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This is how most of us live during college and afterwards: in a 'cosy' flat with not much store space. During that time, my parents were kind enough to store most of my things at their house. I took all of our things from their house and started unpacking them in my new one when I moved in.
How much stuff did I have stored at my parents' house all those years? I found that I didn't need a lot of the things I had after cleaning and unpacking for hours on end.
I'm sure this happened to other people too. Over the years, we tend to gather "stuff" that we keep in our spare rooms, garages, and at cousins' homes. A lot of the time, though, we don't use these things that are just sitting around the house, so it might be a good idea to sell them.
Garage sales can be a lot of work if you only have a few things that are worth money sitting around. And what are the odds that someone in your area needs it?! You might choose to sell your extra stuff on eBay or Craigslist instead.
I sold these 10 things to make money. This proves that you can sell almost anything around the house:
1. Coach bags: I had four old wristlets from high school that I was not going to use again. The pictures were old, and I don't use this kind of bag very often these days. A lot of people bid on them on eBay, and I finally sold them for $20 each.
2. Calculators: There were a few that I had in high school and college. The only time they were used was in maths class, so they spent most of their time in a desk box. I don't think I'll ever need them again since school is over. Even though these calculators were a few years old, they got a lot of interest on eBay. Two of them sold for around $60 each.
3. Furniture from Ikea: I chose to sell the Ikea desk I bought in college. The desk was in great shape, but it was too big for the office we moved into. It took me only hours to get several full-price offers after I put the desk on Craigslist for $100. What else did I learn? When you post something on Craigslist, it's usually best to ask for more than you want. People often will pay the full price you ask, and if they don't, they'll think they're getting a "bargain" even though they've only negotiated you down to the price you wanted in the first place!
4. Pampered Chef Mugs: For my birthday one year, I got two Pampered Chef mugs that matched. Even though they were cute, we already had too many mugs and they were taking up a lot of cabinet room. The mugs went on eBay for $25. Everything from Pampered Chef sells well, I think, since people love these items. Take a look at the things that are lying around your house. When you sell branded or collection things online, they can often bring in a lot of money because people want to add them to their own collections.
5. College Books—I sold some accounting books I had from college last year. Even though they were old versions, I was surprised to make any money at all from them. Putting textbooks up for sale as soon as possible is a good idea, especially if they are still being used by schools and can bring in a lot of money.
6. Comic Books—Collectors may be willing to pay a lot of money for comic books, especially older ones. Some books, like first versions, rare copies, or books that introduced famous characters, could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Still, the state of the comic book has a big effect on how much it's worth. A book in perfect shape will sell for a lot more than one with folds, corners that are bent, or colours that have faded.
7. Old electronics: Unusual things like old video game systems, record players, or even some types of computers or typewriters can sell for a lot of money. These pieces of memories are often sought after by collectors and fans. But in this case, comfort or mental attachment may be on the line. Giving up an item that brings back memories of youth or a beloved gadget from the past can be hard.
8. Jewellery: Jewellery can be very valuable, especially if it is old or has nice gems in it. Costume jewellery from certain times can cost a lot of money. Before you sell jewellery, you should always have it examined by a professional to make sure you're getting a fair price.
9. Coins and money: Coin collections or even any coins you find by accident can be very valuable. Age, scarcity, and health are the main things that determine how much they are worth. Some old bills can also be worth a lot if they have certain serial numbers or mistakes on them.
10. Kids' toys: Old toys that are still in their original boxes or are in perfect shape can be worth a lot of money. Remember that people often buy old toys because they make them feel nostalgic. This means that popular toys from the 1980s and 1990s could bring in a lot of money.
Things like the ones above sold very quickly, but other things, like a set of summer dishes for outside, just wouldn't sell. In those situations, we had to choose whether to keep the things, try to sell them again (maybe for less money this time), or give them away instead.
It felt great to make some extra cash from things I had sitting around the house. The extra money was very helpful, and getting rid of stuff is always a good feeling!
How long are you going to wait? Look around your house for things you don't use and sell a few of them on eBay or Craigslist. You might be surprised at how much they're worth.
Finding hidden gems in your home can be both profitable and fun. It can help you learn about your family history and memories. The chance of making money is just one of the benefits of finding these five things worth money lying around the house.
It's very important to give your decision to sell a lot of thought before making it. To really find out how much your things are worth, it might help to talk to experts, like evaluators or collectors. This keeps you from undervaluing a hidden gem or overvaluing something that seems important.
What do you think sells really well on eBay or Craigslist?
