CHRISTMAS is fast approaching but there are some easy ways to boost your bank balance in a short space of time
Selling you unwanted items online can increase your festive funds by as much as £505 – if you know the right items to flog.
1
We spoke to an expert to find out the exact items to list that could make you cash in time for Christmas.
Andy Barr co-founded of online price-tracking website Alertr, and has worked in the financial services industry for nearly 30 years, so knows a thing or two about money saving.
He told The Sun: “Selling unwanted items online is easy because it’s incredibly convenient.
“In the past, if we wanted to resell our belongings the most common way to do this was by pitching up at a car boot sale, which involves packing all of your items up, sitting in a field or car park and waiting for the buyers to come.
READ MORE IN MONEY
“Now, through selling online through one of the many e-commerce platforms out there you can easily make some cash on the side, clear out old items easily, and some people have even used online selling to launch their own business.”
Andy says the most popular sites for listing items are eBay, Depop, Vinted and Etsy.
He added: “Each platform has it’s own advantages and disadvantages for sellers, as well as niche product categories that shoppers will visit the platforms for, so it’s best to carefully think about what you want to sell and where it will get the best price.”
Of course it’s important to bear the different platform’s listing fees and other charges, plus the condition of the item can affect how much you get for it – we go into more detail on these below.
Most read in Money
Below Andy reveals the exact things you should list online to make cash.
Wireless earbuds – over £100
First up on Andy’s list – perhaps surprisingly – are wireless earbuds.
If you have a spare pair knocking about then you could be quids in.
High-quality bluetooth earphones are “highly sought after” these days, the expert explained.
Andy said: “There’s a hugely growing trend towards wireless technology, and high-quality earbuds, such as Apple AirPods or similar brands, are highly sought after by tech-savvy consumers.
“As long as you clean your earbuds thoroughly, you can resell pairs you no longer need and make a good sum of money”
Examples of old earphones making some decent cash include recent generations of the AirPods selling for over £100 on eBay.
Of course how much you make will depend how popular the brand is and how much someone is willing to pay.
But chances are if you list a pair of AirPods in their charging case for anything less than £130 it’ll get lapped up due to the cost of buying them new being so high.
A pair of third generation AirPods costs £169 new from Apple.
Fitness trackers – £75
Like earbuds, fitness trackers have proven incredibly popular in recent years inlcuding FitBits and Apple Watches.
For that reason, Andy reckons these gadgets can make you some easy cash.
He said: “Another piece of tech that’s very popular at the moment is a fitness tracker, or smart watch.
“Smart wearables are not only useful for those interested in health and fitness, but also seen as a fashionable item to have as part of an outfit.”
The devices can often be pricey, so second-hand shoppers will be keen to find cheaper alternatives.
One example Andy found was a FitBit Inspire 3, which is currently selling online from £65 to £75.
A brand new version of the watch is on sale new from Fitbit for £85. While an Apple Watch series nine is £400 on the Apple website.
So if you have one of these sitting around at home collecting dust then why not list it online and make a quick buck.
Handmade ceramics – £30
Fancy yourself a bit of an artist? Well handmade ceramics could also make you some easy money online.
According to Andy, selling your DIY vases, teapots or coasters on platforms like Etsy can be pretty lucrative.
He said: “If you’re crafty, handmade ceramics are booming in popularity at the moment thanks to their growing virality on TikTok.
“All you need is some clay and resin to get started, and it could be a great activity to do with your friends and family.
“Etsy is a fantastic platform to use if you want to sell handmade items.”
We had quick browse on the marketplace and found people listing various pieces like bowls and mugs for as much as £30 a pop.
Of course if you were to make a mini business doing this then you’d need to factor in the cost of materials, which can cost around £500 if you’re buying a kiln second-hand, and time it takes to make.
But if you have ever been to a pottery making class or have been gifted a homemade pot or cup, why not pop it online and see how much you can make.
If ceramics aren’t your thing you can make money from other handmade items too.
One woman for example claims to have made thousands by selling handmade jewellery on Etsy.
And a working mum previously revealed how she made an extra £400 a month with this simple side-hustle selling art prints, coasters and tote bags.
We’ve also spotted sellers listing handmade wool socks for as much as £40 on Etsy.
Here are seven ways you can turn your hobby into a money-making side hustle.
Vintage jackets – £30
Whether you’re a fashionista or a charity shop regular, you might have some valuable pieces in your wardrobe.
Andy says that selling things like vintage jackets on online marketplaces can be an easy way to make more than £30 in one go.
He explained: “As the weather cools off, now is a great time to sell old coats and jackets you’re not planning to wear this year.
“Vintage items are really popular and sell for a high price on platforms such as Depop and Vinted, with many jackets selling for over £30.
“If you have some jackets in your wardrobe that you’ve had for many years, it’s definitely worth checking to see how much they could be worth as a vintage item.”
The same goes for hand-me-down items and bargain charity shop finds.
It doesn’t have to be just vintage clothing either, we found one woman selling a New Look coat for £30 and another listing an H&M jacket for £45 on Vinted.
Just because you don’t have any use for it anymore, it doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t want it.
Jeans – £20
Changing fashion styles and sizes are often reasons for having old pairs of jeans lurking at the back of wardrobes.
But they could be a hidden treasure and make you money instead of collecting dust.
Andy says that real denim jeans in particular can be a real money maker.
He said: “Denim jeans are great because they will always be popular.
“If you have a pair of high quality jeans that you no longer like the cut of, consider selling them online – a pair of Levi’s jeans will regularly sell for at least £20 on Depop.”
A pair of new Levi’s from the official website can cost anything from £50 to to £230.
We also had a look on eBay and found that other brands also sell for pretty decent amounts too.
A pair of Calvin Klein jeans sold for £40 back in August, while a pair of Diesel jeans went for £160.
It’s important to remember that how much you can make will very much depend of the brand and how much people are wiling to pay.
Second-hand shoppers will want to know they’re getting a good value product but for less than the hundreds they could pay if they were buying them in a store.
Royal memorabilia – over £250
Another range of items which you could list online to make some quick cash is royal memorabilia.
He explained: “Royal family memorabilia is something many of us have in our homes, either purchased ourselves or inherited from a family member.
“These items, which could include plates, coins, cups and more, only get more valuable with time and are popular both with Britons and those from other countries.”
Commemorative items with the late Queen depicted in particular can fetch a decent price Andy said.
These tend to be plates and crockery, or special Jubilee biscuit tins.
He added: “Memorabilia linked to the late Queen Elizabeth II are particularly sought-after at the moment as memorial pieces.
“For example, there are multiple jubilee dishes for the late Queen that are selling on eBay at the moment for over £250.”
However not everything will sell for big bucks, for example a cardboard chocolate box sold for just £3 recently.
Tips for selling items online
Knowing exactly how what to sell is only the first step to making cash online.
Andy said there are several other steps you can take to make the whole process smoother.
Andy said: “First, assess the items to determine their condition and value, as this will inform your pricing strategy; if your item is damaged you’re much more likely to sell it if you drop the price slightly.
“Next, ensure your listings include clear photos and honest descriptions of the items to attract potential buyers.”
He added that it’s important to price your items “competitively” to ensure a quicker sale, and that you should be prepared to negotiate with shoppers too.
Andy’s final tip is that timely communication and reliable shipping or pickup options will help you to get better reviews.
This could attract more buyers when you want to sell items in the future.
If you’re trying to work out if it’s worth selling your unwanted items, you can use the app Google Lens to find what other people are listing similar items for.
Simply download the Google app, point your phone camera at the product and the search engine will bring up similar items listed on Google Shopping.
Once you have an idea of how much they could go for, you can decide whether it’s worth listing.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that you’ll sell the item, or get the price you want.
You may have to wait some time for the cash if the item doesn’t sell instantly.
There are also some things to consider when you choose to sell items online.
For example, some platforms charge sellers a fee or take commission that can eat into profits.
On Etsy, there is a 16p listing fee, 6.5 % transaction fee, 4% + 20p payment processing fee to take into account.
Depop doesn’t charge a fee to list an item but you pay a 10% commission on anything you sell.
On Vinted in particular, the seller pays nothing and instead, the buyer pays a fee of 3 to 8%.
You can list up to 1,000 items a month on eBay for free.
You’ll pay a commission of 12.8% on what you sell, plus a 30p fee.
Read More on The Sun
Meanwhile, a reseller has revealed the best items to list on Vinted to make the most cash.
Plus, a savvy mum has revealed how she makes £800 a month just by selling her family’s worn clothes online.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
