Every season, I finish tagging my items for the upcoming Rhea Lana sale and ask myself the same question:
Was all of this worth it?
I live in a little 1,500-square-foot house that’s more than 100 years old. Space is already at a premium around here, so when two giant Sterilite bins, piles of clothing, toys waiting to be cleaned, and tagging supplies take over my office for a few weeks…it starts to feel like the sale has moved into my house.
By the time processing day rolls around, I’ve been stepping around “consignment piles” for what feels like forever.
Even though I’ve developed a pretty efficient system over the years, it still takes time.
So let’s talk honestly about something that almost nobody discusses:
What does it actually cost to participate in a kids’ consignment sale?
The registration fee.
The supplies.
The travel.
The little expenses that sneakily eat into your payout.
Before We Start…
I want to be clear about something.
I participate in these sales nearly every season, and I genuinely like them.
Some of my favorite benefits have nothing to do with money.
Selling forces me to tackle the decluttering projects I would otherwise put off. It helps good-quality children’s items stay out of the landfill. Families can buy name-brand clothing and gear at prices that fit their budget, and I enjoy being part of an event that encourages people to reuse instead of constantly buying new.
So this isn’t an article trying to convince you not to consign.
It’s simply an honest look at what goes into it so you can decide whether it’s worth it for your own family.
First, Let’s Adjust Our Expectations
When you open your child’s closet or playroom, it’s easy to see thousands of dollars you’ve spent over the years.
Kids’ clothes.
Shoes.
Halloween costumes.
Books.
Ride-on toys.
Baby gear.
If you’re anything like me, your brain immediately starts doing the math.
“Surely I’ll get a good chunk of that back.”
I used to think that too.
The reality is that clothing is one of the hardest retail categories to make money in. Even large retailers struggle to stay profitable as consumer habits change and competition gets tougher every year.
Most of us aren’t running a clothing business.
We’re simply trying to recover a little money while clearing space in our homes.
Once I accepted that mindset, consignment became much more enjoyable.
The Hidden Costs Start Before You Sell a Single Item
Most everyone notices registration fees.
Fewer people think about the cost of preparing every single item.
These numbers are based on supplies I purchased on Amazon in July 2026, including Texas sales tax (8.25%).
Basic Clothing Item
| Supply | Cost |
| Avery string tag | $0.03 |
| Two 2.1in safety pins | $0.08 |
| Child-size hanger | $0.25 |
| Total per clothing item | About $0.36 |
Shoes
| Supply | Cost |
| Avery string tag | $0.03 |
| Zip tie | $0.04 |
| Total per pair | About $0.07 |
Books or Toys
| Supply | Cost |
| Avery string tag | $0.03 |
| Large zipper bag | $0.18 |
| Small amount of tape | Minimal |
| Total | About $0.21 |
Those numbers don’t seem like much until you start multiplying them across dozens—or hundreds—of items.
The Expense Almost Everyone Forgets
This is another expense that rarely gets mentioned. Transportation.
Maybe Dallas traffic is its own animal – distance, tolls, and other parts of the world aren’t so overwhelmed by it.
For my local sale, here’s what one round trip costs, factoring in tolls and using the current IRS mileage rate.
| Expense | Cost |
| Drive to sale | $14.98 |
| Drive home | $15.41 |
| Total transportation | $30.39 |
That assumes:
- One drop-off
- One drive home
- No extra trips
- No return trip to pick up unsold items
Depending on your sale location, your costs may be lower—or significantly higher.
A Real Example From My Sale
Let’s look at my inventory from this season.
My total listed value is $498.
That’s the absolute best-case scenario.
It assumes:
- Every item passes inspection.
- Every item sells.
- Nothing gets discounted.
- Nothing is lost or pulled.
My seller percentage is 65% because I don’t work the sale.
My registration fee is $15, and I paid $4 to have my labels mailed.
This season I listed 43 items.
That probably sounds low, but I’ve been consigning for years. The expensive baby gear—strollers, jumpers, toddler bikes, and all those big-ticket items—left my house a long time ago.
Now I’m mostly in “maintenance mode.”
Each season I’m simply selling what my kids have outgrown since the last sale.
I also bundle quite a bit, which helps keep packaging costs down because multiple pieces can often share one hanger or one bag.
Packaging Costs for My Inventory
| Category | Cost |
| Clothing | $7.21 |
| Shoes | $0.35 |
| Book bundles | $2.58 |
| Costume | $0.35 |
| Hat | $0.02 |
| Packaging Total | $10.51 |
Now let’s add everything together.
Maximum Possible Profit
| Item | Amount |
| Potential seller earnings (65% of $498) | $323.70 |
| Registration fee | -$15.00 |
| Mailed labels | -$4.00 |
| Packaging supplies | -$10.51 |
| Transportation | -$30.39 |
| Maximum possible proceeds | $263.80 |
And remember…
That’s assuming every single item sells.
Reality is usually a little messier.
The Cost You Can’t Put in a Spreadsheet
Money isn’t the only thing you’re spending.
You’re also investing your time.
Cleaning.
Sorting.
Checking for stains.
Replacing batteries.
Pricing.
Tagging.
Hanging.
Bagging.
Packing.
Loading the car.
Dropping everything off.
Later, picking up what didn’t sell.
The Biggest Cost Isn’t on Your Receipt…opportunity cost
What did you say no to while getting ready for the sale?
Maybe nothing.
Or maybe you skipped overtime at work.
Maybe you postponed another side hustle.
Maybe you ordered takeout because tagging consumed your evening.
(Confession: I’ve definitely done that in previous seasons.)
Those costs are real too.
So…Is It Worth It?
For me?
Usually, yes.
But not usually for the financial reasons.
Here are the questions I ask myself (and interested friends) to help them determine whether this season’s sale is something they should get into:
The Money Test
Do I need cash fairly quickly?
Whether it’s paying off debt, covering a holiday, or funding another goal, turning unused items into cash can absolutely help.
The Time Test
Is this replacing something that would earn me more money?
If your evenings are otherwise free, consignment may be a great use of that time.
If you’d be giving up overtime, client work, or growing another business, the math may change.
The Distance Test
How far is your sale?
Will you make multiple trips?
Do you need to pick up labels or can they be mailed?
Will you retrieve unsold items?
Transportation matters more than most people think.
I was shocked when I looked up what it actually cost to drive each mile.
The Lifestyle Test
Sometimes the biggest payoff isn’t financial.
Maybe consigning finally motivates you to declutter.
Maybe it’s easier to let go of sentimental baby items when you know another family will enjoy them.
Maybe you love supporting the reuse-and-recycle mission behind these events.
Or maybe it’s a great way to teach your kids that even expensive toys lose value over time.
Those benefits are difficult to assign a dollar amount to—but they’re still valuable.
The Mess Test
This one probably sounds silly.
It’s not.
My office slowly fills with consignment piles for weeks before each sale.
That doesn’t bother me very much.
Someone else in my family would absolutely hate if their space looked like that.
If temporary chaos creates a lot of stress in your home, that’s worth considering too.
If You Decide Consignment Isn’t for You
There are plenty of other ways to clear out children’s items.
- Give them to friends or neighbors.
- Donate to a local charity.
- Hold a garage sale.
- Sell higher-value items individually on platforms like Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace.
- Put out a clearly marked “Free” box during bulk trash week.
I’ve actually had surprising success with that last one.
My Final Thoughts
After running all the numbers, my maximum payout this season is about $264.
Some people will look at that and think, “That’s not nearly enough for all that work.”
Others will happily take the money, enjoy the decluttering, and sign up again next season.
Neither answer is wrong.
That’s really the point of this article.
Consignment sales aren’t free money.
They’re work.
They’re also one of the few ways you can turn items your children have already outgrown into cash while helping another family save money.
Once you understand the true costs—both the dollars and the time—you can decide whether they’re worth it for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling at Rhea Lana
How much does it cost to sell at Rhea Lana?
The answer depends on how many items you’re selling and whether you already own some of the supplies. Besides the seller registration fee, you’ll likely spend money on hangers, safety pins, zip ties, tags, plastic bags, and transportation to and from the sale. In my example, those expenses reduced my maximum potential payout by more than $65 before accounting for the value of my time.
Is selling at Rhea Lana worth it?
For many families, yes—but not just because of the money.
I enjoy consigning because it motivates me to declutter, keeps quality children’s items out of the landfill, and gives another family the chance to buy them at an affordable price. Financially, you’ll need to weigh your expected payout against your expenses, the time you’ll spend preparing items, and any other opportunities you’re giving up.
What supplies do you need to sell at Rhea Lana?
At a minimum, you’ll need seller tags, safety pins, and child-sized white plastic hangers for clothing. Depending on what you’re selling, you may also need zip ties for shoes, large zipper bags for toys and books, and tape for securing bundles. Buying supplies in bulk usually lowers the cost per item, especially if you plan to consign more than once.
Can you actually make money selling kids’ clothes?
Yes, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. Most families won’t recover anywhere close to what they originally spent on children’s clothing. Instead, think of consignment as a way to recover some of your investment while clearing space in your home. If you go into the sale expecting to make a little money rather than all your money back, you’ll probably be much happier with the results.
Is it better to sell at Rhea Lana or donate?
That depends on your goals. If your priority is earning cash, a consignment sale can be a great option for gently used, high-quality items. If your main goal is simply getting things out of the house as quickly as possible, donating may be the better choice. Sometimes I even use a combination of both—consigning the items with the highest resale value and donating everything else.
How many items should you sell at Rhea Lana?
There’s no magic number. If you’re new to consigning, starting with a smaller group of your best items can make the process feel much more manageable. As you become familiar with the system, you can decide whether it’s worth expanding. Personally, I’ve reached the point where I’m mostly selling seasonal “maintenance” items because I’ve already worked through my larger backlog over the years.
Why did you calculate all of these costs?
Because I wanted to know whether I was making decisions based on facts or assumptions. It’s easy to focus on the check you receive at the end of the sale and forget about the money you spent getting there. Running the numbers doesn’t mean I won’t consign again—it simply helps me decide whether it’s the right choice for my family each season.
