Stuff You Can Sell To Make Extra Cash

Starting a side hustle usually means waiting a while to see your first profit, but you can turn old stuff into extra cash fast, especially if you have highly sought after items. A couple of years ago I had a couple of Michael Kors and Louis Vuitton purses I no longer used. I let them sit in my closet for a while and then decided to try to sell them. Surprisingly, I was able to make $500 on the Louis Vuitton and $100 on the Michael Kors at my local resale shop.

You never know what the items you have sitting around can earn you, and you won’t know until you try. While you won’t strike it rich selling old clothes or household goods, every dollar adds up, and you might make money quickly.

How to decide what you should sell

I know how hard it can be to decide what to sell. Whether you’re staring at a pile of clothes you haven’t worn in a year or your basement is the storage spot for all the household items you don’t use, but can’t get rid of, it’s important to know what is worth selling and what you should likely donate.

I like to channel inspiration from Marie Kondo and gather all the items that don’t spark joy within me. But if you need to make a lot of money quickly, you can decide what’s most valuable that you can comfortably part with and sell it.

After deciding what you might sell, do some research of similar items on the platform you’re using, such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace, to see what they’ve sold for in the past. This helps you set a reasonable price that allows the item to sell quickly. It also gives you a reasonable expectation for how much money you’ll soon have in your hands.

When pricing your items, be realistic about the price tag you put on them. Some items, like vintage clothing or antiques, might surprise you with how much they’re worth, while others, like your elementary school sports uniform, might not sell at all.

Overall, selling items you no longer want is one of the best side hustles, because it takes so little effort and it cleans up your house.

What can you sell to make money fast?

If you’re looking for ways to make money fast, you likely want to know which items you can sell that will put money in your pocket the quickest. Here are some top ideas.

Electronics

While it might be nostalgic to flip open that old Razr you once waited in line for, your old phones mostly just take up space, especially if they no longer function.

But there are sites that will buy your faulty or broken electronic devices, such as Decluttr and BuyBackWorld, and others that allow you to sell working electronics to other users, like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Letgo.

If you don’t need cash but could use some Amazon gift cards to make a new purchase, consider Amazon’s trade-in program.

Video games

If you have video games you don’t play anymore or outdated gaming systems you don’t use, bring them to GameStop to receive a credit or get cash. Note that the GameStop trade-in cash offer isn’t available in all stores, so see your local GameStop for details.

If you don’t have a GameStop near you, or they aren’t buying the games you have, you can also try Decluttr, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or LetGo. You never know when you have an old title that someone has been waiting to get their hands on and will pay good money to get.

Books and textbooks

I understand keeping a few of your favorite books, but if you’re in need of cash, it may be time to ditch the rest. You can bring them to your local independent bookstore or drop them off for appraisal at a nearby Half Price Books or Powell’s Books. You can also try your college’s bookstore if you have the current edition of any textbooks or if you prefer to sell online, check out GoTextbooks where you can get an instant quote and ship your books back for free.

You can also try selling your books locally if you’re comfortable meeting up with buyers. Bookoo makes it easy to link up with other readers to share your books and clean up your house.

Alternatively, check out online buy-back sites. BookScouter is a great place to start, since you can look up your ISBN number and compare offers. While reselling books isn’t going to be your most lucrative venture, it can free up a lot of space in your home.

Vintage items

You might be surprised by how much your high-quality vintage clothing or antique home goods are worth to collectors. I like to bring items to local vintage stores or antique buyers first or if I have antique home goods, I create a listing on Etsy. Just beware of the fees on Etsy; they may charge set-up fee plus $0.20 per listing and a 6.5% transaction fee.

I also try listing vintage clothing on fashion resale sites, such as ASOS Marketplace and thredUP. If you have high-end designer items, check out The RealReal.

Vintage electronics, like Polaroid cameras and cassette players, can be sold through eBay, as can decor like vintage Christmas ornaments.

Jewelry

Identify the features of your jewelry, such as the carat weight and clarity, and search for similar pieces on online auction sites like eBay. If you have a really valuable piece, you may want to seek help from a qualified appraiser and sell your used jewelry to a local jeweler or use a site like Worthy. You can also sell gold or silver jewelry for scrap.

Toys

Impulsive spending on toys can lead to a cluttered playroom, especially since kids get bored of toys quickly as they grow older. And while some of your kids’ favorite toys might be encrusted with Play-Doh or missing half the pieces, others might be in the right condition for another family to get plenty of use out of.

A garage or yard sale is a great way to sell your old toys to other families in the neighborhood, and you might also find that some toys, particularly collectibles, are valuable to local consignment shops. One in particular is Once Upon a Child. They have 400+ stores nationwide and are always looking for toys to sell to their customers.

Limited edition items

Before selling old Nike sneakers, Toms shoes, Lululemon leggings, or rare Beanie Babies, check the prices for your items on an auction site like eBay. If you think you might have a rare or limited-edition item, it could be worth more than you initially paid for it, so checking before you set the price is wise.

Clothes

We talked already about high-end or vintage clothing, but as another option for how to make extra cash, selling gently-used regular clothing is easy, too — especially if it’s still trendy or comes from a name brand. A lot of young people are choosing to buy used clothing because it costs less and is environmentally friendly. The secondhand clothing market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2028.

Take advantage of the demand and start listing your clothing on a resale app. I made more than $5,000 selling clothing that no longer fit me on Poshmark, and other apps provide similar platforms for resale. Check out the following:

• Depop
• thredUP
• Mercari
• Tradesy
• The RealReal

If you have luxury handbags in good condition, consider selling them on Rebag where you can consign, trade, or get an offer for a buyout of your handbags.

Household goods

Items you no longer use could be a treasure to someone else, like that ice cream maker you bought and used once, or even a nice set of dishes. You may even have small or large appliances, tools, or other household items that someone else needs and doesn’t want to pay full price for.

If you have large items, consider sites like OfferUp which helps you sell items locally. They don’t take a fee for in-person sales, but they do offer options to upgrade your listing or ship items, which may incur a fee, such as:

• Item promotions: If you want your item at the top of the feed, you’ll pay a small fee.
• OfferUp Premium: If you use the app often and want an ad-free experience, you can pay a monthly fee.
• More listings: If you need to list more than the free listings allow, you can pay a fee or start a subscription.

Where and how to sell your old stuff in person

If you don’t want to sell items online or deal with meeting people in person at a mutual location, consider these methods to sell your old stuff in person.

Garage and yard sales

You might be surprised by how simple and lucrative it is to host a garage or yard sale. Make sure to advertise on social media, put up plenty of signage, keep your items organized, and don’t put any price tags on your stuff ⁠— you’ll earn more if you take offers.

Flea markets

If you aren’t comfortable attracting people to your house, consider signing up for a local flea market to sell your items. You can sell just about anything at flea markets, but look for those with the largest following for the best results.

Local resellers

Consignment shops and used bookstores are still popular among people with a retro sensibility who like to browse in person. In fact, used bookstores are thriving, even in an age of digital e-readers. Determine what you’d like to sell, then look up local resellers in your community that will appraise your items. It’s smart to comparison shop before you decide where to sell the things you own, but here are some places to get you started:

• Buffalo Exchange
• Plato’s Closet
• Style Encore
• Crossroads Trading
• Play it Again Sports
• Local thrift stores

Bottom line

If you have items sitting around your house unused, consider turning them into cash. Not only will you have some extra money, but you’ll declutter your home which can free up your mind. Whether you’re looking for money for savings, vacation, or to pay the bills, starting with the items you have at home can help you reach your goals faster.

In the end, you might be surprised by how much fun you can have getting into the entrepreneurial spirit — and how much extra money you can earn.