One man is getting through the cost of living crisis by selling unwanted items on eBay and says he can make up to £1,000 a month.
James McHutchison, 31, from Kent, is an experienced seller on the second-hand site, with some of his most successful auctions including a French watch that sold for £470.
James told Mirror Money that January is the best time to go through all your unwanted belongings and sell them online to make some extra cash after Christmas.
Of course, how much you could make depends on what you have to flog.
He said: "Everybody ends up accumulating a lot of unnecessary stuff over Christmas, so I think January is the perfect time to wipe the slate clean and sort out what you really need.”
Some of the hidden gems James had managed to sell include everything from clothes, watches and books, to a bathroom extractor fan and a Nintendo Switch.
James said: “I found some things in my garage that I hadn’t touched for over three years, along with more recent purchases that I just don’t use.
"I have to admit that I’m a bit of a hoarder, but I never realised just how much stuff I had laying around that could make me a bit of money and also be useful to others.”
James' biggest sales include two high-end watches that he did not wear which he managed to sell for £470 and £464.40 after listing them on the site.
Overall, these two listings alone made him £934.
James noted that the two items which gave him the most "unexpected profit" were a Swiss watch rubber strap which he sold for £83 and a model of a Bentley Car which he sold for £72.
Two other profitable items were his Nintendo Switch which James managed to sell for £120 and a Car Dash Cam which went for £110.
James said he was a "strong believer" that any unused item is worth selling, even if you’re sceptical of its value.
He added: “Times are tough at the moment, so whether you’re making £1 or £100, every little helps and can help you on your way to paying your bills or going on your dream holiday.
"Plus, you never know just how much an object may end up making! For me, selling on eBay is a no-brainer. It’s a win-win situation as you can make a bit of extra cash and also free up some space around your house! ”
If you want to start making some extra cash by selling your unwanted stuff, James says you should go for it, particularly if you have more unusual and unique items.
He added: "“Unique and quirky items are often what I end up selling for the most, so don’t be put off listing them!"
"Most recently I’ve sold items like watch straps and watch brochures, which were so niche that I was unsure if they’d even sell. In fact, my Swiss Watch Rubber strap sold for £83, which was a lot more than I’d anticipated."
If you are diving into second-hand sales, James advises you to browse the site for similar items so you can gauge how much you should price your listing.
He said: “I sell a lot of different things, and valuing them can be a daunting task, especially if they are more obscure. I always browse eBay to see what similar items are selling for, but if I’m still stuck I use eBay’s pricing recommendation tool.
"It saves a lot of time and gives you a recommended price range, depending on different factors. You then have the option to decide the most reasonable final price for it.”
On top of this, the 31-year-old said you should always be wary about when you should put up your listing as it can make a huge difference to your sale.
He added: "I tend to list my items on Sunday evenings when I think people are more likely to be online shopping.”
Some of the items James has sold on eBay:
- Keyring - 97p
- Watch bracelet - £2.20
- Swiss watch brochure - £2.20
- Swiss watch guide - £5.50
- Swiss watch book - £7.50
- Bathroom extractor fan - £12
- Model Bentley Car - £72
- Swiss watch rubber strap - £83
- Car dash cam - £110
- Nintendo Switch - £120
- Swiss watch - £464.40
French watch - £470
