A DATA analyst has shared how she makes up to £350-a-month through an “easy” side hustle.
Nicola Frapwell moved into her dream home, which was in need of drastic DIY work and redecorating.
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The 32-year-old, from West Sussex, stepped up her eBay game amidst her full-time job and the cost of living to fund the renovation project and ease financial strain.
Instead of leaving clothes she no longer wears to collect dust in her wardrobe, Nicola regularly scours for anything she hasn’t worn in a while to package up and sell online and boost her savings.
Having used eBay for years, Nicola regularly sells items on the marketplace.
This year alone she has made a huge £700, all of which can go towards making her new house a home.
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Selling everything from clothing and shoes and bags, she finds that her vintage and retro dresses from the USA sell particularly well.
Nicola said: “I have been using eBay for over 10 years now and it’s the first place I turn to when I need to sell something quickly and easily.
“It’s so convenient to use as a seller, and the news of eBay removing fashion seller fees will mean I can make even more extra cash to help fund my renovation.
“Listing an item on eBay is an easy process and the app is fantastic for doing this on the go.
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“Whenever I see something I think I no longer wear, I take a photo from my wardrobe and list it during my lunch break or whilst commuting.
“The platform is very easy to use and a great way to give my pre-loved items another lease of life!”
She went on to tell The Mirror that she sells anything she can on the platform but her “go-to” items are clothes, shoes and accessories, with her niches being vintage garments.
You can buy an entire HOUSE for less than £30,000 from eBay– complete with cosy bedroom and open-plan kitchen
She bought retro dresses from the US years ago and no longer wears them.
On putting them up for auction at a low price Nicola says she ended “up making loads more than I paid for them”.
She explained: “I usually put my items on bids as I’ve found starting the item low grabs the most attention on items that are unique or harder to sell.”
eBay recently cut its selling fees for fashion items being sold on the platform which Nicola said was “great news”.
Eight side hustles to make extra cash
Topping up your income by taking on a side hustle is becoming more and more popular as people struggle with the cost of living.
If you’re thinking of starting a side hustle but you aren’t sure where to start, look no further.
Surveys
Hundreds of sites will pay you to fill out surveys and take part in market research.
Help out your neighbours
Whether it’s dog walking, house sitting, helping others out with DIY or gardening, there’s an app that can help you get started.
Drive time
Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats all pay drivers to deliver food.
Wrap it up
There are also parcel delivery services such as Amazon Flex and Hermes which let you sign up to work flexibly.
Rent it
There’s a demand for renting a huge range of items – anything from DIY tools to your car or even your driveway.
Get social
With time and a bit of commitment, you can build up a strong enough following on social media platforms and get paid to promote products and services.
Sell, sell, sell
Good for your wallet and for the world, reselling unwanted items such as clothes and toys is increasingly popular.
Nicola’s top tips for selling on eBay
- Get the pictures right – Make sure your clothing is clean and well-pressed before photographing. Taking clear photos in daylight on a plain background with good lighting, including close-ups of brand and size labels is helpful for the buyer.
- Good descriptions – In the description include as much information as possible on the measurements, fit and materials for the buyer. Alongside no seller fees, eBay has announced AI-generated item descriptions on the platform, making listing even easier. This new feature suggests attention-grabbing item descriptions at the touch of a button, cutting down listing time significantly.
- Make use of free selling – It is now free to list any item of clothing, whether it is brand-new with tags on, a dress you’ve worn many times or just once. If you sell a dress and list it for £20, you’ll get that full £20 into your account – what a win.
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Buy postage online via eBay vs going to the Post Office
Nicola added: “You can pay to buy and print postage labels online via eBay which saves time and money.
“This allows you to choose from a range of couriers to find the best option that works for you at a fraction of the price, allowing you to track from door to door.”
