Is your wallet weeping right now?
Do you feel the pinch of a money shortage?
Approximately 300 million people in America are in debt today. But you don’t even have to be in debt to want some more cash in your pocket. Maybe you need to help your child with college tuition, or you need to pay medical bills. Maybe you just want to save up for the trip of a lifetime.
No matter your reason for wanting a greater cash flow, there are many things you can sell for money that may just be lying around your home or in storage. Read on for some creative ideas on how to turn a profit. You may have more things to sell than you thought you did!
Personal Electronics
While it’s true that computers, smart phones, and tablets depreciate in value fairly fast, this doesn’t mean they aren’t worth selling. Their value depends on model, age, and overall condition.
Apple products tend to have a greater lifespan and hold their value longer than other tech products, for example. That said, your non-Apple tech for sale may appeal to a bargain hunter, or somebody who’s not interested in the Apple ecosystem.
Bonus Tip:
Before you sell any personal electronics, you need to back up all personal data you may want to keep. Also, remove the device from any storage subscription or cloud accounts. Then, wipe the computer or phone entirely, and restore it to factory settings.
It is a good idea to keep the original box, documentation, and accessories for your personal electronics in case you do want to sell them down the road. Selling these devices in their original packaging and with original accessories can slightly increase their value. You may also find a buyer for them quicker than you would if you sold a device by itself.
Jewelry
Do you have jewelry that you don’t wear anymore?
Whether you purchased a trendy necklace you aren’t in love with anymore, or you received a gift you’re not crazy about, it can be worth some cash. The same is true about inherited jewelry.
If you have silver or gold jewelry, it’s worth having it professionally appraised or pawned at your local pawnshop or through online pawnbrokers such as Unbolted. When you Trade gold for money, you can legitimately earn a few hundred dollars.
In fact, gold is currently worth more than it was valued at for the past several years.
Bonus Tip:
Before you attempt to sell your jewelry, research how to do it safely. Don’t sell your gold or silver stash to untrustworthy pawn shops, for instance. Sell your gold to reputable buyers who have a rich, honest history of working with sellers like you.
Antiques and Vintage Items
Take a look around your house: Do you have any old stuff you can part with?
There is a market for everything from antique furniture to lamps to vintage kitchen appliances to clocks. You can sell these antiques online or directly to a local dealer. In fact, plenty of antique dealers scour sites like eBay for great finds.
Don’t discount military memorabilia. Artifacts from the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II are sought-after and valuable. The demand for everything from medals, uniforms, swords, and firearms to documents, magazines, and photographs has skyrocketed in the 21st century.
Bonus Tip:
Don’t try to restore, repair, or deep clean any war memorabilia. Doing so can have a detrimental effect on their value.
Rare Coins and Card Collections
Do you have old coins or cards lying around?
Don’t throw them away. They may be more valuable than you realize.
Take out that coin collection and those old sports cards. Do some research on each card or coin, if possible. If not, take them directly to a trustworthy appraiser.
Bonus Tip:
Cash for cards doesn’t just apply to sports cards. There are some very rare and very valuable Pokemon cards and Magic the gathering cards that collectors will pay a premium for. In fact, the most valuable Pokemon card just sold for 230 thousand dollars.
Musical Instruments
There is always a high demand for secondhand guitars and other stringed instruments. You can sell both vintage and modern instruments for a decent price.
Post your vintage or modern instruments for sale online. Try using sites like eBay, or sharing your posts on musical instrument forums.
Bonus Tip:
If you have a vintage instrument, Don’t attempt repairs, modifications, or restoration yourself. This can negatively effect the value of the instrument. Instead, seek an experienced and reputable professional to do any restorations or to appraise the instrument.
Also, if you happen to have the original case, documentation, and accessories for the instrument, You can sell it at a higher asking price.
Clothes and Shoes
Do you have clothes or shoes that you don’t wear anymore?
Get out those jeans from high school and that collection of blouses with shoulder pads from the 80’s and turn them into some spending money.
With sites like ThreadUp, selling clothes online is fun and effortless. It’s just a matter of taking pictures of your items and pricing them accordingly.
Handbags
Do you have an affinity for designer purses?
Designer handbags can sell for a pretty penny depending on the brand, style, and condition. If you don’t want to sell your bags directly to customers, you can offload them to a used handbag retailer like Rebag.
Bonus Tip:
Make sure to clean out each handbag you plan to sell. Aside from the fact that dirty purses don’t sell well, you may find a few spare dollars in your old bag. It would be a shame to part with spare change when you’re selling the bag to make some cash in the first place.
Sports Equipment
A lot of people invest in sports equipment with the best of intentions. Are you one of them?
If you have an old basketball hoop or a treadmill in storage, it’s time to dust them off and put a price tag on them.
Bonus Tip:
If you have sports gear that may have belonged to a celebrity or is associated with an athlete in any way, you can rake in the dough for that memorabilia. For instance, sneakers by Michael Jordan hold their value well, provided they are in great shape.
Records and CD’s
Let’s face it: Record and cd collections take up a lot of room. Besides, your phone or MP3 player has long been your music player of choice.
If you no longer have a turn table and your CD player has been lost for a decade now, maybe it’s time to sell your record collection.
You can easily sell music on online auction sites, or you can find a local record collector to buy it from you. Sell your CD’s and records in bulk. However, if you have albums that are iconic or historically important, you may want to sell them separately.
Recreational Vehicles
Your boat, jet ski, snowmobile, or four wheeler may have seen a lot of use in the past. However, if they have been sitting in storage for a long time, maybe it’s time to sell them.
Remember, if those machines are not properly maintained on a regular basis, or they have been exposed to the elements due to improper storage, they can become worn and unusable. This can greatly effect their value.
Before you sell your recreational vehicles, do some research on how to find a worthwhile buyer. Also, it’s a good idea to get the opinion of an objective expert regarding the vehicle’s condition and resale value.
Wine Collection
Are you a wine connoisseur? Have you purchased or been gifted rare wines or champagnes?
If your wine has been properly stored and is unopened, then you can turn that grape into green. Like with any other type of good, though, make sure you know the value of what you’re selling.
A clever way to sell wine is through an auction. Auction off your entire wine supply via an online auctioning platform. If you only have a few bottles to sell, try to get some money for it at an in-person auction.
Children’s Toys
Are old toys cluttering your home?
It probably didn’t occur to anyone in the past that the toys from the original Star Wars franchise would be of value one day. Similarly, vintage toys from the 90’s are worth a fortune today.
Rummage through your attic for some well-cared-for toys. The older they are, the more valuable they may be. That said, the toys have to be in fantastic shape.
Take detailed pictures of each toy, and list them all online. You may also have some luck selling them at local antique shops.
Bonus Tip:
If your kids are still young, they may have a hard time letting go of their toys. Even if they haven’t played with a toy for years, it may still hold sentimental value.
If you really want to convince them to give up the toy, offer to split a portion of the sale with them. You can also buy them something they currently want with some of the money you make from their toy collection.
Gather Your Things to Sell for Money
Are you ready to turn a profit?
What kind of things to sell for money do you currently own?
For more tips on how to make money, succeed in business, and everything in between, visit our blog regularly. We update our content all the time to benefit your bottom line.
