If you’ve been feeling strapped for cash due to the rising cost of living, did you know you could be sitting on a small fortune in your own home? Post-Christmas many Brits find themselves collecting their clutter and having a clear out, but instead of chucking it in the bin or dropping it off at the charity shop - you could make some serious cash from it instead.
One man made over £1,000 on eBay last month from selling all of his unwanted and unused goods, so there’s nothing to say you couldn’t go ahead and do the same. You could even donate a percentage of your winnings to charity if you feel bad about not giving it away for free, too.
We spoke to a savvy eBay seller who said he makes up to £1,000 selling clutter from around his home. Here's what he said.
READ MORE: Cheap theatre tickets for Lion King, Mamma Mia and Rocky Horror Show from £13
Multiple factors over the last few years - including Covid and the rising cost of living - have had a sizable impact on James McHutchison’s finances. Coupled with festive spending and the long wait until January payday, the 31-year-old was feeling strapped for cash as he entered the new year.
He realised he needed to make a bit of money to help get him through the long wait until January payday. And so, he decided to take part in eBay’s ReSELLution campaign and sell unused items from around his house on the marketplace.
Looking around his house, he realised that he had stacks of unused items piling up, from clothes, giftcards, watches and books to old car parts, tools and gym equipment - and so he decided to get savvy and sell them on eBay.
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.”
An experienced seller on eBay, James has previously made up to £1,000 a month by selling items he no longer uses or needs. In January, he set himself a target of matching this amount, to help him both fund the rest of the month, but also to declutter.
“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,” he said. “I love eBay because you really can sell anything, no matter how big or small. I sold an old rubber watch strap for £83.”
James has sold a huge selection of items on eBay, all with varying price points. He’s a strong believer that any unused item is worth selling, even if you’re sceptical of its value. A big watch fan, he’s sold several models at high price points, but he’s also sold things like keyrings and extractor fans at lower prices.
James, from Kent, 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! ”
The cheapest item that James sold on eBay in January was a key ring for just 97p, while a watch bracelet fetched £2.20, matching his sale of a Swiss watch brochure. Sticking with the watch theme, a Swiss watch guide sold for £5.50, while a Swiss watch book brought in £7.50, and a Swiss watch rubber strap selling for £83.
It was the Swiss watch itself that raked in one of the best prices, coming in at £464.40, with another watch - this time French - bringing in £470. James also managed to sell a bathroom extractor fan for £12, and a Nintendo Switch for £120 - a snip of the price from new.
The watches and Nintendo Switch are among James’ best-ever sellers, but a previous month, he sold a car dash cam for £110 and a model Bentley car for £72.
It just goes to show that you could have old items collecting dust in the house that someone else might pay good money for. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right? Whether it be some old watches and games consoles like James, or some other old, no longer used items that need a new home, why not try and make some money from them, instead?
READ NEXT:
- Boots shoppers ‘in love’ with ‘amazing’ £12 mascara that rivals Benefit and Mac
Marks and Spencer giving away £60 worth of products to anyone who spends £25
Selena Gomez's budget skincare saviour for removing mascara that's under £4
Beauty fans ‘need’ £10 Bobbi Brown primer dupe that rivals Aldi and Primark
Boots shoppers bagging £25 eye cream that ‘instantly erases’ dark circles for £9
