If you’ve ever thought “I should sell some stuff online” and then immediately talked yourself out of it… I get it.
Between work, kids, life, and mental overload, starting a side hustle can feel like another thing you don’t have the time—or energy—for.
That’s exactly where I was.
I wasn’t trying to build a resale business or hit some big income goal. I just wanted a little extra money and, honestly, proof that selling online could actually work for someone like me.
Spoiler: it does.
Why Poshmark Felt Like the Least Overwhelming Place to Start
I chose Poshmark for one very simple reason:
👉 I already had stuff sitting in my closet.
No inventory to buy.
No website to set up.
No upfront costs or complicated systems to learn.
It felt low-risk and doable—which mattered because, at the time, I genuinely thought:
- No one would want my hand-me-downs
- The platform was too saturated
- My listings would never be seen
- I wouldn’t have time to “manage” a Poshmark business
If you’ve had any of those thoughts, you’re not behind—you’re just human.
What I Listed (And Why This Is Important)
My first items were nursing bras.
Nothing trendy. Nothing flashy. Just five bras I no longer needed.
- Sold 5 total
- Each priced between $5–$12
- All in good condition
And that’s important to say out loud, because this wasn’t a highlight-reel flip. It was normal stuff. Real-life stuff.
That’s what makes this work.
How I Got My First Sale (Even Though I Kinda Missed It 😅)
Here’s something I don’t see talked about enough:
I actually got an offer within two weeks… and didn’t realize it.
I didn’t fully understand the app yet. I wasn’t checking obsessively. Life was busy. I missed the notification.
Two weeks later, I sent an offer to the buyer—and they were still interested.
Less than a month after listing, the bras sold.
No ads.
No promoted closet.
No fancy strategy.
Just listed items doing what listings are meant to do.
What I Thought Mattered (But Didn’t)
At first, I really thought I needed:
- Perfect photos
- Keyword-stuffed titles
- A “professional” description
I even considered paying for promoted listings—but I’m glad I didn’t. Making sales without ads proved to me that I didn’t need to buy my way into momentum.
What actually worked better? Simplifying.
What Actually Mattered Instead
I started listing the way I shop.
I asked myself: What would I want to see if I were the buyer?
So my descriptions became simple bullet points:
- Condition and quality
- Any imperfections (always call these out)
- Color and size
- What it was worn for or made for
- Material
That’s it.
Clear. Honest. Accurate.
I also realized I had been massively overthinking the act of listing itself. The truth is simple:
- You either sell the item or you don’t
- But you will never sell it if you don’t list it
Messy listings beat imaginary perfect ones every time.
The Moment Everything Clicked
When that first sale happened, my reaction was basically:
“Oh man… okay. This can actually work. I need to get to work and list more stuff.”
But the bigger realization was this:
It had nothing to do with me.
If someone buys, they buy. If they don’t, they don’t.
It’s not a reflection of your worth, your taste, or your ability.
That mindset shift alone was freeing.
What I’d Tell Past Me (And You)
I’d say:
“Hey girl—just do the damn thing.”
Messy action is better than no action.
If you’ve been meaning to start, ask yourself what’s really holding you back:
- Fear nothing will sell?
- Fear you won’t have time?
- Fear you’ll fail before you even start?
Channel that fear into fuel. Look for proof to prove yourself wrong.
Pick one thing to do today:
- Sign up for Poshmark
- List one item
- Then ride that momentum
You owe it to yourself to be able to say:
“Hey… I can do this.”
♡ Valerie