holding a garage sale to sell these items. Or, find places where you can donate your old furniture. You can also post these items online and offer to give them away for free.
Items in a storage unit
/images/2023/07/01/man-with-box-in-storage-unit.jpeg)
If you have items in a storage unit, now is the time to sort through them or figure out what you want to toss. By doing so, you might eliminate that extra cost of storage you have been taking on.
Books
/images/2023/07/01/woman-donating-books.jpeg)
If you have books related to work, such as books about marketing, mechanics, or leadership, they will probably collect dust on your shelves now that you are retired.
Consider donating them to a local library. You can pass on some of the things you've learned over your career to someone else.
Old electronics
/images/2023/07/01/man-throwing-phones-in-recycle-container.jpeg)
Retirement is the time to get rid of work-related electronics, from cell phones to computers and chargers.
Collect all of your old electronics and do a little research on how to dispose of them properly. Remember that things like batteries or certain types of old technology may require special disposal.
In 2023 Americans lost over $10 billion to identity theft and fraud
That's right. According to the FTC, Americans lost over $10 Billion to fraud and identity theft in 2023.
But you can safeguard your data with all-in-one identity theft protection services from Aura which comes with $1,000,000.00 in identity theft insurance2 <p>Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group‚ Inc. The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms‚ conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms‚ conditions‚ and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.</p> per adult, to cover you should you have eligible identity theft-related losses.
An individual plan starts at $9 per month, and you can choose a family plan that outmatches most others - includes Dark Web monitoring to scour data breaches and leaks for your sensitive personal data — such as Social Security numbers (SSN), Medicare information, and phone numbers.
Before you make your next online purchase, protect what you’ve built for a fraction of what it could cost you if your data were compromised.
Kitchen gadgets
/images/2023/07/01/senior-couple-recycling-trash.jpeg)
You now have the time to use your kitchen to make lunch and eat dinner at home. As you do so, you might notice that some kitchen gadgets rarely get used.
Sell things like the blender you never use, and toss or donate your mismatched silverware.
Sports equipment
/images/2023/07/01/senior-woman-walking-on-treadmill.jpeg)
Is there a treadmill in your basement and bedroom that's going unused and taking up space? Get rid of it.
To stay active, join a gym or a neighborhood club for walkers, bikers, or runners. Ditch the stuff cluttering up your home space that isn't getting used.
Outdated media
/images/2023/07/01/female-technician-checking-cassettes.jpeg)
Perhaps you have VHS movies or CDs that are collecting dust. If so, toss that outdated media, or find places to donate it, such as your local library.
Bottom line
/images/2023/07/01/senior-woman-writing.jpeg)
Whether you decide to retire early or start your golden years a bit later, now is the time to take advantage of your freedom and spend some time decluttering.
Create a list now of charities you can donate to, or join local free groups where you can give away items. You have freed your mind from work responsibilities, and now is the time to rid your home of clutter, too.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winner Best Online Checking Account
Subscribe Today
Unlock the Best Banking Deals and Bonuses
From high-yield savings accounts to cashback checking and sign-up bonuses, we bring you the best banking offers to grow your money smarter.