Bring your items to a resale or consignment shop, and let it take care of the rest. “Make sure you know what the store sells and doesn’t sell,” says Khadijah Kesten of the New York City consignment store Ina.

Resale stores

Your clothing is bought outright, and you receive cash on the spot.
What to Sell: Most resale shops don’t wash the clothes they sell, so bring yours in freshly cleaned on hangers. Make small repairs if a garment needs it: Sew on missing buttons, or repair a frayed hem.
How It Works: Once the store buys your clothing and hands over the cash, you’re done. Some locations will give you the option of store credit in lieu of cash.
Where to Find It: Go to www.yellowpages.com for locations. (A quick nationwide search for “resale stores” turns up 18,000 results.)

Consignment stores

“The seller gets a percentage of the selling price when and if it sells,” says Chris Cowman, owner of One More Time, a consignment shop in Columbus, Ohio.
What to Sell: Bring in the big sellers: handbags, shoes, shirts, designer jeans, jewelry, and dresses. Pants tend to be a tougher sale, because they’re harder to fit.
How It Works: Make an appointment to bring in your clothes. The buyer will decide what’s acceptable and how much it should sell for. If one of your pieces sells, you’ll usually receive 40 to 60 percent of the selling price.
Where to Find It: Go to www.yellowpages.com or www.consignmentshops.com for locations.