- PPF Points
- 2,100
# How I Made $1,000 in One Week on Facebook Marketplace (And Didn’t Lose My Mind)
Alright, cards on the table: Every time someone mentions “making money online,” I imagine those spammy TikTok bros yelling about “drop-shipping secrets!” or folks building complicated websites that take forever to break even. Ain’t got time for all that.
But here’s the plot twist—I made a cool grand in ONE WEEK basically cleaning out the junk drawer of my life and playing Craigslist, but without the murdery vibes. Say hello to Facebook Marketplace, the old-school garage sale for the TikTok generation. No inventory, no sketchy upfront costs, and guess what? You probably already have what you need to get started: junk. Glorious, sellable junk.
If you’re broke, bored, or just wanna flex on your bank account, lemme break down my totally un-glamorous, shockingly effective blueprint.
---
## Wait, What Even Is Facebook Marketplace?
No shade if you’ve somehow avoided this corner of Facebook. Basically, it’s a giant online swap meet where your neighbor’s grandma lists DIY crafts and that one dude tries to get $50 for his broken blender. It's built into Facebook—free to use, zero listing limits, nobody asks you to build a Shopify store. It's like Craigslist, but with less mystery and you can stalk the person's profile before meeting up. (I see you, Brenda-with-the-three-cats.)
Fees? Nope. Just DM, deal, and cash in. Simple as that.
---
## Why Facebook Marketplace Instead of, Ya Know, Everywhere Else?
Listen, I’ve been around the block. Tried eBay (shipping headaches), Etsy (much glue gun pain), and even Amazon (don’t get me started on seller fees). Facebook Marketplace, though? You slap up a listing, locals swarm your inbox, and cash lands in your hand sometimes that day. Plus, you don’t have to figure out postage for a kitchen chair. You just open your door.
Stuff I love:
So yeah, I set the challenge: Make $1,000 in a week. Armed with only my phone, a grim sense of curiosity, and a mountain of random stuff.
Let’s get into the dirt.
---
## Step 1: The Great House Purge (a.k.a. “Why Do I Own This?”)
First mission: Dig through my house and ask myself, “Would I notice if this disappeared?” If the answer was “Nope,” it was fair game.
My actual findings:
I took photos that didn't look like crime scene evidence—natural light, at least two angles, and made sure the kitchen wasn't a disaster in the background. Typed up honest, but spicy, descriptions. I priced things just low enough for people to fight over.
Result: $485. By Tuesday. And my closet could breathe again.
Insider tip: Never underestimate humanity’s willingness to buy what you’re about to toss.
---
## Step 2: Flipping—A.K.A., The Thrill of the Hunt
Alright, so my shelves were looking bare... and yet, I was hungry for more. Enter: FLIPPING.
I started hunting bargains to sell for a profit. This part is a mix of scavenger hunt, mild gambling, and sweet, sweet adrenaline.
Where I scored treasures:
I focused on stuff that moves:
A flurry of messages, a couple of awkward driveways, and suddenly, I’d flipped 12 things for another $300.
---
## Step 3: Listings That Don’t Suck
People scroll FAST, like, Olympic-speed fast. Bland pics and a “nice couch” description are gonna get you ghosted.
My (totally unscientific) formula:
- Description:
- Real talk—don’t say “like new” if it smells like chili.
- Dimensions (no one wants to ask)
- “Why selling?” (makes you relatable, or at least less shady)
- Meet-up spot and timing
I stayed glued to my messages—first to reply usually wins the sale.
---
## Step 4: Retail Arbitrage (a Fancy Word for “Clearance Grab”)
Feeling bold, I gambled $100 on “retail arbitrage.” That’s just flipping stuff you score cheap at major stores, but shhhh... don’t tell your local Walmart greeter.
My haul:
It was a bit more legwork, but showed me I could actually turn this Marketplace side hustle into something bigger than a yard sale on the internet.
---
## What Actually Works (And What’s Total Trash)?
1. Answer FAST.
People are impatient. Miss a message and that buyer’s already on to the next air fryer.
2. Listings need effort.
Blurry, dark photos? Might as well set it on fire. Good pics = more “is this available?” spam.
3. Some stuff sells itself.
Furniture, tools, bikes, small appliances, baby gear. If it’s ugly but useful, it’s gold.
4. Bundles = big wins.
Selling lonely mugs? Make a “kitchen starter set.” That $2 mug turns into a $25 bundle.
5. Pricing is an art, not a science.
You want money now? Undercut the market a tad. Got patience? Shoot high, negotiate down. There’s a buyer for everything. Somewhere.
---
## And… Did I Hit My $1,000 Goal?
Heck yeah, I did. $1,020 by Sunday night, actually. Not bad for a week of smartphone hustling and only minor risks of getting ghosted.
Was I tired? Yup. Do I have my living room back now? Mostly. Would I do it again? Oh, absolutely. The rush is real—and so is the cash.
---
## Wanna Try It? Here’s My Lightning-Round Advice:
There you have it. Marketplace is the lazy hustler’s dream—fast, free, no one’s judging you for your old microwave (well... maybe a little). So give it a shot. Your wallet and your closet will both thank you.
Alright, cards on the table: Every time someone mentions “making money online,” I imagine those spammy TikTok bros yelling about “drop-shipping secrets!” or folks building complicated websites that take forever to break even. Ain’t got time for all that.
But here’s the plot twist—I made a cool grand in ONE WEEK basically cleaning out the junk drawer of my life and playing Craigslist, but without the murdery vibes. Say hello to Facebook Marketplace, the old-school garage sale for the TikTok generation. No inventory, no sketchy upfront costs, and guess what? You probably already have what you need to get started: junk. Glorious, sellable junk.
If you’re broke, bored, or just wanna flex on your bank account, lemme break down my totally un-glamorous, shockingly effective blueprint.
---
## Wait, What Even Is Facebook Marketplace?
No shade if you’ve somehow avoided this corner of Facebook. Basically, it’s a giant online swap meet where your neighbor’s grandma lists DIY crafts and that one dude tries to get $50 for his broken blender. It's built into Facebook—free to use, zero listing limits, nobody asks you to build a Shopify store. It's like Craigslist, but with less mystery and you can stalk the person's profile before meeting up. (I see you, Brenda-with-the-three-cats.)
Fees? Nope. Just DM, deal, and cash in. Simple as that.
---
## Why Facebook Marketplace Instead of, Ya Know, Everywhere Else?
Listen, I’ve been around the block. Tried eBay (shipping headaches), Etsy (much glue gun pain), and even Amazon (don’t get me started on seller fees). Facebook Marketplace, though? You slap up a listing, locals swarm your inbox, and cash lands in your hand sometimes that day. Plus, you don’t have to figure out postage for a kitchen chair. You just open your door.
Stuff I love:
- Local buyers—Show up, take the thing, pay now.
- No shipping—Zero tape, zero boxes, zero trips to UPS.
- Dumb-easy to post—Three photos and a sentence. Done.
- You can even sell crap you don’t own if you get a little creative (more on that, promise).
So yeah, I set the challenge: Make $1,000 in a week. Armed with only my phone, a grim sense of curiosity, and a mountain of random stuff.
Let’s get into the dirt.
---
## Step 1: The Great House Purge (a.k.a. “Why Do I Own This?”)
First mission: Dig through my house and ask myself, “Would I notice if this disappeared?” If the answer was “Nope,” it was fair game.
My actual findings:
- That air fryer my uncle swore I’d love ($50)
- Old PlayStation and a mountain of neglected games ($120)
- A bike I used twice and forgot about ($180)
- Spare microwave? Why did I have this? ($30)
- Nikes from my “I’m gonna run” phase ($60)
- Oddly fancy lamp from my grandma ($45)
I took photos that didn't look like crime scene evidence—natural light, at least two angles, and made sure the kitchen wasn't a disaster in the background. Typed up honest, but spicy, descriptions. I priced things just low enough for people to fight over.
Result: $485. By Tuesday. And my closet could breathe again.
Insider tip: Never underestimate humanity’s willingness to buy what you’re about to toss.
---
## Step 2: Flipping—A.K.A., The Thrill of the Hunt
Alright, so my shelves were looking bare... and yet, I was hungry for more. Enter: FLIPPING.
I started hunting bargains to sell for a profit. This part is a mix of scavenger hunt, mild gambling, and sweet, sweet adrenaline.
Where I scored treasures:
- Thrift stores: Picked up a sad Keurig for $15, sold to a college kid for $45.
- Garage sales: Bagged a stroller for $10 (sold for $50 because babies are expensive, bro).
- Friends and family: “Yo, got anything you want gone? I’ll sell it, cut you in 50/50.”
- Free section/curbside: Believe it or not, dressers abandoned on streets are apparently hot commodities. One netted me $80.
I focused on stuff that moves:
- Kitchen gadgets (everybody wants an air fryer, apparently)
- Tools
- Bikes (summer = cash)
- Electronics
- Basic furniture
A flurry of messages, a couple of awkward driveways, and suddenly, I’d flipped 12 things for another $300.
---
## Step 3: Listings That Don’t Suck
People scroll FAST, like, Olympic-speed fast. Bland pics and a “nice couch” description are gonna get you ghosted.
My (totally unscientific) formula:
- Decent, natural-light photos (multiple angles = “maybe I'll trust this stranger”).
- Title: [Brand] + [Item] + [Condition] + [Selling Point]
- Description:
- Real talk—don’t say “like new” if it smells like chili.
- Dimensions (no one wants to ask)
- “Why selling?” (makes you relatable, or at least less shady)
- Meet-up spot and timing
I stayed glued to my messages—first to reply usually wins the sale.
---
## Step 4: Retail Arbitrage (a Fancy Word for “Clearance Grab”)
Feeling bold, I gambled $100 on “retail arbitrage.” That’s just flipping stuff you score cheap at major stores, but shhhh... don’t tell your local Walmart greeter.
My haul:
- LED strip lights, $5 each → Flipped for $15 (x5 = $75)
- Fancy office chair, $35 → Sold to a WFH warrior for $70
- Box of solar lights, $10 → Someone’s backyard is now lit for $25
It was a bit more legwork, but showed me I could actually turn this Marketplace side hustle into something bigger than a yard sale on the internet.
---
## What Actually Works (And What’s Total Trash)?
1. Answer FAST.
People are impatient. Miss a message and that buyer’s already on to the next air fryer.
2. Listings need effort.
Blurry, dark photos? Might as well set it on fire. Good pics = more “is this available?” spam.
3. Some stuff sells itself.
Furniture, tools, bikes, small appliances, baby gear. If it’s ugly but useful, it’s gold.
4. Bundles = big wins.
Selling lonely mugs? Make a “kitchen starter set.” That $2 mug turns into a $25 bundle.
5. Pricing is an art, not a science.
You want money now? Undercut the market a tad. Got patience? Shoot high, negotiate down. There’s a buyer for everything. Somewhere.
---
## And… Did I Hit My $1,000 Goal?
Heck yeah, I did. $1,020 by Sunday night, actually. Not bad for a week of smartphone hustling and only minor risks of getting ghosted.
Was I tired? Yup. Do I have my living room back now? Mostly. Would I do it again? Oh, absolutely. The rush is real—and so is the cash.
---
## Wanna Try It? Here’s My Lightning-Round Advice:
- Don’t overthink it. Start by listing that unused kitchen gadget or closet turd. Someone wants it.
- Safety first. Meet at a police station parking lot if you can. Don’t get all Craigslist Killer about it.
- Be willing to haggle. People love the dance.
- Don’t sweat the slow stuff. Some things sell in hours, others in weeks. Stay patient.
- Try flipping, if you get bored of your own junk. It’s addictive.
There you have it. Marketplace is the lazy hustler’s dream—fast, free, no one’s judging you for your old microwave (well... maybe a little). So give it a shot. Your wallet and your closet will both thank you.
