The Broke as F**k Series — Turn $0 into $200 in less than a week: Part One

Caleb Weyer
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

Money truly is the root of all evil, especially when you’re broke. Like super broke. Like choosing between having lights on or eating knock off brand Mac & Cheese for 2 weeks straight broke. Most of us have been there, and when you’re that broke, sometimes your only thought is just trudging along to that next paycheck and not dying of hunger. I’ve been there. Several times. If you’re there right now, or expect to be again, I’m throwing down a challenge. Take your $0 in your wallet, and turn it into $200 (or more?) in less than a week. Sounds crazy right? Keep reading…..

(Disclaimer: I am not pushing some “self made millionaire” course, or “secret program to financial freedom” scam bullshit. I’m a real mid 30’s dude who is naturally bad with money, who got good at this during hard times to make ends meet and get creditors off my back. You can too.)

Do you get that sick, sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach seeing that? Yeah, me too. Been there, done that.

Let’s get down to bizness. You’ll need a working cell phone with a camera, or a computer and a camera, internet connection, and a bit of imagination.

Here’s the tl;dr: Desperate for cash? Sell your own unwanted stuff for cash through online local selling platforms. Use that cash to purchased undervalued items on same platforms. Sell. Rinse, repeat. Make money and make that money make you more money. Keep reading for the nuts and bolts.


Take inventory of your stuff you haven’t touched in 3–6 months. Scour the house for items that you can part with. Those old crappy X-Box games, CD’s, clothes, etc. Write down each item, and start looking online for how much on average they are going for locally, should you choose to sell them. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc. After you’ve decided on what to sell online, take some great photos- well lit, clear, and showcasing the entire item.

Next, create a listing for each item on EVERY platform that you can. The more exposure, the more chances of a fast sale. Facebook Marketplace is my go to, followed by Craigslist, Kijiji, LetGo, VarageSale, etc.

This is where checking prices beforehand is so important. If you’re looking for quick cash (if you’re still with me, I assume you are), you are going to want to beat your competition.

Let’s say you found this old handheld phone set you completely forgot about. Log onto Facebook Marketplace, and search “cordless phone set” and study what the average price is. If you write a GREAT ad (that article is coming soon), and have good photos, couple that with listing it for slightly less, or on the lower end than the others you find. For example, if the average cordless phone set is listing for $20-$50, list yours on the lower end of the spectrum. Or less. In this example, I’d list for $20, and accept an offer of $15. After you list it, keep your phone close at hand so you can respond to messages in a snap. Don’t keep people waiting. Oh yeah- make sure it’s in good working order. Don’t sell broken stuff. Not Cool.

Once you have made your first sale, you’ve got some cash to play with. Even $15 is a major stepping off point to get to $200 in less than a week. If you’ve sold more than one item, then congrats! Now you might have some cash to play with, in order to make that money make you more money. Next stop, time to shop for bargains online! Part 2 is coming up.

The absolute most important part in all of this is practicing Safe Online Buying and Selling. Stay safe. know the pitfalls of buying and selling online and how to avoid them. Check out this great article for advice on this here: https://m.huffingtonpost.ca/simone-katerine/5-tips-for-online-buying-selling_b_15926560.html

Stay tuned for Part 2 in the Broke as F**K series — Let’s go shopping! (for money)

-C

I write about improving your personal finances when you're REALLY bad with money.

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