After a breakup or divorce, your life and finances are different, and you may need to consider moving to a different home or apartment.
According to a comparative study on the National Library of Medicine site about the consequences of divorce for men and women, women have historically experienced a 27% decline in their standard of living, while men realized a 10% increase after divorce.
While there are many factors to explain the sharp divide, there’s a common thread that can shape life after divorce: education.
Knowing how to adapt to the post-divorce landscape can make a difference — and that often begins with downsizing.
Here’s how to navigate life with less stuff after divorce:
Is your current house barely — or not — affordable on your income alone? If you’re struggling, even with child support or alimony, then it’s not affordable.
Using most of your moola just to keep a roof over your head is shortsighted in the extreme because personal finance isn’t just about covering the bills.
You need an emergency fund. You need to save for retirement. And all women — not just single moms — need to invest and grow their wealth.
If you’ve got enough equity, you might be able to keep the house when dividing property in a divorce through a variety of options you may discuss with your attorney or banker. If not, you’ll need to figure out where to live after your divorce, which could include a new home or rental or living with friends or family.
Move to a more affordable house nearby
Educate yourself about your options, but remember that the best choice might be to move. You can look for a cheaper place in the same school district — but be prepared to start over in a different neighborhood altogether.
Sure, it’ll be a major disruption. But you know what else is disruptive? Getting evicted! Or even just having a mom who’s constantly freaked out about whether she can afford to pay for that unexpected car repair.
Owning a home is a great way to build equity, so if you can afford it, this may be a smart decision for your future.
If you’re in Memphis and need to downsize quickly, selling as-is to a reputable cash buyer can help you skip repairs, showings, and agent commissions and choose a closing date that fits your custody and work schedule. For a step-by-step look at timelines, offers, and what to expect, see this guide on how to sell your Memphis house fast for cash so you can move forward with less stress and more financial clarity.
Jumping straight into a new home purchase isn’t always the best move.
You might still be raw from grief if the breakup was sprung on you, or wiped out by the divorce process even if you initiated it. Helping your kids cope with the new normal can be pretty migraine-inducing, too.
So instead of rushing into homeownership, consider renting for a year to get your finances — and maybe your head — in order. Some pros of renting include:
Low maintenance: In a condo or townhome, someone else mows the lawn or shovels the snow. In an apartment, it’s the landlord that deals with the Revolt of the Appliances.
No home ownership costs: When renting, you aren’t responsible for paying a mortgage, property taxes, maintenance costs, HOA fees, and other expenses for the upkeep of a home.
Flexibility: If you aren’t sure where you want to live long-term or have a job that requires frequent moving, a rental can be a smart decision.
Saving money: Depending on where you live, monthly rent may be lower than a mortgage payment, and some landlords include utilities. Renter’s insurance is typically considerably lower than what you’d pay for homeowner’s insurance premiums.
No down payment necessary: Although you have to pay a security deposit (usually one month’s rent) upfront, this is much less than a down payment for a home, which can start at 3.5% of the home’s purchase price with an FHA loan.
If you want to save even more money, or you don’t want to live alone, consider renting with roommates. Platforms like spareroom.com can help you find rooms for rent in Houston, NYC, Las Vegas, or anywhere else in the US!
Once again, moving might be the right choice, even if it isn’t an easy choice. Here are some of the advantages one Redditor has with a smaller space:
There is also the emotional equation of living in your own home that you can afford. In her book The Kickass Single Mom (Penguin), Emma Johnson writes:
Ohio mom Wendy, together with her teenage daughters, moved out of a four-thousand-square foot spread with five bedrooms and four bathrooms and into a three-bedroom, one-bath rental that was one-third the size. She took very few things from her previous home, which had been largely decorated with gifts and heirlooms from her ex-husband’s parents.
“Starting from nothing was daunting, but it was also completely liberating. I didn’t have to ask anyone else their opinion. My choices were mine, and mine alone. It was a huge adjustment for my kids moving from a fancier home into a quite spare rental house. But it was a very valuable lesson in what actually makes a home: people, feelings, and memories, and not granite countertops and spiffy bathrooms. A year ago, I purchased a home just a few blocks from our rental house. We had grown to love our neighborhood and neighbors. Our new home is still small, and we still have only one bathroom, but the girls now regard this as their home.
“Their dad is now under contract with his latest girlfriend on a six-bedroom, five-bath stately Tudor on a very fancy street about a mile from us. The contrast between my house and that house could not be greater. And though I know we would all like more bathroom space, I have no doubt that this will continue to feel like my kids’ home, however spacious and upscale his new digs are.”
Other ways to save on housing expenses or make money include renting out your house for Airbnb income, while renting a smaller apartment, sharing a home with another single mom, or moving in with her parents to save money.
Moving back in with parents after divorce
And maybe, just maybe, your folks have been begging you to come home. On the face of it, moving back into your childhood bedroom is no one’s idea of successful adulting. Yet it could actually be a shrewd choice for the short term. (Assuming, of course, that you and your parents generally got along before you left home.)
Before you say “OMG yes, thanks!” to the offer, make a game plan. First, figure out how much cash you’ll need to tidy up your finances and move back out.
Next, do the math: Based on your current salary plus careful budgeting and maybe a side hustle, how long will it take to get those dollars?
Set some guidelines: You won’t be a pain in the ass, and they won’t infantilize you. Is this a free flop or are you required to pay rent? How many chores will you be expected to do? Which nights will you cook?
Set some boundaries, too. Chief among them:
Mom, not Grandma and Grandpa, will be in charge of raising the children.
Mom is also in charge of her own life, and will not accept being chided for wearing bright-red lipstick or staying out late.
Talk these things over with your parents. Heck, print out your game plan and have them sign it. Should friction develop later on you’ll be able to say, “Hey, we agreed that…”
Remember: Your being there could be as good for them as it is for you. They get loads of grandbaby time, and you could take on some of the heavier chores – yard work, deep cleaning – that aren’t as easy for your folks as they used to be. (Or, again, you could outsource those chores.)
In return? You get a cheap (or free) place to stay as you power closer to your financial goals.
Still, it can be frustrating to be back where you started. So while you’re home, practice self-care with an eye toward improved health and beauty, rather than eating alllll the ice cream and binging on British TV mysteries. A new look after divorce might be just the thing you need to convince yourself that life does, in fact, go on.
Whether you stay where you are or move, you’ll also want to declutter and get rid of stuff you don’t need.
While the urge to purge is understandable, pause and see if you can make cash from any post-divorce rejects methodically. Sell rather than give away furniture and other valuable items (including your wedding and/or engagement ring).
Items you’ll want to think about selling or donating include:
Furniture
Bridal jewelry
Clothing
Other items that might remind you of your marriage or ex
Sell rather than give away furniture and other valuable items (including your wedding and/or engagement ring).
For fine gold jewelry and coins and diamond jewelry, CashforGoldUSA is a quality choice to sell your jewelry online, quickly, for the highest price.
The money from this continued cleansing will help pay for your post-breakup furniture and décor, moving expenses, and other housing-related costs.
Downsizing your lifestyle
Look at your budget to find areas where you can cut back on spending, such as getting rid of cable or cooking at home versus eating out.
Here are a few things you can do to downsize:
Get a different car
You can buy a used car outright to avoid monthly payments, so your vehicle expenses will be limited to gas and maintenance.
Research reliable cars with great gas mileage and a history of low maintenance costs. Resources like Kelley Blue Book and US News and World Report can help you make an informed choice.
If you currently have a vehicle with a high monthly payment, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the expense. You’ll need to work with your lender, but these options could save you money:
Sell the car — You’ll need to pay the remaining balance on the loan, so price the vehicle at a cost that will wipe out that debt. Reach out to the dealership where you purchased the car to start the sales process.
Pay off your loan — If your balance is low, pay it off if you can to eliminate the monthly payment.
Ask for a voluntary repossession — This is the last possible option you should consider. While some lenders may forgive your remaining debt and take the car, this action will hit your credit report and decrease your creditworthiness.
If you want to keep your car and save your credit, talk to your lender about renegotiating your payments. But be aware that this could extend your loan period.
Can’t afford your car payment? See if you qualify to refinance for a lower payment.
Auto Credit Express is A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau:
Resist the urge to use credit to pay for everyday expenses. Use a debit card or cash instead so that you can keep track of what you spend. Plus, once that money is spent, it does not have to be paid back (like a credit card).
Cancel unnecessary and unused subscriptions. It might not seem like a lot, but $5 here and there for access to streaming or audiobooks can add up.
Set boundaries on how much you will spend on:
Food
Entertainment
Clothing
Monthly phone bills
Internet/cable access at home
Before you make a purchase or take on a bill, decide if it’s necessary. If it is, have a set amount you want to pay before committing. For example, if your budget for monthly cell phone service is $40, look for providers that offer discounted plans.
As mentioned earlier, downsizing can also mean letting go of physical items through donation or selling. But don’t declutter your home only to replace those items with more stuff. Limit your shopping, opting to buy quality goods that last.
To limit the temptation to overspend, schedule one day a week for grocery shopping following a strict list of items and only buy new clothing or shoes as needed.
The takeaway
Many moms find that downsizing to a smaller, more affordable home that is also easy to maintain gives them the freedom and confidence they need to move forward with their new life.
Downsizing after divorce includes getting rid of unwanted possessions, downsizing or otherwise changing homes, losing weight or an unhealthy mindset (“What kind of awful mother am I to be putting my kids through all this?”).
Plus: a feng-shui home makeover post-divorce or breakup is good for the soul, inviting in new, positive experiences and people.
Take what’s worth keeping from your old life and use it to create a meaningful new life of your own design.
Looking for inspiration for your new life? Check out my list of books for single moms, and gifts for single moms (from yourself, your kids, lover, friends). Also, my single-mom homie Karen Salmansohn is a great source of inspirational quotes for moms.
If you’re looking to make some money by clearing out stuff you no longer need, there are dozens of apps for selling clothing, jewelry, books, household items, and even vehicles. These are our top picks:
Since it launched in 1995, ebay has become synonymous with buying and selling used goods online. In 2021, about $87.4 billion worth of products were sold through the site.
On the ebay app, which launched in 2008, selling is pretty straightforward:
Create a listing for your item(s), including pictures and a description
Choose between a “Buy now” sale (where you set a sale price) or auction-style sale, where buyers can bid on your item to drive up the starting price you set
Get paid via your linked checking account — ebay collects 12.9% of the sale price or less, plus $0.30 per order
ebay has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 1.2 stars on TrustPilot, with most complaints from sellers who were suspended after buyers submitted complaints.
Note that most sellers on ebay are professional vendors, so you may face some competition from more established sellers who have reviews/ratings to verify that they’re legit.
Some items, especially bigger products like furniture pieces or vehicles, are easiest to sell locally so you don’t need to worry about shipping. If you have a Facebook account, you can access Facebook Marketplace and post a listing for free.
Payments can be made through Facebook messenger or handled at the time of item handoff using cash, check, or a third-party payment platform like Venmo/Paypal.
Be aware that the BBB has warned Facebook Marketplace scams are on the rise. On the Facebook app, you can rate sellers and buyers to let others know about your experience with that person.
What you can sell:
Furniture
Home furnishings
Clothing
Tools
Vehicles and boats
Houses
Places for rent
Electronics
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 2/5
Sellers’ fees — 5/5 (there is a 5% fee for shipping items)
Poshmark is primarily a place to sell your old clothes and accessories. It’s easy to create a listing by adding a photo and inputting item details.
For all sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale price. Poshmark does payouts within three days of item delivery, and you can spend your earnings within the app or request a mailed check or direct deposit to your bank for free. You can also pay $0.35 to have your earnings transferred to a Paypal or Venmo account.
What you can sell:
Women’s, men’s, and children’s fashion and accessories
New personal care products
Select home goods
Select pets items
Select electronics
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 3/5
Value for sellers — 3/5
Customer service — 4.75/5
Poshmark has a B rating from the BBB and 1.4 stars on TrustPilot. According to sellers, because of the fee structure, this platform is best suited for selling items under $15.
#4. Craigslist: Best app for selling furniture and other large items
You’re probably familiar with Craigslist, a site that introduced the idea of online classifieds in 1995. On the Craigslist app, which launched in 2008, you can create a free Craigslist account or post anonymously.
Sellers’ fees — 5/5 (posting an item is free, except for car listings, which cost $5)
Value for sellers — 4.5/5
Customer service — 4.7/5
Craigslist has an F rating on the Better Business Bureau and 1.3 stars on TrustPilot. Sellers posting bad reviews mention receiving calls from scammers or Craigslist taking down their ad with no explanation.
Autotrader is an online marketplace and app that claims to have the largest selection of vehicle inventory from dealers and private sellers, with more than 3 million vehicle listings. Autotrader reports more than 14 million buyers use the site per month.
After entering your license plate number and state, Autotrader will automatically pull information about your vehicle and provide an estimated market value.
What you can sell:
Used cars
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4/5
Sellers’ fees — 3/5
Value for sellers — 5/5
Customer service — 3.75
Autotrader.com was launched in 1997 and has an A+ rating from the BBB and 1.6/5 stars on Trustpilot.
OfferUp is available for both local transactions and shipping and allows you to promote your items to reach more buyers. There is a $1.99 fee or 12% of the sales price processing fee when you ship an item.
What you can sell:
Clothing
Power tools
Gardening equipment
Baby gear
Furniture
Appliances
Shoes
Kitchen stuff
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 2/5
Sellers’ fees — 3/5
Value for sellers — 3.5/5
Customer service — 4.6/5
OfferUp is not BBB accredited, but has 1.2 stars on TrustPilot. Many users complain about the app’s lack of security, mentioning scammers. The BBB also has an alert for OfferUp noting a pattern of complaints about customer service and billing.
Think of Vinted as an online thrift store. After selling an item, you’ll use a prepaid shipping label to ship the package within five days. As a seller, you also have a protection plan to keep your interests safe — and you don’t have to pay listing fees.
Vinted makes money by charging buyers a 5% buyer protection fee, so you will receive the full selling price of your item.
What you can sell:
Clothing
Costume jewelry
Home goods
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4/5
Sellers’ fees — 4.5/5
Value for sellers — 4.5/5
Customer service — 4.5/5
Vinted has 1.4 stars on TrustPilot. Reviewers caution to watch out for scammers when you’re selling an item.
While they don’t have an app, our top pick for selling fine jewelry online is CashforGoldUSA, a top online metals buyer that buys all gold, silver, and diamond items. CashforGoldUSA boasts an A+ rating with the BBB and offers a highest price guarantee.
Depop is a website and app (iOS and Android) where you can sell items from your closet. Trending fashion brands are most popular on the platform, which has 30 million active users. You’ll need to create a free Depop account and connect your verified PayPal account to sell something.
Once you sell an item, Depop charges a 10% fee on the total transaction amount (including shipping costs). You will also be charged a standard transaction fee by either PayPal or Depop of around 2.9%.
What you can sell:
Mens’ and womens’ clothing
Jewelry
Beauty and hair care products
Home decor
Shoes
Other accessories (hats, belts, sunglasses, scarves, purses)
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 2.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 4/5
Value for sellers — 4/5
Customer service — 4.35/5
Depop has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau and 2.7 stars on TrustPilot. Poor reviews mention high seller fees and slow customer service response.
Swappa is a user-friendly website and app where you can sell gently used electronic devices. When you create a listing, Swappa will suggest a price based on the item you’re selling. You choose the final price point. There is a 3% seller fee on this platform.
What you can sell:
Phones
Tablets
Computers
Wearables
Video games
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 1/5
Sellers’ fees — 4.5/5
Value for sellers — 3.5/5
Customer service — 4.5/5
Swappa receives a B rating from the BBB and 4.8 stars on TrustPilot. Reviews say the platform is a good ebay alternative.
Mercari is a good fit for anyone who wants to declutter their space by selling items like clothes, shoes, and electronics. This platform provides a prepaid shipping label with insurance worth up to $200. It’s free to post a listing, and Mercari takes a 10% commission of the sale. However, returns are allowed and encouraged, which can cause more hassle for sellers.
For sellers managing inventory across multiple resale marketplaces, understanding how to relist on Mercari can help keep products visible without rebuilding listings from scratch.
What you can sell:
Electronics
Seasonal Decor
Clothing
Collectibles
Video Games
Shoes
Bath and beauty products
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 3.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 4.5/5
Value for sellers — 2/5
Customer service — 4.8/5
Mercari has an A rating from the BBB and 3.1 stars on TrustPilot. The site is reportedly very user-friendly, although sellers do express frustration with buyer returns.
With the Vestiaire Collective app, you can sell clothes, handbags, and jewelry and watches from designer brands (like Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Kate Spade, and others). You’ll upload a photo and description of the item, and Vestiaire recommends a price; you can negotiate this price with buyers via chat. Then use a prepaid shipping label to send in your jewelry.
Listing an item to sell is always free, but Vestiaire charges a 12% selling fee and a 3% fee for payment processing.
What you can sell:
Women’s, men’s, and children’s clothes, shoes, and accessories
Bags
Watches and jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings)
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 3.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 2/5
Value for sellers — 4/5
Customer service — 4.35/5
Vestiaire Collective is not BBB accredited or rated but has 3.4 stars on TrustPilot. Users complain about the site’s process of verifying item authenticity, saying that designer items are often rejected and not allowed to be sold.
With the Decluttr app, you can sell your used tech and get paid via direct deposit or PayPal. Select the make, model, and condition of your cell phone or tech device, or use your phone’s camera to scan the barcode of a CD or DVD. Decluttr will give you a quote.
Once an item sells, print a free shipping label and send it off. To complete an order, you need to sell at least 10 media items or one tech item. Your total order value also needs to be over $5.
What you can sell:
DVDs and CDs
Phones
Textbooks and books
Video games and consoles
Tablets
LEGO sets
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4/5
Sellers’ fees — 5/5
Value for sellers — 3.5/5
Customer service — 3.5/5
Decluttr has an A- rating from the BBB and 4.3 stars on TrustPilot. Reviewers say the pricing is very fair, although customer service is lacking.
thredUP is an online consignment store that takes care of shipping and returns for you. In fact, thredUP does virtually everything, including photographing your items.
Your only job is to fill your “clean-out kit” (provided by thredUP — currently limited to one per customer) with gently used items and mail it in. Once your items have sold and passed the 14-day return window, you’ll get paid. thredUP does take a percentage of each sale.
What you can sell:
Womens’ clothing and accessories
Shoes
Purses
Baby clothes
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 3/5
Sellers’ fees — 3/5
Value for sellers — 4/5
Customer service — 4.45/5
thredUP receives an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau and 2 stars on TrustPilot. Sellers say it takes a long time for items to be listed, and the customer payout continues to get smaller year by year.
Ziffit lets you sell your books online for cash. Scan or enter barcodes and get an instant price. Pack up the books and send them to Ziffit. Then get paid via bank transfer or PayPal. While Ziffit doesn’t accept everything, the platform buys a wide range of titles. Be aware the platform will keep and recycle any books of yours that they don’t accept (meaning you won’t get paid for those titles).
Ziffit receives 4.6 stars on TrustPilot, and its parent company World of Books has an F rating from the BBB. Reviews say Ziffit is easy to use and payment happens quickly.
At Tradesy, you can sell designer clothes, handbags, and shoes. List items from your closet, and set your own price.
Once you make a sale, you’ll receive up to 80% of the listing price; Tradesy takes a flat fee of $7.50 for items less than $50, or a commission rate of 19.8% for items that cost more. Tradesy pays for shipping and also processes returns if needed.
What you can sell:
Clothing
Bags
Shoes
Accessories
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4/5
Sellers’ fees — 2/5
Value for sellers — 4/5
Customer service — 4.9/5
Tradesy has an A- rating from the BBB and 4.3 stars on TrustPilot. Customers say Tradesy is responsive and that returns the process is smooth.
Flyp is unique because it’s based on artificial intelligence (AI). Once you upload photos of your items, this platform will automatically match you with professional sellers (who will take over the selling process from there in exchange for a commission of the sale).
Send items to the seller with the provided shipping label. You’ll get paid after the seller makes a sale. However, you will only earn 40-60% of the profit.
Chairish is meant for vintage and used furniture and design items. Create a listing, and once the platform approves your post, you’ll receive inquiries from verified buyers. After the 48-hour return window, you get 70% or more of the price via PayPal.
What you can sell:
Seating
Tables
Desks
Beds
Storage
Art
Lighting
Decor
Tableware
Rugs
Outdoor
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 2.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 2/5
Value for sellers — 3.5/5
Customer service — 4.4/5
Chairish receives a rating of B from the BBB and 1.5 stars on TrustPilot. Sellers say the customer service is not good at all.
Nextdoor is an app intended for local neighbors to interact. Among other functions, it has a buy-and-sell category. You can create a listing for the people in your neighborhood, and the post will expire after 30 days. You don’t have to pay a fee to use Nextdoor or sell an item.
What you can sell:
Personal items (think clothing, toys, household decor, etc.)
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 3.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 5/5
Value for sellers — 2.5/5
Customer service — 4.6/5
Nextdoor has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 1.9 stars on TrustPilot.
#19. Etsy
Etsy isn’t just for handmade products. You can also sell vintage items from around your house on this website and app. Vintage items must be at least 20 years old, and Etsy says newer, vintage-style or collectible items aren’t allowed in this category.
It does take some effort to set up an Etsy shop, and you’ll be subject to a $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% transaction fee, and 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee.
What you can sell:
Vintage items (clothing, household items, etc)
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4/5
Sellers’ fees — 2/5
Value for sellers — 4.5/5
Customer service — 4.9/5
Etsy has an A- from the BBB and 1.7 stars on TrustPilot.
5miles aims to create a better experience for buying and selling locally online. To sell an item, upload a photo and description; then, set a starting price so buyers can bid. 5miles will use your phone’s location to reach potential buyers in your area.
Users can verify their identity via phone or Facebook, and the app’s messaging system keeps your contact info hidden. 5miles does take 10% of the fee when an item sells.
What you can sell:
Cars
Art and collectibles
Electronics
Fashion and accessories
Home and garden items
Sports and leisure items
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 4.5/5
Sellers’ fees — 4/5
Value for sellers — 3/5
Customer service — 4.45/5
5miles receives an F rating from the BBB and 3.5 stars on Trustpilot.
The RealReal is a luxury online consignment shop for designer clothes, bags, and other items. Send your stuff to The RealReal, then they’ll do the legwork to sell your items. Most items sell within 30 days, at which point you’ll earn up to 85% of the sale price.
What you can sell:
Designer womens’ clothing
Designer mens’ clothing
Fine jewelry
Designer watches
Art
Home
Kids
Ratings:
Listing experience for sellers — 3/5
Sellers’ fees — 3/5
Value for sellers — 4/5
Customer service — 4/5
The RealReal has an A+ rating on the BBB and 4.0 stars on TrustPilot. Most complaints are from people who claim they were sold fake items or that they items they received were not as they were pictured.
FAQs about selling apps
What apps can I sell on for free?
Most resale apps allow you to create a free account. However, they may have additional fees that will kick in once you sell an item. You can post a listing for free on apps such as Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Decluttr, Vinted, Mercari, and Depop.
What is the best app for selling items locally?
Nextdoor, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Offerup are some of the best apps for selling items locally.
Bottom line: Which app is best for selling?
At the end of the day, the best app for selling depends on what you’re selling. These are our top picks in a number of categories, based on listing experience, sellers’ fees, value for sellers, and customer service:
ebay: Best app for selling online
Facebook Marketplace: Best app for selling locally
Poshmark: Best app for selling clothes
Craigslist: Best app for selling furniture and other large items
AutoTrader: Best app for selling cars
What apps can I sell on for free?
You can post a listing for free on apps such as Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Decluttr, Vinted, Mercari, and Depop.
What is the best app for selling items locally?
Nextdoor, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Offerup are some of the best apps for selling items locally.
If you’re thinking about selling your diamonds or diamond jewelry, you can either sell locally to a jewelry store or pawn shop, or you can choose from a number of reputable online buyers.
Both are good options, but there are a few advantages to selling online:
Online diamond buyers tend to have many more online reviews (good and bad) that can help you decide where to do business
Online transactions are more private and can be completed without ever leaving your home
Online buyers have greater competition and are incentivized to give you the highest payout possible
We put together a list of some of the top online diamond buyers, including pros and cons for each business:
Before you get started, be sure to set your expectations appropriately and learn about the declining value of diamonds.
After jumping 31% during the pandemic and peaking in April 2022, diamond resale prices have fallen significantly, with the RapNet Diamond Index for 1-carat goods December 15, 2024, overall prices for 1-carat goods are down 22.54% from this time a year ago. However, Rapaport says diamond prices stabilizing at low levels.2
The following online diamond buyers are listed alphabetically:
Diamond buyer: Abe Mor
Located in New York City, but doing business everywhere through the company’s website, Abe Mor is a popular and well-known diamond buyer.
The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and their record has zero customer complaints lodged against it. If you choose to sell your diamond through them, you can rest assured that they are a reputable company.
Like myGemma, formerly WP Diamonds, another diamond buyer leader detailed below, the company specializes in diamond jewelry and luxury resale. In addition to loose diamonds, the company will purchase any branded jewelry or jewelry that contains a diamond of at least 0.5 carats in size.
If your jewelry has smaller stones, or does not contain a diamond, though, Abe Mor will not purchase it. In those cases, our suggestion is to sell with Diamonds USA.
Pros of Abe Mor
A+ BBB Rating and 0 customer complaints
Items are insured by FedEx and Brinks for up to $25,000, with additional insurance available if necessary
Diamond grading reports are not required, though accepted
Clean, modern, and easy-to-use website
Relatively quick 2 to 4 day payment upon acceptance of an offer — which can take an additional several days
Cons of Abe Mor
Like other diamond buyers on this list, their final offer to you is based on a single evaluation (as opposed to an auction of multiple buyers)
Evaluations are conducted by in-house Abe Mor staff, not third-party lab reports
Only accepts diamonds at least 0.3 carats in size
Time from shipment to payment is longer than other sites that promise 24-hour payment.
The takeaway is that Abe Mor is a reputable diamond buyer with more than 50 years of experience in the industry. Read our full Abe Mor review.
Diamond buyer: The Alloy Market
Alloy is a newcomer to the diamond buying space as of 2023. In that time, the startup has generated some serious media buzz, with coverage from the likes of USA Today, CBS News, and MSN.
While Alloy’s main focus is buying gold, they also accept silver, platinum and palladium, as well as diamond and gemstone jewelry.
Alloy’s process is similar to other online gold buyers on the market. When we requested a mailer, it arrived the next day. Once you accept an offer, immediate payment is made via Venmo, Paypal, ACH/direct deposit or check by mail, whichever method you choose.
Pros of Alloy
A BBB score (accredited) with 0 complaints
4.9/5 stars on Trustpilot
Up to $100,000 insurance on every shipment
Free shipment and returns with no obligation
Quick turnaround of a week or less if you immediately mail in your items
Cons of Alloy
Main focus is on metals, not diamonds
Early promise to launch an app for the sales process has been put on hold indefinitely, according to CEO Brandon Aversano
Diamond buyer: Circa (merged with Mondiamo)
Mondiamo was a relative newcomer to the diamond buyback market, which partnered with BlueNile, a retail leader in the online diamond engagement ring world.
In early 2020, Mondiamo merged with a competing company, Circa. Circa has maintained Mondiamo’s relationship with BlueNile and has an A+ rating with the BBB.
Circa accepts high-end branded jewelry, as well as diamonds of at least .4 carats, and diamond engagement rings. They will also purchase historical or estate jewelry, including pieces such as: Antique, Edwardian, Georgian, Art Nouveau, Belle Epoque, Art Deco, Retro, Modern.
Circa has 14 physical locations (11 in the U.S. and 3 international), or if you prefer, you can schedule an appointment for an in-person evaluation of your jewelry. Whether in-person or online, if you accept the offer on your loose diamond or diamond ring, you will be paid immediately.
If you provide a grading report from the GIA, EGL, IGI, AGS, GSI, GCAL, IIDGR, or HRD, Circa provides a guaranteed offer range. Once you mail in your jewelry, Circa is able to guarantee a final offer that falls within this range.
The company claims that more than 90% of its customers receive a final offer price higher than the midpoint of the guaranteed range (which includes shipping and insurance). Circa’s 15% fee is already calculated into the range.
Circa pros
Work in partnership with diamond retailer BlueNile, and promise to offer a high fee by cutting out the middleman
Better Business Bureau rating of A+
Website’s videos and posts create transparency
Fully insured FedEx delivery — both from you to Circa, as well as returns, when relevant
Circa cons
They only deal in jewelry with a diamond of at least .4 carats
If you do not have a lab report, you must send in your item for evaluation and grading before an offer is made
That offer is good for just 7 days, after which you have to start the whole process over again
In short, Circa is a solid company that brings the BlueNile experience full circle, promising to offer jewelry sellers high prices by removing the middleman.
Diamond buyer: Diamond Banc
Diamond Banc offers two separate services — direct purchases of diamond and other fine jewelry, and short-term loans that use your jewelry as collateral. In this way, Diamond Banc is like an online pawnshop — but only for these items:
Gold, diamond, and other fine jewelry, including engagement rings
Loose diamonds
Luxury watches (including Rolex)
Designer handbags
Gold and silver bullion and coins
Diamond Banc, which was founded in 2007 by third-generation jeweler Mills Menser, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating and has 4.9/5 stars on Trustpilot.
If you want to sell your jewelry directly to Diamond Banc:
Fill out this submission form online to get a free initial estimate, providing item details and photos of your diamond jewelry.
After you review this offer, Diamond Banc will provide you with a prepaid shipping label to send in your item for a full evaluation. All shipments are insured up to $100,000 by Jewelers Mutual and Parcel Pro.
Diamond Banc will evaluate your item and contact you with an official offer.
If you accept the offer, Diamond Banc offers immediate payouts via check or wire transfer. If you don’t accept the offer, your items will be returned to you via insured shipping.
You can also sell at one of Diamond Banc’s storefront locations in:
Tampa
Boca Raton
Miami
Aventura
Orlando
Nashville
Atlanta
Roswell
Charlotte
Kansas City
Columbia
Rochester
If you are hoping to secure a short-term loan through Diamond Banc:
Diamond Banc offers 30-day loans that can be extended for as many 30-day periods as you need. Loans can be paid off in full at any time without penalty. Money is typically deposited in your account within two days.
Minimum monthly loan payments depend on the approved loan amount, as well as fees associated with security, storage, and insurance for your diamond jewelry, with interest rates starting at 2.5%. Assets are stored in alarm-protected, 24-hour security-monitored, fireproof vaults and are fully insured while in custody.
Most Diamond Banc loans are worth 65-75% of what your diamond jewelry would sell for in the current market.
Diamond Banc pros
A+ BBB-rated company with hundreds of 5-star reviews on Trustpilot
Does not conduct credit checks or employment verification on loans under $30,000
Shipments are insured up to $100,000 by Jewelers Mutual and Parcel Pro
Diamond Banc cons
Diamond Blanc only accepts high-value fine jewelry, including designer pieces from Tiffany & Co., Cartier, David Yurman, Graff, Harry Winston.
Could cost you a lot if you don’t repay the loan within the agreed-upon timeframe.
Headquartered in Houston, Diamond Buyers is a local and online business that purchases diamonds and diamond jewelry. Though online customer reviews for DiamondBuyers.com are virtually nonexistent, its parent company, Shaftel Diamonds, has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (accredited since 2001) and has been in business since 1978. Shaftel Diamonds has 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
Diamond Buyers purchases diamonds and diamond jewelry over 0.7 carats, though they specify they are mostly interested in fine diamonds weighing 2 carats or more. They accept the following items:
Diamond engagement rings
Diamond wedding rings
Loose diamonds
Certified diamonds
Diamond necklaces
Diamond earrings
Diamond bracelets
Non-certified diamonds
These are some of the luxury brands they purchase:
Tiffany & Co.
Bvlgari
Cartier
Chopard
David Yurman
Graff
Harry Winston
Piaget
You can get a free estimate on your diamonds from Diamond Buyers by filling out an online form, or you can visit their storefront location in Houston to get a cash offer from one of their GIA-trained gemologists.
DiamondBuyers.com pros
Parent company Shaftel Diamonds has more than 40 years of experience buying and selling diamonds, and has an A+ BBB rating
Easy to get a no-obligation, free estimate
Offers a video check-in, where you can watch Diamond Buyers’ appraisers open your package and evaluate your diamond jewelry from home
Diamonds fully insured en route, while in possession, and upon return (if you don’t accept their offer)
DiamondBuyers.com cons
Virtually no reviews online for DiamondBuyers.com (just for its parent company)
Does not accept diamonds less than 0.7 carats
Diamond buyer: Gemesti
Founded in 2003, Gemesti is owned by third-generation diamond dealers and jewelers who tout their three-step process for buying diamonds and diamond jewelry:
After filling out Gemesti’s online form with information about your diamond, you’ll get a same-day call back with an initial offer based on its estimated market value.
If you want to move forward, Gemesti will mail you a FedEx shipping label so you can send in your items for a professional appraisal. Secure overnight shipping is free, and your package is insured.
When your diamonds arrive at Gemesti’s lab, they film your package opening and appraisal by a professional gemologist. You’ll be contacted immediately with a formal offer, which you can accept or deny. If you accept, your payment will be processed within hours.
Gemesti buys:
Engagement rings
Loose diamonds
Diamond jewelry
Designer and branded jewelry
Gemesti has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2021.
Gemesti pros
Insured up to $100,000 by Lloyds of London in transit
Receipt and opening of your package and appraisal are filmed
Gemologists must pass a strict background check
Payments can be made in as little as 48 hours from the time you submit Gemesti’s online form if you mail in your item as soon as you receive your shipping label
Gemesti cons
Evaluations are conducted by in-house Gemesti staff, not third-party lab reports such as the GIA
Diamond buyer: Meridian Diamonds
Meridian Diamonds offers in-person and mail-in appraisals and valuations on diamonds, fine-colored gemstones, engagement rings, watches, and fine jewelry. They prefer diamonds larger than 1 carat and gemstones such as sapphires, rubies, and emeralds.
Meridian Diamonds has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (not accredited).
To receive a valuation on your diamonds or diamond jewelry, you can text, email, or call Meridian Diamonds, or fill out the form on their website. You can choose to mail in your diamonds with insured shipping or schedule an in-person appointment at one of Meridian’s three locations:
Tampa
Miami
New York City
Meridian says a typical engagement ring evaluation takes about 30 minutes. They also offer appraisals for:
Insurance replacement
Estate appraisals
Customs reports
Donation reports
Damage reports
Gem identification
Buying consultations
Expert witness/legal testimony
Meridian offers immediate payment in person via check or bank wire. For mail-in transactions, Meridian can deposit money in as little as a few hours from offer acceptance via ACH deposit (or you can choose a mailed check or bank wire).
Meridian Diamonds pros
Each member of Meridian’s gemological team is a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Graduate Gemologist in Residence
For mail-in valuations, all packages are opened under video surveillance and inspected on the same day
Immediate payment upon offer acceptance
Meridian Diamonds cons
Business emphasis seems to be on in-person evaluations, though there are a limited number of in-person locations for evaluations
Not an accredited BBB business
Diamond buyer: myGemma, formerly WP Diamonds
myGemma, formerly WP Diamonds, is a leading diamond ring and loose diamond buyer.
With an A+ BBB rating, MyGemma is one of the older diamond buyers in the online space, and has a reputation for being fair and reliable.
Unlike some of the other buyers we’ve reviewed, myGemma specializes in diamonds — diamond earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, etc. They also buy and sell watches, luxury handbags, and luxury accessories. This is what myGemma accepts:
GIA-certified diamonds and diamond jewelry of at least 0.5 carats
Designer diamond and non-diamond jewelry: Tiffany, Cartier, Harry Winston and more
Radiant-cut diamonds to oval, marquise, round, emerald cut and more
Luxury handbags
Luxury watches (including Rolex)
Luxury accessories like shoes, belts, scarves, and more
Pros of myGemma
A+ BBB rating and over a thousand customer reviews
Security ensured by free, FedEx round-trip shipping with insurance that covers the full cost of your items
Close contact with your dedicated client services representative throughout the process
User-friendly website and estimate tools
Meticulous diamond appraisal process
There are no fees or commissions deducted from myGemma’s final offer made. Their offer is what you receive in payment.
Cons of myGemma
Limited in what they accept, which is higher-end diamonds, jewelry and watches
myGemma bases your price on the current second-hand diamond market and their team of GIA trained gemologists
myGemma doesn’t use GIA or other certified outside appraisers, but an in-house appraisal team
Takeaway: myGemma is a quality diamond buyer for larger stones. Read our complete myGemma review.
Diamond buyer: The Diamond Valet
TheDiamondValet.com is a stripped-down version of other, much more robust diamond buyback sites.
The website says the company has more than 100 years of jewelry business experience, though it does not have a Better Business Bureau profile.
As is the case with many other buyers on this list, The Diamond Valet will evaluate your jewelry and make you an offer based on what they believe the value of the piece to be. They provide just one offer, which you can take or leave.
If the jewelry you’re selling doesn’t include diamonds, then The Diamond Valet isn’t for you.
Pros of The Diamond Valet
Straightforward website
Cons of The Diamond Valet
Just one estimate
Payment takes longer since they only send paper checks — no PayPal or bank transfer.
No third-party appraisal. You are at the mercy of the price they offer you.
Diamond buyers FAQs
Here’s what you need to know about diamond buyers:
What is a diamond buyer?
A diamond buyer is exactly what it sounds like: A business that purchases loose or mounted diamonds in order to resell those diamonds at a profit. Diamond buyers may resell a stone or piece of diamond jewelry directly to consumers or to industry insiders. While some diamond buyers may operate physical locations (such as a storefront), many of today’s most popular diamond buyers do most of their business online.
What is a diamond exchange?
Most typically, the term diamond exchange is used to refer to a place where diamonds (loose or mounted) can be exchanged — either for cash or, in some cases, trade.
While the term may have originally been associated with diamond bourses (places where diamonds are traded by industry insiders) this isn’t really the case anymore. Today, the term “diamond exchange” is most synonymous with brick-and-mortar jewelry shops, as evidenced by the number of businesses that weave the term into their name.
How much will buyers pay for diamonds?
A jeweler or other diamond buyer must make a profit on any diamonds purchased, so expect a jeweler to offer you half or less of what you paid for your diamond.
If the stone is an unpopular cut — for example, a marquise shape, or a princess or rose-cut stone — the price may be less than a more popular cut.
Should I look at diamond buyers only or gold and diamond buyers?
That largely depends on what you have. For instance, if you have gold jewelry that features a diamond or diamond accents, you should get quotes from gold buyers and diamond buyers to see which is willing to offer you more.
Should I sell gold and diamonds separately or together?
Some online diamond buyers will pay you for the value of both your diamonds and gold — you do not need to separate them. Also consider the time involved in seeking out a second buyer. It is likely worthwhile to unload the whole lot with one buyer.
Should I consider selling to private diamond buyers?
When you’re dealing with something as valuable as a diamond, we recommend working with a highly rated and established company rather than a private buyer.
Before you pull the trigger, research at how long the company has been in business, insurance policies, as well as reviews from sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot and ask around to friends and family to see if they have any personal experience.
Wouldn’t it be better to find a diamond buyer locally.
Every diamond and jewelry buyer has its pros and cons. If you need immediate cash in hand, a local diamond buyer, like a pawn shop or jewelry store, might be your best option. However, in our experience, selling diamonds online will typically result in a higher payout, and many offer quick and insured mail-in services, with payments in 24 hours or less.
Bottom line: Who is the best buyer of diamonds?
Diamonds USA is our top choice online diamond buyer because:
Pays within 24 hours
BBB rating of A+
Pays a 10% bonus if you ship within 7 days
100% free and trackable shipment through FedEx — door-to-door
Insures your item up to $150,000 via Jewelers Mutual en transit, and through Lloyds of London while at their facility
100% highest price guarantee
Buys all diamonds of all sizes and quality
Whether you are selling your gold jewelry, ring, dental fillings, gold coins or silver, Diamonds USA and its sister site, CashforGoldUSA, are quality businesses.
Is Diamonds USA legit?
Diamonds USA is owned by C.J. Environmental, which has an A+ rating with the BBB, and buys all quantities of gold, diamonds, silver and jewelry. Diamonds USA sells to wholesale diamond buyers.
How Diamonds USA works
Diamonds USA operates on a straightforward system. A few years ago, I searched for places to sell diamonds locally, as after my divorce I had a small gold and diamond ring that I no longer wanted.
I checked out Diamonds USA because it has an A+ BBB rating. It was really easy. Here’s how it works:
I went to the DiamondsUSA website, entered my address, and waited for a mailer to arrive.
Two days later I received a USPS mailer in the mail. You can also opt to use a FedEx label, free of charge to me. Your item is insured up to $150,000 through Jeweler’s Mutual, and comes with a tracking number.
Popped my ring in the mailer, and then the mail.
Within a day, I got an email with an offer for my ring. I accepted and within 24 hours received a PayPal deposit for 10% more than I was quoted, as a bonus for shipping within 7 days.
That was my experience, but you can set up the process by email or phone.
Like I did, you can opt for an email offer, which you’ll receive as soon as your diamond is appraised.
You can then accept or reject it online.
Accept, and your check is mailed within 24 hours. Decline, and you’ll get your jewels back with priority shipping.
You can also get a call from the company with your offer. Whether you accept or decline, you’ll get your check or ring back ASAP.
“Rapaport Press Release: Diamond Prices Weak in Sluggish Market,” June 4, 2024. Business Wire. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240604632340/en/Rapaport-Press-Release-Diamond-Prices-Weak-in-Sluggish-Market
“Diamond prices slashed 25% as lab-grown gems rock the industry,” Jan. 15, 2024. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/01/15/business/diamond-prices-slashed-up-to-25-as-sales-slump/
What is a diamond buyer?
A diamond buyer is exactly what it sounds like: A business which purchases loose or mounted diamonds in order to resell those diamonds at a profit.
What is a diamond exchange?
Most typically, the term diamond exchange is used to refer to a place where diamonds (loose or mounted) can be exchanged, either for cash or, in some cases, trade.
How much do diamond buyers pay?
A jeweler or other diamond buyer must make a profit on any diamonds purchased, so expect a jeweler to offer you half or less of what you paid for your diamond.
Are there lab-grown diamond buyers?
None of the diamond buyers purchase lab-grown diamonds, which are technically a diamond, but far less expensive to buy — and even less valuable on the buyback market. Adadiamonds.com buys laboratory-made diamonds.
While men continue to dominate the trucking industry, the number of women truck drivers is on the rise — and for good reason.
“This is one of the only industries that pays equally for men and women,” says Kayla Chavez, a truck driver whose handle on TikTok, @iamkaylachavez, has nearly 20,000 followers.
According to the Truck Driver Institute, a vocational training company, truck drivers are typically paid on a standard per-mile or hourly basis, so there’s not likely to be a discrepancy based on sex. Furthermore, the average truck driver salary with only one year’s experience or less nationwide is $72,571, according to Indeed.com.
Chavez, who previously worked in other industries and was dissatisfied with her schedule and pay, says trucking has given her more money and more freedom.
“I used to be a banker,” she says. “I quit that job to become a flight attendant, and it wasn’t paying well — $19 an hour. I was working two jobs, overwhelmed and broke.”
At first, when her boyfriend’s uncle suggested she get into trucking, Chavez was skeptical. But she soon took a leap of faith, and it has paid off.
“I thought, I’m 5’3”; these trucks are huge; I don’t know if I can handle this job,” she admits. “But I looked on YouTube [for inspiration], and …three months later, I got a grant from my state (Nevada) to get trained.”
After working for a megacarrier for six months, Chavez started her own business delivering dry goods with her own truck, which she affectionately named “Riggie Smalls.”
She and her boyfriend travel together with their dog, regularly making 4,400-mile trips over several days. The pair take turns driving and sleeping in their truck, where they also cook microwave meals. On their days off, they book hotel rooms and sample delicious foods all over the country. They shower at rest stops, do their laundry at laundromats, and make a point to exercise at gyms along the way.
If you’re looking for a high-paying and unique career, keep reading to learn how to become a truck driver:
Women truck drivers? Yes! The trucking industry is recruiting more female drivers
According to the Women in Trucking Association, 13.7% of long-haul drivers are now female, compared with 10% in 2019. The trucking industry is making an effort to recruit more female drivers amid national driver shortages, fueled by early retirements and trucking school closures that happened during the pandemic.
The organization was founded in 2011 with the goal of:
Raising awareness of women’s issues
Promote career opportunities for women
Improve conditions for women working in the industry
Increase the number of women drivers
Increase the number of women in leadership positions in the industry
Gather data about women working in the trucking industry
Women in Trucking offers $1,000 scholarships for women truck drivers upon completion of an approved training program. The Foundation is supported by the Women In Trucking Association, is led by a board of directors and is a 501(c)(3) organization.
AllTrucking.com, which provides resources for people in the trucking industry, also has a $1,000 tuition scholarship for women truck drivers.
Check out the president of Women in Trucking talking about efforts to recruit women truck drivers:
What does a truck driver do?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another, often spending days or weeks at a time on the road.
How to become a truck driver with a Commercial Drivers License: 5 steps (no prior experience required!)
While you don’t need any prior experience to become a truck driver with a CDL, there are some prerequisites and required training:
1. Get a driver’s license.
You’ll first need a standard, non-commercial driver’s license, which will later be upgraded to your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
2. Get a high school diploma or GED.
Most companies will require you to have a high school diploma or GED, but, as Chavez points out, no other education is necessary.
“You can earn so much and not have to go to college and get into debt,” she says.
3. Enroll in truck driver training.
Though larger companies advertise their own training, Chavez suggests choosing an independent training program so you aren’t contracted to drive for the company that trained you.
“The megacarriers will hire you quickly, but you tend to be just a number to them,” she says. “My school lasted two months, and then I could drive for anyone.”
4. Get a commercial driver’s license.
While requirements vary by state, you’ll likely have to apply for a CDL permit by passing a series of written exams and taking a vision test. Then, you’ll have to wait a specified period of time and pass a skills test to obtain your CDL.
Commercial driver’s licenses come in three different classes. Here is a breakdown of the three classes, what they mean, and which vehicles they allow you to drive:
Class A: Enables you to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (also known as GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the towed vehicle is heavier than 10,000 pounds.
What you can drive: Class A covers tractor-trailers, which are also known as semis, big rigs or 18-wheelers; truck and trailer combos; tankers; livestock carriers; and flat beds.
Class B: Required for a vehicle that isn’t hitched to a trailer — some commercial trucks that have an attached cab and cargo area with a combined weight greater than 26,000 pounds — or a truck with a towed cargo vehicle as long as it weighs less than 10,000 pounds.
What you can drive: Straight trucks; large buses, including city buses; box trucks (such as furniture trucks); and dump trucks with small trailers.
Class C: Allows you to operate a single vehicle with GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds, a vehicle towing another vehicle that weighs less than 10,000 pounds or transporting 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
What you can drive: Tripe trailers; regular buses; tank trucks and HAZMAT/emergency vehicles
Safety reminder: Brake inspections and proper maintenance are critical parts of professional trucking. If a crash ever involves suspected brake failure, understanding your legal options can help you protect your rights with a truck brake failure lawyer and determine whether a carrier, manufacturer, or maintenance provider may be responsible
You can also obtain one of six endorsements, which allow you to operate specific types of vehicles. These endorsements aren’t required but may help you secure a more specialized and potentially higher-paying job:
5. Apply for truck driver jobs.
Chavez says Linkedin and Indeed.com are both great places to find truck driving jobs, or you can apply directly through specific brand or trucking company websites. Some top U.S. trucking employers are:
UPS
Fedex
J.B. Hunt
YRC Freight
Old Dominion Freight Line
Landstar System
C.R. England
Swift
Schneider
Western Express
Werner Enterprises
Amazon
Walmart
How to become a local truck driver: 3 steps (no CDL or experience required!)
1. Get a driver’s license.
You can drive for Uber, DoorDash, Amazon, or another rideshare or delivery service without a commercial license.
2. Get a High school diploma or GED.
Most companies won’t hire a driver who hasn’t completed high school.
3. Pass a background check.
If you’re driving other people for a rideshare company, you’ll likely have to undergo a background check before you can start working.
These are some companies that hire drivers with a CDL (salary information is from Ziprecruiter):
Food and Beverage
Coca Cola Driver
Pay: $46,327 per year average, up to $84,865 Requirements:
High school diploma
Class A CDL
Clean driving record
Expect to work about 45 hours per week, or 10 per shift, with occasional overtime
Frito-Lay Regional Class-A Truck Driver
Pay: $42,289 average, up to $69,500
Requirements:
High school diploma
Class A CDL
At least 100,000 accident-free miles
Ability to stand for long time periods
Ability to lift between 15 and 50 pounds
Hours vary by location, but expect to work long shifts of about 12 hours
Pepsi CDL Driver
Pay: $46,614 average, up to $71,188
Requirements:
High school diploma
At least 21
Class A CDL
Pass a drug test and physical
Day shift can be as long as 12 hours
Delivery
FedEx City Driver or Road Driver
Pay: $35,472 average, up to $48,637
Requirements:
High school diploma
At least 21
Class A CDL
Clean driving record
Clean background check
Pass drug test
FedEx trains drivers for about two weeks
UPS Tractor Trailer Driver
Pay: $50,465 average, up to $91,318
Requirements:
High school diploma
Class A CDL
Clean driving record
Pass a road test and physical
Drivers work an average of 9 hours per shift, usually overnight
United States Postal Service Tractor Trailer Operator
Pay: $54,795 average, up to $91,318
Requirements:
High school diploma
At least 18
Class A CDL
Clean driving record
Pass a background and drug check.
Trucking companies
Schneider
Pay: $58,387 average, up to $93,500
Requirements:
Class A CDL
Schneider offers a three-week driver training program
Pass drug and background checks
Clean driving record
Pass a knowledge exam
Expect to work about 10 or 11 hours per shift
Swift
Pay: $88,111 average, up to $178,500
Requirements:
Swift drivers can earn their CDL in the “Swift Academy”
Pass written and road tests
Pass background checks
YRC Freight
Pay: $51,462 average, up to $84,500
Requirements:
Good driving record,
At least 21 years old
Class A CDL
At least a year of experience
For inexperienced drivers (less than six months driving), there’s a training program where you’ll be paired with a veteran driver for 160 hours.
Expect shifts to last between 8 and 11 hours
Companies that pay you to drive (CDL not required)
Coca Cola Delivery/Merchandising Driver
Pay: $33,089 average, up to $58,000
Requirements:
Driver’s license
Some customer service experience and/or merchandising experience preferred
Expect to work 8-hour shifts and some weekends.
FedEx Casual Courier
Pay: $46,686 average, up to $78,500
Requirements:
Driver’s license
Courier license for your state, which may involve job shadowing
Expect to work between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M.
Kroger Delivery Driver
Pay: $37,642 average, up to $65,000
Requirements:
At least 21
Driver’s license
Good driving record
Good communication skills,
Ability to lift boxes up to 50 pounds
Frito-Lay Delivery Specialist (Local Driver)
Pay: $42,289 average, up to $69,500
Requirements:
Driver’s license
Good driving record
Pepsi Driver Merchandiser
Pay: $32,353 average, up to $58,000
Requirements:
At least 18
Driver’s license
Insurance and your own vehicle
Positions can be full-time or part-time
UPS Package Delivery Driver
Pay: $35,168 average, up to $56,577
Requirements:
Driver’s license
Expect to work longer shifts, between 8 and 12 hours
UPS Personal Vehicle Driver
Pay: $46,486 average, up to $79,000
Requirements:
At least 21
Driver’s license and a car
Ability to lift boxes up to 70 pounds
United States Postal City Carrier
Pay: $41,788 average, up to $74,000
Requirements:
U.S. citizen
Valid driver’s license
Pass a written exam
Shifts are typically 8 hours
Apps that pay you to drive (CDL not required)
AmazonFlex
Pay: $43,009 average, up to $64,500
Requirements:
Midsize vehicle or larger
At least 21
Driver’s license
Smartphone
DoorDash
Pay: Doordashers make between $15 and $25 per hour, depending on mileage, delivery fees, and tips.
Requirements:
At least 18
Car and driver’s license (you can use a bike or scooter)
GrubHub
Pay: Similar to DoorDash, you’ll be paid based on mileage, delivery fees, and tips, but most drivers make an average of $18.28 per hour.
Requirements:
At least 19
Driver’s license
Car (or a bike in some places)
Smartphone
Instacart
Pay: $27,018 average, up to $46,556 per year
Requirements:
At least 18
Car and license
Smartphone
Able to lift 50 pounds.
Shipt
Pay: $42,900 average
Requirements:
At least 18
Car newer than 1997
Smartphone
Driver’s license
Ability to lift 45 pounds
Valid mailing address
Uber and UberEats
Uber pay: $42,257 average a year
Ubereats pay: $48,645 average a year
Requirements:
At least 19 years old
Car newer than 15 years
Pass a background check
Where to find a job as a woman truck driver
WomenInTrucking.org career center
WomenInTrucking.org posts trucking industry jobs, as well as career-related advice. You can sign up for email alerts related to your keywords and filter through your search by location, position title, and job functions.
Indeed.com
One of the most popular job search sites, Indeed allows you to search keywords, locations, salary and more, plus sign up for email alerts. Create a profile with a resume and cover letter, and you can easily apply to multiple jobs in one sitting.
ZipRecruiter
Ziprecruiter walks you through questions about your job search and gives you estimates on what salary you can expect to make and shows you matching jobs.
FAQs about becoming a truck driver
Is it worth it becoming a truck driver?
Yes! Because truck driving doesn’t require a college degree, you can make money without paying back hefty loans, Chavez says.
“Even if you don’t have a diploma, just get a GED. No other education is required,” she says. “You can earn so much and not have to go to college and get into debt.”
Chavez does her best to encourage the women who reach out to her on social media and says that a career in truck driving can be a great opportunity.
“I get questions and messages on Instagram since TikTok doesn’t allow much communication,” Chavez says. “I message the women back, and if they are interested [in truck driving] I tell them to get a grant to pay for the training. It’s still a man’s world right now, but I feel like once more women get into it, like it, and become confident, they’ll love it as much as I do.”
Is truck driving a good career for a woman?
Although the field is still dominated by men, the number of women in the field is growing, from 10% in 2019 to 13.7% in 2021.
“I’ve talked to so many trainers and so many people in HR who say that women are better at driving commercial vehicles,” Chavez says. “We’re diligent and careful. I think if more women are interested, that’s a good thing. There’s no micromanaging or corporate ladder to climb.”
What to expect for a female truck driver’s salary?
The average truck-driving salary in the United States is about $66,667 for less than one year of experience.
Is it hard becoming a truck driver?
No. The only thing you need to get started is a driver’s license and a diploma or GED. If you want to drive larger trucks and semis, you will need to go through a brief training program and earn a commercial license.
How do I get started as a truck driver?
Enroll in a CDL driving school — either an independent one in your state or one through a major carrier. Make sure you have a diploma or GED and regular license.
Can you make a living by being a truck driver?
Absolutely. The average salary for drivers with a year’s experience or less nationwide is $66,667.
Truck driving not for you? Check out these other job posts:
While some auction houses cater exclusively to collectors and investors looking to buy and sell items worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, jewelry auctions are accessible to sellers with a wide variety of items to sell.
Online jewelry auctions vs. traditional auctions
Interested in potentially selling your jewelry through an auction? Below’s a look at some of the best jewelry auctions online you might be considering, as well as our top recommendation.
Worthy.com is an online auction site that focuses on diamond and branded jewelry. It’s also our #1 recommendation for a jewelry auction site. This means that for most people looking to sell jewelry like a diamond engagement ring, bracelet, earrings, necklace, or another piece of jewelry or timepiece, Worthy is the place to beat. The site is very interested in branded items like Tiffany, Cartier and Rolex.
Why do we recommend Worthy above the other options listed below? For a number of reasons:
Trust: Worthy has an A+ rating with the BBB and a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot calculated from more than 3,700 customer reviews.
Audience: The only buyers allowed to participate in Worthy’s auctions are professional jewelry buyers who are willing to pay up for truly valuable pieces of jewelry.
Control: Sellers have full control over the minimum sale price that will be listed for their item.
Ease: Selling your item jewelry through Worthy is as easy as it gets, and you can start the whole process in a matter of minutes.
Safety: Worthy will provide you with a free, trackable, and insured FedEx mailer to ship your jewelry to them for evaluation and eventual sale, and items are insured up to $100,000 from Lloyds of London.
Speed: Once your item sells, you’ll be paid within 24 hours of the sale’s close. The whole process takes about two weeks.
Selling your jewelry through Worthy works like this:
Go to Worthy.com, select the type of jewelry you are looking to sell, and click “Get started”
Describe the piece of jewelry you are interested in selling. This will include the setting, shape, carat weight, color, clarity, and brand of your item.
Enter your name, email address, and phone number, and you will receive an estimated price for your item.
You’ll then be contacted by a member of Worthy’s customer service team to answer any questions you may have and to explain the process moving forward.
If you would like to proceed, Worthy will send you a free, insured FedEx mailer to send your item to them for a formal appraisal.
Ship the item.
Your item will then be officially appraised and Worthy will tell you the market value that it believes your jewelry can sell for. This will typically be provided in a range of likely sales prices. As a part of the appraisal process, you will receive a free GIA certificate for your stone(s).
If you would like to proceed with auctioning your jewelry, you will need to set a reserve (or minimum) sale price, and then your item will be listed.
If your item sells, you’ll be paid within 24 hours of the sale.
Of course, Worthy does not accept every piece of jewelry. Typically, they will only accept diamond jewelry, like engagement rings, that will likely sell for at least $1,000. That typically means it will have a center stone that is at least half a carat in size. That’s why it’s a great option for auctioning estate jewelry online, since estate jewelry often holds a lot of value.
If your jewelry does not contain a diamond or is worth less than $1,000, you may be better suited selling to an online metal or diamond buyer, such as CashforGoldUSA and its sister site Diamonds USA (formerly CashforDiamondsUSA), both of which have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Bidsquare is an online auction marketplace founded in 2014 that hosts live and timed online auctions from hundreds of auction houses, dealers, and galleries from around the world. The site reports that more than $500 million in bids have been placed on the site for items including jewelry, fine art, antiques, furniture, and collectibles like coins and figurines.
Jewelry brands on Bidsquare.com include Cartier, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Dior.
Unlike other auction sites, an individual seller can’t list an item directly on Bidsquare.com.
While you cannot get an appraisal from the site, Bidsquare does offer a directory of its auction house partners, including those that offer appraisal services.
Bidsquare is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating and 3.9/5 stars on Trustpilot.
How jewelry auctions on Bidsquare.com work
If you want to list an item on Bidsquare, you’ll have to do so through one of its partner auction houses. Each auction house has its own separate requirements and process of listing an item.
If you’re looking to bid on the site, you can register for a live auction or place an absentee bid, which allows you to set a max bid for an item if you are not able to bid during the auction period. Bidsquare will automatically bid on your behalf up to your max bid. The site also hosts “Buy Now” events where you can purchase items at a fixed price.
Pros of Bidsquare.com
Only partners with 100% vetted auction houses
Absentee bidding means bidders don’t have to be present to bid
Mobile app for iOS and Android devices
Cons of Bidsquare.com
Individual sellers cannot auction items directly through Bidsquare
Does not provide appraisals
Christie’s review
Similar to Sotheby’s, Christie’s is a known and trusted international auction house with locations throughout the world. Christie’s sells jewelry through 26 auctions per year, as well on its website, and through private sales at its “Christie’s Salons” in London and New York.
These private sale salons are simply showrooms where estate jewelry is for sale at retail prices starting at $2,000.
Some of the most famous pieces of jewelry to pass through the Christie’s auction house include:
The Oppenheimer Blue
Le Grand Mazarin
The De Grisogono emerald and diamond necklace
and more
How selling jewelry with Christie’s works
To sell your old jewelry through a Christie’s auction, you will need to first navigate to their website and request an auction estimate. To request an estimate, you’ll need to describe your piece, upload up to three photos of your item, and upload any supporting documentation you may have.
If your item is accepted by Christie’s, they will provide a free estimate for a likely sale price of your item. A sales representative will contact you to discuss the best venue for selling your item, whether that is through a physical auction, private sale, or online event.
If your item sells during an auction, you’ll be paid 35 days after the sale of your item, so long as the buyer has made payment. If your item doesn’t sell, Christie’s will contact you to discuss either relisting your item in a future auction or to coordinate your collection of the item.
Pros of Christie’s
Christie’s is a trusted and well-known brand
International customer base
Free auction estimate when you submit photos online
A Christie’s sales associate will help you decide which sales method makes most sense for your item: Auction, private, or online sale
A- BBB rating
Cons of Christie’s
Christie’s deals almost exclusively with high-value pieces of jewelry such as antique and designer pieces. It’s a good option if you’re looking for a high-end estate jewelry auction online, but not if you have lower-value items.
If Christie’s passes on your item, it will not provide a free estimate. By comparison, Worthy provides a free estimate and GIA certification regardless of whether you ultimately sell through them.
It takes 3 to 6 weeks to receive an estimate, which is a long time to wait. You will then need to wait weeks or months to actually sell your item at auction. By comparison, you will receive an initial estimate from Worthy in a matter of minutes, and your item can be listed for auction on the site within 7 days.
Payment takes a long time after sale: 35 days after the close of sale, compared to 24 hours with Worthy.
You are responsible for paying for shipping and insurance, etc. of your item.
ebay continues to be one of the largest online marketplaces for selling new or used items, including jewelry. Founded in 1995, ebay has a B+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (rising from its B in September 2024).
How ebay auctions work
To sell on ebay, you have to make a profile and upload pictures/descriptions of the items you wish to sell. You can either list an item under Buy it Now to sell at a set price or put it up as an auction-style listing, where you name a starting price and buyers can bid on your item, driving up the price.
The highest bidder at the end of your auction period is contractually obligated to buy it. ebay typically takes a commission of 10-15% of the sale price.
Pros of ebay
Access to 152 million active buyers
List up to 200 items for free every month (you only pay a commission when they sell)
Straightforward selling process
Fast payment (within 2 business days of sale)
ebay app allows you to quickly post new listings
B BBB rating (accredited since 1998)
Cons of ebay
With 19 million active sellers, you have a lot of competition
Most ebay shoppers are bargain hunters, which means you might have trouble selling high-end items at a fair price
Must be able to ship items quickly (typically within 24 hours)
1.2/5 stars on Trustpilot based on more than 12,000 customer reviews
Heritage Auctions review
Heritage Auctions is the largest collectibles auctioneer and the third-largest auction house in the world (it’s the largest founded in the U.S.). It was formed in 1976 and is based in Dallas, Texas, though it has offices throughout the world.
Among other major transactions, it auctioned actor John Wayne’s personal property and movie memorabilia for $5.4 million.
Heritage Auctions facilitates auctions for a wide range of collectibles, including:
Coins and rare currency
Fine and decorative art
Vintage comic books and comic art
Movie posters
Entertainment and music memorabilia
Jewelry and watches (including estate jewelry auctions online)
Vintage and couture handbags
Sports Collectibles
Historical items
Rare books and manuscripts
Photography
Fine and rare wine
Luxury real estate
Heritage Auctions has an A+ accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.
How selling jewelry through Heritage Auctions works
Heritage Auctions only accepts certain types of jewelry, including:
Antique fine jewelry 100+ years old
Vintage fine jewelry 50+ years old
Fine jewelry owned by a celebrity
Large loose gemstones (unmounted diamonds, sapphires, rubies, etc.)
Antique and vintage diamond and pearl necklaces
Heritage Auctions recommends people who want to sell their jewelry search the auction archives to determine its potential value. If your item meets one of the qualifying criteria above, you can request a free appraisal through the Heritage Auction website.
Heritage doesn’t openly publish its seller fees, but most reviews note a 10% or less commission rate.
Pros of Heritage Auctions
50+ years in business
A+ BBB rating (accredited)
Large, reputable auction house
Accepts a wide variety of collectible items
Provides free and confidential estimated valuations of property (fees apply for formal written appraisals)
Cons of Heritage Auctions
Exclusively handles high-end jewelry sales (check out CashforGoldUSA/DiamondsUSA and Worthy for a wider range of jewelry sales)
Doesn’t accept the following jewelry types: Costume jewelry, hat pins, comic watches or clocks, sterling silver jewelry, ivory jewelry
Payments not made until 45 days after auction closes (Worthy pays within 24 hours)
Long shipping times, up to 30 days
1.8/5 stars on Trustpilot based on only 10 reviews
HiBid review
HiBid is an online auction platform that provides auction services for everything from jewelry to antiques, china and silver flatware and tableware, art, cars, electronics, real estate, and more.
It is operated by parent company Auction Flex, which also operates other auction sites and brands focused on different categories. HiBid is primarily used by companies who are looking to host auctions for their goods, and is not really used by individuals looking to sell single pieces of jewelry.
As of December 15, 2024, HiBid holds an A+ rating from BBB (accredited). It holds 3.9/5 stars on Trustpilot
How selling jewelry through HiBid works
HiBid caters to professional sellers and not individuals. If you are a professional seller looking to list a piece of jewelry for auction on the HiBid platform, you will need to navigate to their website (jewelry.hibid.com) and click on “Sell Stuff” in the menu.
You will then need to provide your name, phone number, email address, location, and a brief description of the item that you are looking to sell. A HiBid auctioneer that is local to you will contact you for additional details about your item as well as to answer any questions you may have.
HiBid supports three types of internet bidding, including
Webcast Live Bidding: Internet bidders are able to bid in real time against bidders on the auction floor. This will require someone from your company operating the platform to interact with internet bidders.
Internet-Only Bidding: This works much like you would find on a platform like eBay.
Internet Absentee Bidding: This allows you to take bids on your items before the auction actually begins, allowing the price to immediately start higher when the auction officially begins.
Pros of HiBid
If you are a professional seller such as a jeweler, jewelry store, collector, importer, etc., then a platform like HiBid can make sense for you
Variety of online bidding options gives you flexibility when running your sale.
Cons of HiBid
HiBid is primarily focused on catering to professional sellers, so the platform is not a good choice if you are an individual looking to sell a single piece of jewelry.
HiBid is not a particularly well-known auction brand among everyday buyers.
The website and platform are not very user-friendly. This makes it difficult for both the buyer who is looking for auctions as well as the seller who is looking for information or to list their items.
Invaluable.com review
Invaluable.com is a marketplace of items listed for auction by auction houses around the world. Individual sellers cannot directly list jewelry on Invaluable.com, but instead can list through one of its partner auction houses, which include Sotheby’s, Phillips, and Heritage Auctions.
Jewelry auctioned on Invaluable.com includes estate and antique jewelry, fine jewelry, and costume jewelry. Some notable brands include Tiffany and Rolex, though the majority of pieces appear to be unbranded.
Items auctioned on Invaluable.com include fine art, jewelry, collectibles, and furniture, with more than 475,000 bids placed each month. If you’re a bidder, Invaluable.com also offers an artist database so you can find items by a specific designer, brand or artist.
The site has an A+ rating from the BBB for parent company Auction Holdings and 3.8/5 stars on Trustpilot.
How jewelry auctions on Invaluable.com work
Auction houses pay a commission fee to have their items listed on Invaluable.com, which expands their reach and draws in more bidders.
Users register to bid during live auctions on the site and can place bids online or via phone during the auction period.
Pros of Invaluable.com
Access to items from vetted auction houses from around the world
Works with some of the top auction houses in the world
Mobile app for iOS and Android devices
Cons of Invaluable.com
Individuals cannot directly list items on Invaluable.com
Does not offer appraisals
Jewelry-Auctioned review
Jewelry-Auctioned is an online jewelry auction site that specializes in auctioning discount jewelry and gemstones to the site’s users. The company has been in business since 2005.
Only verified manufacturers and wholesalers are allowed to sell their jewelry through the website, so Jewelry-Auctioned isn’t a good choice for most individual sellers. That being said, buyers can find everything from bracelets and earrings to pearl, necklaces, pendants, rings, watches, and more on the platform.
How selling jewelry through Jewelry-Auctioned works
In order to sell on the Jewelry-Auctioned platform, you will need to be a jewelry manufacturer or wholesaler. If you are, you will need to apply to the company’s Verified Seller program and meet the following requirements:
Must be knowledgeable and passionate about the jewelry trade and industry
Must be able to offer competitive prices
Provide business and professional references to prove that you own an established business
The application process is extensive, requiring multiple background checks and verification of your identity. If you are accepted, you will be placed on a 3-month probation which limits how many items you can list for sale. Probation will be lifted after 3 months of active selling as long as you have 95% positive feedback, 20 or more positive reviews, and meet other criteria.
Pros of Jewelry-Auctioned
The stringent application process to sell on the Jewelry-Auctioned platform has ensured that the brand maintain a high sense of trust with buyers
Commission rates are fairly low: ranging from a high of 10% on sales $1-$49 to a low of 5% on sales of $20,000 or more
Cons of Jewelry-Auctioned
Jewelry-Auctioned only accepts items from verified wholesalers and manufacturers, which means that individuals cannot list their jewelry for sale on the platform. Worthy, on the other hand, allows anyone to submit their jewelry for auction so long as it meets their minimum $1,000 value threshold.
The platform caters specifically to buyers of discount jewelry, which may make it more difficult to sell higher-end pieces.
Live Auctioneers review
Live Auctioneers was founded in NYC in the early 2000s. In 2002, they partnered with eBay to form eBay Live Auctions, and since then have expanded their own platform to include a website as well as Apple and Android apps that buyers can use to bid on auctions of art, jewelry, furniture, antiques, gold coins and silver coins, collectibles, fashion, and more. Auctions take place both in person and online through the platform.
How selling jewelry through Live Auctioneers works
Live Auctioneers does not actually run any auctions itself, but instead acts as an auction platform for professional auction houses. Individuals looking to sell items such as single pieces of jewelry can apply to consign their item by navigating to the website and filling out the form, which will include information like:
Description of the item
How you acquired the item (inheritance, purchase, etc)
The category the item falls into
A photo of the item
Your item will then be circulated among the more than 7,000 auctioneers that use the Live Auctioneers platform. If an auctioneer is interested in your item, they will contact you directly with next steps.
Pros of Live Auctioneers
Long history and established brand
Accredited with the BBB since 2015 with an A- rating and 4.4/5 stars on Trustpilot
Network of more than 7,000 auctioneers
13 million active bidders on the platform ensure you’re getting your item in front of a wide audience
Cons of Live Auctioneers
You will only be contacted about your item if an auctioneer in the network is interested. Each auctioneer has their own standards and requirements.
Estimates are not included as a part of the consignment process. By comparison, when you submit a piece of jewelry to Worthy you will receive a complimentary estimate as well as a GIA lab report for your diamonds.
Property Room review
Property Room is an online auction site and platform where buyers can bid on and purchase abandoned, seized, stolen, or surplus goods like cars, jewelry, watches, and more. The company was started in 1999.
Though the platform was originally just a place for law enforcement agencies to auction the items in their property and evidence room (where the site’s name comes from) it has since expanded to include partnerships with fire departments, parks, airports, and municipalities—totaling more than 4,000 total partnerships. Today, the site also allows certain select stores to list items, particularly during liquidations.
How selling jewelry through Property Room works
Currently, individuals can’t list their own items for auction or sale on Property Room. The platform is only available for law enforcement and municipal offices, and select retailers. Those interested in partnering with the site can navigate to the website and click “Earn with Property Room” in order to submit an application, which will ask for:
Your name and title
The agency or organization name
City and state
Phone number and email address
How many officers in your agency (if applicable)
And the specific category of items you are looking to auction (property and evidence, firearms, vehicles)
You will be contacted by a Property Room associate within a week of submitting the application.
Pros of Property Room
A+ BBB rating
Makes it easier for law enforcement agencies, fire departments, parks departments, and municipalities to auction lost, seized, abandoned, or stolen property
Connects sellers with millions of bidders around the country
Cons of Property Room
The platform is not accessible to individual sellers looking to auction off their personal property, whether jewelry or other items
In many cases, property is seized from criminals, a concept that some buyers may not be comfortable with
Sotheby’s review
Sotheby’s is one of the most famous and prestigious auction houses. In fact, when you think “auction” this is probably the one that comes to mind, alongside Christie’s. Sotheby’s focuses primarily on fine art and high-end jewelry, watches (including Rolexes), fashion, collectibles, and even wine.
When it comes to jewelry, Sotheby’s tends to prefer designer pieces from well-known artists and creators, such as Bvlgari, Cartier, Chopard, Hermes, Tiffany, Van Cleef, and others. Sotheby’s boasts that it has sold 4 out of the 5 most expensive jewels ever offered at an auction, including:
“CTF Pink Star,” a 59.60ct oval-cut Fancy Vivid Pink diamond sold in 2017 for $71.2 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.
“Apollo & Artemis diamonds,” a 14.54ct Fancy Vivid Blue diamond and a 16ct Fancy Intense Pink diamond for $57.4 million at Sotheby’s Geneva.
While Sotheby’s is known for its extremely high-selling items, they do accept items of lower value as well. You can currently find pieces of jewelry as low as $1,620 listed on the “Buy Now” section of their site.
How Sotheby’s jewelry auctions work
To sell your jewelry with Sotheby’s, all you need to do is go to their website and click “Sell” in the navigation. You can then request a complimentary estimate online by submitting photographs of your jewelry, along with a brief description.
Within 5 to 7 business days, you will receive a free estimate on the value of your item, and it meets Sotheby’s quality standards and value threshold, the company will then offer placement in one of its scheduled auctions. These auctions take place throughout the year, both in person as well as online. If the item doesn’t meet these standards, then Sotheby’s may offer consignment placement on the “Buy Now” section of their website.
You can also request an in-person evaluation of your item by meeting with a specialist in the closest city with a Sotheby’s gallery. These include:
New York City
Las Vegas
San Francisco
Geneva
Hong Kong
London
Paris
Milan
Tokyo
Madrid
Monte Carlo
If your item sells through an auction, you will be paid 45 days after the auction has closed. If you sell your item through consignment on the “Buy Now” section of their website, then you will receive payment 30 days after the buyer receives your item.
Sotheby’s has a C- BBB rating and only 1.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
Pros of Sotheby’s
Glamorous association and trusted name
For truly high-value items, the venue will attract a high net worth clientele that may help push the final sale price higher
Cons of Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s commissions are rather high: between 14.9% and 26%, depending on the final sale price of the items
Commissions at international auction houses are typically 25%
Sotheby’s only accepts higher-end jewelry, usually only name-brand pieces. CashforGoldUSA/DiamondsUSA and Worthy both accept a wider range of jewelry.
Frequently asked questions about jewelry auctions
How to sell jewelry at auction?
Typically, jewelry auction sites first vet your item to decide whether it meets their criteria before you send it in. More details on how auctions work:
How do jewelry auctions work?
While every auctioneer will have its own auction procedures, the process typically goes like this:
Send your jewelry or diamonds to the auctioneer for evaluation (or take detailed photos)
If your items are accepted, you’ll work with the auctioneer to set a minimum auction price
Most auctioneers will clean and photograph your items to prepare for auction
Your items will be listed over a set period of time, during which buyers can bid on your items
Some auctioneers list your items online, while others hold live video or in-person auctions (and some do a combination of both)
Accept or reject bids for your items
Receive payment after a set amount of time (Worthy pays you within 24 hours) minus the auctioneer’s commission
But before you sell your jewelry or diamonds at auction, you should have them appraised to determine their potential value.
You can search “jewelry appraisal near me,” but be aware that not every appraiser is an unbiased entity, nor will every appraiser provide you with a report that can be presented to an auctioneer.
If you want to sell your jewelry for the most money, Worthy offers a free lab report from the Gemological Institute of America, a nonprofit institution that provides an impartial report on the quality of your diamonds and gems. Worthy uses this report to determine the estimated value of your jewelry.
Are online jewelry auctions legit?
The short answer is: Yes, jewelry auctions are just as legit as any other kind of auction. That being said, while they don’t happen very often, auction scams are possible.
On the buying side of the equation, items may be misrepresented, which is typically only a concern with online auctions where you cannot view the whole item for sale. Additionally, it’s possible for prices to be inflated by fake bids. On the selling side, there are fewer risks.
This is why choosing the right auction house or auction site is so important. Reputable auction houses will have protections in place for both the buyer and the seller, and these protections should instill confidence in the entire process.
What’s the difference in price between a jewelry auction and selling direct to a jewelry buyer?
The primary difference lies in the mechanics of how the sale works.
When you sell to a jewelry buyer, you are selling your item to a single buyer. This means that it’s up to you to ensure that you are getting the best possible price for your item. Usually, this will involve comparison selling, where you will need to seek out offers from a number of different buyers.
When you sell through an auction, you are selling to multiple buyers. This ensures that when the item finally does sell, it goes to the individual who is willing to pay the highest price. The auction process itself can also drive the price higher than you might have gotten through a one-on-one sale, especially in cases where you’ve got a really valuable or in-demand item.
Bottom line: What is the best online jewelry auction?
When evaluating the best online jewelry auctions,Worthy.com stands out as the best online auction platform for jewelry, for a number of reasons: transparent process, excellent reputation, and great customer service.
With Worthy, it’s also very easy to get a quote and send your item for auctioning. Worthy only sells to a network of professional buyers, who the site notes are more likely to bid higher amounts for high-quality jewelry than the kind of buyers you might find on sites like eBay or elsewhere.
Of course, if you have an extremely valuable piece of jewelry, like a $4 million diamond tiara, you might be better served going with Christie’s or Sotheby’s. But in most cases, for an average engagement ring worth at least $1,000,
Are online jewelry auctions legit?
Yes, jewelry auctions are just as legit as any other kind of auction. That being said, while they don’t happen very often, auction scams are possible.
What is the best auction site for jewelry?
In most cases, Worthy.com stands out as the best online auction platform for jewelry, for a number of reasons: transparent process, excellent reputation, and great customer service.
If you struggle with money — or you have a specific goal to save money going into the new year — following a budget can help you stay on track.
Budget worksheets provide a basic layout for tracking your monthly expenses and income so you can pinpoint where your money is going and figure out areas where you can cut back on spending.
Here are free budgeting templates (plus a few paid options) to help you achieve your money goals:
A budget worksheet should track your monthly income, bills, and expenses to show how much money you have — or don’t have — left.
Seeing how much you’re spending in a visual way can help you set financial goals to adjust your spending and strategize ways to boost savings or pay off debts, including starting a side gig.
Mique Provost, the blogger behind the Thirty Handmade Days craft blog, put together a budget binder as a way to get her own spending on track. You can get her budget worksheets for free if you subscribe to her weekly newsletter (she notes that you can unsubscribe at any time).
The 10+ worksheets in this budget binder include:
Monthly spending overview
Year at a glance spending overview
Savings goals
Grocery list budgeting
Meal planner
Outstanding debt tracker
You can keep these sheets organized in any 1-inch binder and use dividers for each month. Provost also recommends laminating some sheets (like the grocery and meal planning lists) and writing on them with a dry-erase marker so you can use the same ones each month.
This template created by blogger Heather Moritz is designed for zero-based budgeting (ZBB). The ZBB method helps you track every cent by creating a budget that equals zero after subtracting expenses, savings, and debt from your income.
The two-page printable budget lists detailed sections, including:
Income
Set expenses like savings, retirement, mortgage, insurance, and utilities
Debts like student loans and credit cards
Adjustable expenses like groceries, clothes, gas, and entertainment
After providing your first name and email, you can download the template from your inbox.
This two-page worksheet includes a monthly budget sheet and a monthly expenses sheet to track specific spending habits. The budget page’s organized grid layout helps you see all your expenses by category, including:
Housing
Utilities
Food
Charity
Transportation
Personal (like clothing and entertainment)
Medical debts
The sheet can be downloaded directly from the website as a PDF.
Microsoft Excel offers various personal budget templates to help you create monthly, annual, and event/item budgets. Depending on your needs, templates range from simple spreadsheet formats to aesthetic sheets with graphs and color coding.
Some Microsoft Excel budget template options include:
Monthly family budget planner
Simple personal budget
Budget summary report
Balance sheet
Event budget
Holiday budget planner
Vacation budget planner
All of the templates are optimized to be filled out in Excel, but most can be printed. However, these templates are only “free” if you already pay for Microsoft 365. There are also premium templates that cost additional money.
Canva is a free online design program typically used to edit social media posts, but it also offers free budget templates. Templates include simple single-page monthly budget printables, or more specialized pages to create a comprehensive budget binder, including pages for:
Debt tracking
Savings tracking
Expense tracking
Monthly budget lists/grids
Financial goal tracking
Grocery budgets
You can also customize the free budget templates if you want to change colors, fonts, or layouts. To access the free templates, create a free Canva account with your Google, email, or Facebook account.
Money expert Clark Howard created the CLARK method, a 5-step plan to help you budget for the long haul:
Calculate your income
List your expenses
Analyze your spending and set goals
Record everything
Knock out debt and build savings
Clark’s free budget worksheet is an editable PDF that includes categories like:
Mortgage/rent
Groceries
Cell phone bill and other bills
Each month, you set a dollar amount for each category and aim to stick within those boundaries. The worksheet also allows you to highlight specific spending categories you want to work on improving. Highlight “Needs Help” if you want to focus on that particular category, and if you’re satisfied with it, highlight “Looks Good.”
You don’t have to provide your name or email to download the Clark worksheet.
Credit Karma is a free personal finance tool. In addition to monitoring your credit score and accessing your credit report you can use it as a financial tracking app that links your bank accounts, credit cards, and retirement accounts for real-time spending and savings tracking. If you need a visual spreadsheet, Credit Karma offers a simple and detailed monthly budget template for Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
The simple budget template includes:
Budget totals for income/expenses/balance
Budget/expenses breakdown bar graphs
Top 5 expenses budget summary
Income inputs chart
Expense inputs chart to track expenses by category
The detailed budget template includes:
Budget totals for income/expenses/balance
Budget/Expenses breakdown bar graphs
Total expenses budget summary by category
Income inputs chart
Expense inputs chart organized by categories and subcategories
You can download either budget template directly as an .XLSX file. Then fill out the template using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to customize expenses and categories. You can also connect the templates to the Mint app, so you can streamline your categories and expenses across your spreadsheet and mobile budgeting.
The virtual organizational and productivity app, Evernote, also offers a budget template you can seamlessly include with your notes, to-do lists, calendars, and documents. The budget planner keeps your monthly income and expenses in one digital place, while helping you track savings. You can also customize the template as needed, but it originally includes sections for:
This template can be a great addition if you already use Evernote and need a budget you can print and use digitally. If you’re new to Evernote, you can create a free account with your email for limited access to the app’s features. But if you want more storage space and features, you can purchase a personal plan for $14.99/month.
The Jotform Tables is a one-stop solution to boost efficiency within your organization. It offers spreadsheets, workspaces, and table templates. You can sign up for free.
If you’re planning to make a budget, Jot Tables has budget templates you can easily use to keep track of your finances and build financial stability for the future.
Some of the budget templates include:
Personal Budget Template
Weekly Budget Template
Monthly Budget Template
Restaurant Budget Template
Business Budget Template
Travel Budget Template
You just have to find a template that best suits your needs. For example, the Monthly Budget Template includes columns for:
Projected Expense
Description-
Type
Actual Expense
Difference
Total Contribution to Budget
Income/Expenses
You can access these budget templates from the Jotform Website.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. David Weliver, the founder of Money Under 30, put together a simple budget worksheet that includes columns for general expense categories like dining, travel and entertainment.
This budget worksheet is available as a downloadable PDF or via Google Sheets. If you’re using the spreadsheet version, go to File > Make a Copy to save a copy you can edit.
The 50/30/20 budget is a buzzy name for separating your income by 50%, 30%, and 20% into three categories: mandatory expenses, savings and debt payments, and wants. Following the 50/30/20 method, this template from Ally Financial organizes your:
Income
Needs (like home costs, child care, and groceries) that account for 50% of your income
Wants (like nonessential dining out and travel) that account for 30% of your income
Savings (like investments and retirement) that account for 20% of your income
You can download the template as a free PDF directly from Ally’s website. Before you print, you can also digitally add additional categories, and the sheet helps you add up your spending.
Free Google Sheets budget templates
If you want a template that does all the math for you, Google Sheets offers annual and monthly budget templates. You can also find tons of third-party templates you can customize in Google Sheets.
If you stick with Google Sheets, the monthly budget template offers:
Expenses section
Income section
Bar graphs to visualize budgeting wins and losses
A separate sheet for specific transactions to calculate total category spend
How do I create a budget template in Google Sheets?
The easiest way to make your own Google Sheets budget template is to start with the monthly budget template. You can find this template by logging into your Google account, visiting Google Sheets, and clicking on the template gallery button near the top right of the page.
Budget templates are located under the personal category. After selecting the monthly budget template, you can customize the expense and income sections and delete any graphs you don’t want.
With Apple Numbers, you can use and manage templates on your iPhone and easily create your own budgeting templates on a Mac, iPad, or iPhone to track your income, spending, and savings and take control of your finances.
Apple Numbers have pre-designed and pre-formatted templates designed by professionals, which means they’re visually appealing and easy to use.
Apple Numbers also has a built-in functionality that automates calculations for an easy and accurate analysis of your spending.
Fold.Money is another app you can use to allocate funds more effectively and lead a healthier financial lifestyle.
Upon downloading the app, you’ll have to provide your phone number for security purposes and to easily recover accounts linked to your number.
Fold automatically pulls your bank transactions from your bank accounts and credit cards in one place so you can say goodbye to manual transaction entry.
Fold calculates the money left to spend after deducting outgoing expenses from the month’s total income. This way, you can prevent yourself from overspending.
iSaveMoney is a free budgeting app that allows you to create unlimited budgets. However, they also offer a Pro version with a free 3-day trial, after which yofvv. vu will be charged $14.99 weekly. The Pro version allows you to export, snap photo receipts, and remove ads.
It’s pretty straightforward. You’ll need to input your budget’s start and end dates, along with your initial balance.
Then, you’ll select categories like disposable income and budgeted expenses, which include line items like:
Home/rent
Daily living
Transportation
Entertainment
Health care
Dues/subscriptions
Financial savings
Once you’ve set your budget, it will show you your savings and budget spent.
The Ivy Wallet Money Manager makes budgeting easy with a simple UI/UX, which earned the app recognition as the Best App in 2021/2022 Charts by the YouTube tech community.
Upon signing up to use the app, which is completely free, you can choose your currency and add banking/other accounts. You can add categories to your spending like:
Bills & fees
Transport
Groceries
Car
Work
Fitness
Family
The app also allows you to set payment reminders so you never forget to pay your bills.
Alternatives to free printable templates and Google Sheets
Don’t see a free template or Google Sheets that clicks with your budgeting needs? Or maybe printing them yourself just seems like too much work? Purchasing a budget binder already complete with templates or using a more sophisticated, paid app may be for you.
Sooez Budget binder with zipper envelopes
For about $10, this compact binder includes:
24 A6-size budget sheets to log expenses/savings by date, description, amount, and balance
Eight clear cash envelopes
Slots for stowing credit cards
34 different category labels
This binder is ideal if you plan to budget by categories rather than months. Reviewers love the simple customizable system, but some folks don’t like the binder’s small size and quality.
Get it on Amazon:
Clever Fox budget planner
If you prefer a detailed monthly budget, this $22 bound journal includes a year’s worth of budget templates. It also doubles as a financial journal and offers pages to help you plan long-term and monthly financial goals. The planner is undated and includes:
1 annual financial goals page
1 mindmap planning page
2 strategy and tactics pages to set long-term financial goals
2 debt tracking pages
12 pages to organize monthly goals, checklists, and income/savings (with a calendar)
12 monthly budget pages
12 expense trackers
12 monthly budget reviews
2 Christmas budgeting pages
2 annual summary pages
2 pages of stickers
An inner pocket for receipts or bills
Reviewers love this planner’s high-level organization. The pre-printed budget worksheets include basically any expense you can think of, with additional write-in areas. However, some folks with larger handwriting say the planner is too small.
Get it on Amazon:
Simplifi by Quicken (free trial!)
Simplifi is a budget management website and app available on iOS and Android devices.
With Simplifi, you can:
View all of your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and investments in a single dashboard
Get an automatically generated spending plan
Track your spending in your own custom categories
Set spending limits to reach financial goals
Simplifi is ad free and run by Quicken Inc., a company formerly owned by Intuit (Quickbooks, Quicken Loans, TurboTax). The app costs $3.99 per month.
All personal and financial data in Simplifi is protected using 256-bit encryption.
YNAB budget app (free trial!)
If you’d rather go digital, You Need A Budget (YNAB) is a budgeting app with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating accessible across your phone, tablet, and computer. The app acts as a pocket-financial advisor and can help you figure out how to save more money, pay off debt, and set financial goals with features including:
Secure connection to your banking accounts to track all your expenses
Goal tracking for spending/savings
Detailed budget creator to set your budget and track all your expense categories
Smart categorization to create personalized categories of expenses, debt, and savings
Loan calculator
Spending reports (with charts) to track categories like rent, groceries, etc.
Net worth reports (with charts) to show financial progress from debt to building wealth
Income v expense reports reach any specific financial goals
100+ free budgeting video courses
If you’re unsure whether an app is for you, there’s a 34-day free trial. After that, you can pay $99/year ($8.25/month and $80 savings) or $14.99/month.
FAQs about budget templates
How do you make a budget worksheet?
You can create your own budget worksheet using premade templates on Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. If you’re more design savvy or prefer a prettier layout, Canva offers budget sheet templates you can customize in minutes. You can also use plain old paper and pencil, or designate a notebook for budgeting.
Include each of your monthly expenses on a line, including things like utility bills, rent, loans, car payment, credit card bills, food and gas spending, etc., and figure out how much money you have left at the end of the month. Evaluate your spending and see where you could potentially cut back and how much you can set aside in savings each month.
How do I create a budget spreadsheet?
You can create budget spreadsheets using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. Both offer templates you can customize for your budgeting goals. You can use these digitally to keep track of your money and also print them out.
Does Google Sheets have a budget template?
Yes, Google Sheets offers a couple of budget templates. To find these templates, open Google Sheets and click on the template gallery button near the top right of the page (it’s to the right of “Start a new spreadsheet”). You’ll find both budget templates under the Personal category. After opening the template of your choice, there are instructions on how to customize the sheet.
Is there a budget template in Google Docs?
No, Google Docs does not offer a budget template. However, you can access the Google Sheets budget templates via Google Docs. Click three lines on the top left of the page to access the main menu. From there, click “Sheets.”
Is there a budget template in Excel?
Yes, Microsoft Excel offers budget templates — including monthly, annual, and specialized templates for specific saving goals. Once you open Excel, select “Templates” on the “New Workbook” menu.
Is there a budget template in Word?
No, Microsoft Word does not offer budget templates. However, if you have Microsoft 365, you can access Microsoft Excel’s budget templates.
How do you create a simple budget?
Setting up a budget, at its most basic, should include a list of your income and expenses. This will help you identify areas you’re overspending, or see how much money you have left each month.
How do you make a budget worksheet?
You can create your own budget worksheet using premade templates on Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Include each of your monthly expenses on a line, including things like utility bills, rent, loans, car payment, credit card bills, food and gas spending, etc., and figure out how much money you have left at the end of the month.
How do I create a budget spreadsheet?
You can create budget spreadsheets using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. Both offer templates you can customize for your budgeting goals. You can use these digitally to keep track of your money and also print them out.
Does Google Sheets have a budget template?
Yes, Google Sheets offers a couple of budget templates. To find these templates, open Google Sheets and click on the template gallery button near the top right of the page (it’s to the right of “Start a new spreadsheet”). You’ll find both budget templates under the Personal category. After opening the template of your choice, there are instructions on how to customize the sheet.
Is there a budget template in Google Docs?
No, Google Docs does not offer a budget template. However, you can access the Google Sheets budget templates via Google Docs.
Is there a budget template in Excel?
Yes, Microsoft Excel offers budget templates — including monthly, annual, and specialized templates for specific saving goals. Once you open Excel, select “Templates” on the “New Workbook” menu.
Is there a budget template in Word?
No, Microsoft Word does not offer budget templates. However, if you have Microsoft 365, you can access Microsoft Excel’s budget templates.
