How to Make $500+ Selling Stuff Before ASU Graduation
A realistic plan for ASU seniors to turn their accumulated stuff into $500 or more before graduation — what to sell, where, and how to time it.
$500 Is Completely Realistic If You Start Early
If you've been at ASU for four years, you've accumulated a lot of stuff. Textbooks from every semester, furniture from various apartments, electronics, bikes, kitchen gear — it's all sitting in your space, and you're either going to pack it, ship it, donate it, or sell it.
Selling it is the only option that puts money in your pocket. And $500 is a conservative estimate if you approach it systematically. Here's how.
Start Six Weeks Before Graduation
The biggest mistake seniors make is waiting until the week before graduation to start selling. By then, the motivated buyers have already found what they need, the semester rush is over, and you're stuck donating things you could have sold.
ASU spring graduation is typically in early May. Start listing in late March. ASU fall graduation is in December — start in November.
The sweet spot for selling is four to six weeks before the end of the semester when incoming students for the next semester are researching and current students are realizing what they need.
Inventory What You Actually Have
Go room by room and write down everything that:
- You're not bringing with you after graduation
- Has been used fewer than five times in the last year
- Can be replaced cheaply if you end up needing it later
Be ruthless. Sentimentality is expensive when you're paying to ship things home or store them.
Highest-Value Items to Prioritize
Textbooks: Go through every course you've taken and pull the books. Check what they're currently listing for on Amazon used. Anything over $30 in current used value is worth listing on ASU List. Books from currently-taught courses will sell fastest.
Electronics: Laptops (even older ones), monitors, calculators, headphones, cameras, and tablets. Research the current used market on eBay completed listings before pricing. Monitors especially sell well to students furnishing apartments or setting up for online classes.
Bike: If you have one, sell it in March or April — before the end of the semester when the market gets flooded. A decent bike in Tempe sells for $80–$200 depending on condition and type.
Furniture: Desks, chairs, dressers, bed frames, and futons are all in demand at the start of the next semester. List them now and offer a May-pickup date if needed. Some buyers will hold for a future date.
Kitchen gear: Instant Pots, blenders, air fryers, and coffee makers sell reliably. Students moving into their first apartment are actively looking for these.
Dorm supplies: Mattress toppers, storage solutions, shower caddies, and fans all have buyers among incoming freshmen.
Realistic Sale Prices
- MacBook (3–5 years old): $400–$700
- Desktop monitor (24"): $80–$150
- Graphing calculator (TI-84): $60–$90
- Good headphones (Bose, Sony): $100–$200
- Bike: $80–$200
- Instant Pot or air fryer: $25–$50
- Desk: $30–$70
- Desk chair: $25–$75
- Textbooks: varies, but $20–$60 each for used academic books in demand
- Mini fridge: $40–$70
A senior with a full laptop, a monitor, a bike, a desk, kitchen gear, and a dozen textbooks can easily hit $800–$1,200 if they're priced appropriately and sold through the right channel.
Where to List
ASU List for anything student-specific — textbooks, dorm supplies, furniture sized for campus living, everyday electronics. The buyers are right there on campus and pickup is easy.
Facebook Marketplace for larger furniture, appliances, or anything with broader appeal.
eBay for high-value electronics or specialty items where you want national reach. Shipping is a hassle but the buyer pool is larger.
Logistics Tips
- Bundle things. Offer a "desk + chair + lamp" package at a slight discount. Buyers love convenience and you move more things in one transaction.
- Campus pickup only. Don't agree to deliver things across Tempe for $40 items. If it's worth having, the buyer will come to you.
- Cash or Venmo/Zelle only. No PayPal "Friends and Family" requests from strangers. No Cashapp from people you've never met.
- Be responsive. Listings that get answered within an hour sell. Listings where the seller takes three days to respond don't.
The Exit Strategy
For anything that doesn't sell after two weeks, drop the price by 20%. For anything that still doesn't sell two weeks after that, donate it to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on Apache or the Salvation Army in Tempe. You've made your money on the good stuff — don't let the last few items become a logistical headache on graduation week.
Ready to buy or sell?
Join thousands of ASU students on the marketplace built for Sun Devils.