From $50 at garage sales to $600/month on eBay — here's my system
Irfan · Chicago Started Summer 2023 ~5 hr/wk ~$600/mo
It started with a garage sale find — a vintage KitchenAid mixer for $8 that I flipped for $95 on Facebook Marketplace the same weekend. I was hooked.
I spend Saturday mornings (2–3 hours) hitting 4–6 garage sales. I only buy items I can sell for at least 4x what I paid. My focus is small kitchen appliances, name-brand handbags, and vintage glassware. I research prices on eBay's "sold" listings before I buy anything.
Average month: I spend $80–120 on inventory and net $500–700 in profit. Nothing life-changing, but it pays for my groceries plus some. And honestly, I enjoy the treasure hunting aspect.
Key lessons
Always check eBay sold listings BEFORE buying — never guess
Stick to a niche you understand (I know kitchen appliances; I avoid electronics)
Factor in eBay fees (13%) and shipping when calculating profit