After having three kids in three years, Juliana Ruiz of Pembroke Pines felt like her home was piling up with outgrown toys, clothing and shoes. But Ruiz found a way to turn the unwanted items into cash, by re-selling them on the consignment circuit.

“Clearing out the clutter was essential, and I wanted to make some of the money back,” she said. “In this economy, this was a way to contribute to the household income.”

Money experts say the end of year is a great time to do a little housekeeping, not only to de-clutter and discard unwanted household items, but to sift through un-needed financial records accumulating in dusty files. Your reward? A little extra pocket money, perhaps a tax deduction and a more organized start to 2012.

Here are some tips on how to get out with the old before the new year:

Cash for your clutter

First, clear out your closets and make some money.

Selling used items on Craiglist or eBay will typically earn you the most per item, but has the highest security risk, because you’re letting strangers into your home. Consignment sellers will net you 50 to 75 percent of the selling price, but it may take longer to sell your goods. Garage sales remain a popular way to sell your possessions, but they are time-intensive and typically attract resellers and buyers looking to score items in bulk, sometimes for pennies on the dollar.

Ruiz, the Pembroke Pines mom, tried Craigslist, eBay and garage sales before starting her own consignment businesses. Lolliposh (www.Lolliposh.com) brings together moms three times a year to sell their new and gently-used children’s items. Poshsicle (www.Poshsicle.com) gathers women to sell their unwanted upscale apparel and accessories. Its holiday sale is Dec. 10 and 11 in Coral Springs.

“Women purchase so many items, including some impulse buys that are never used,” Ruiz said. “You have all these great items in your closet, and you can get cash for them.”

Pompano Beach mom Malia Fenby clears out her 4-year-old son’s old toys by posting them on Craigslist. “It’s easier for me, and it’s a lot faster, because I’m a single mom, I work and go to school,” she said. “I can get rid of things in a couple of days, and I don’t have to drive anywhere — they’ll pick it up.”

Fenby said her buyers are usually women, and she talks to them on the phone before inviting them to her home. “If I feel uncomfortable in any way, I will meet them somewhere else,” she said.

Maria Supik, a Cooper City mom of two, sells her items through community bazaars, and at garage sales. “Craiglist is not great for all the little items,” she said. “I have so many things, and with a garage sale, you can put it all out there.”

Supik, a Miami- Dade firefighter, donates whatever is left over to a charity. “I just don’t want to throw it out,” she said. “I just want to get it out so someone can use it.”

Higher re-sales

For children’s items, big ticket toys and equipment such as swings, playpens and high chairs sell best, Ruiz said. In women’s wear, handbags and upscale clothing free of tears, stains and fading have the most value, she said.

Julie Tenenbaum, owner of Baby Posh Garage, (www.babyposhgarage.com) an Aventura consignment shop for maternity and children’s items, said the secret to getting top value is selling current items.

“People want to see items they can still buy in stores,” said Tenenbaum, of Hollywood. “If an item is at Target, and they can get it for a third of the price here, that’s a hot ticket item. People who get rid of things now will get more money than if they hold onto it for a year.”

High-end furniture and household furnishings in “next-to-new” condition sell best at The Furniture Exchange, (www.thefurniturex.com) a consignment store with South Miami and Pinecrest locations.

“We have a diverse group of consigners,” said owner Miriam Gilmore, whose inventory comes from newlyweds with wedding gifts that will never be used, divorcees starting fresh and empty-nesters looking to downsize.

“In this economy, we’re also seeing people who are short-selling or foreclosing, and need to get their stuff out, or they’ve had a second home that’s not feasible to keep anymore,” she said.

Sell online

Sites such as www.Gazelle.com buys gadgets, including cell phones, digital cameras and computers. Used gaming consoles, games and media can be sold on www.NextWorth.com. The site www.TuneCycle.com buys Apple products, even broken items, and www.ReCellular.com buys old phones.

The site www.Cash4Books.net buys old books, pays for shipping and deposits the money you make into your PayPal account. Swap kids clothing and toys on www.ThredUp.com, a clearinghouse for parents to give and get kids’ items.

For antiques, try www.WhatSellsBest.com to see what it’s going for on eBay. For items 20 years or older, sell them at www.Etsy.com.

Give the rest away

Charities such as the Salvation Army and Miami Rescue Mission sell donated items to help the less fortunate. Get a tax deduction for your goodwill by getting proper documentation for what you give.

For non-cash donations, you need a receipt for items valued at $250 or more, and an appraisal for an item worth $5,000 or more. For clothing or household items, you need an appraisal for an item worth $500 or more, said Ana Cela Harris, a certified financial planner with Cela Advisors in Miami.

Discard old files

Now, head to your file cabinet to decide which bank statements and records you can toss. “I think people keep more things than they really need,” said Harris. “The criteria I use to decide whether I need something is — Will I need it to prove a tax deduction to the IRS? Will I need it for liability reasons?”

Generally, you should keep documentation of expenses you deduct on your tax return, such as utility bills for your home office, for three years after you file your return, Harris said. “But you don’t need to keep every piece of paper. If you have receipts to back up your business expenses, you don’t need to keep your credit card or bank statements,” she said.

Keep receipts for home improvements until you sell your home, because they can increase your cost basis on your house and lessen your tax burden when you sell, Harris said.

Keep those newly-cleared files clear in 2012 by going digital. Harris, who runs a paperless office, favors digital recordkeeping. “We went through Hurricane Andrew here, and we saw lots of documents destroyed,” she said. “I like digital documents. Now with cloud-based storage, it’s safer to have your information there than having documents in your house that can be destroyed by fire or flood.”

Create a safety net

Finally, now that you’re clutter- and paper-free, make a list of email and financial account passwords and keep it with your important documents, in case there is a need for someone to step in and handle your affairs.

“In the digital age, some people don’t get bank statements any more. So it’s not like you can wait for the mail to see what accounts someone has,” Harris said. “People put their will in a safe; they don’t think of putting a list of their passwords in there, too.”