MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares how you can make an easy £250 for your Christmas budget in the next few weeks
Christmas is six weeks away, which means many of us are scrambling to find enough in the budget to buy gifts, decorations, festive food and book social events.
The costs very quickly add up, so making extra cash now can help make January less of a tight month. Clearing your clutter is one of the best things you can do at this time of year.
Not only does it make money for your Christmas kitty, it also helps make more space so you’ve got somewhere to put the new gifts you receive (or simply enjoy your way into the New Year with a stress-free space).
Follow these tips to maximise on cash in your attic.
Have a wardrobe rummage
How many times have you bought something this year with the intention of wearing it, but it’s still in your wardrobe with the tags on? Whether you changed your mind and forgot to return it, or figured you’d find something to wear it to eventually, brand new clothes can fetch you an easy chunk of change.
Take clear photos of the items and make sure you measure them, too. Lay items flat and measure the chest width, length from the shoulder, and sleeve length. List on online marketplaces like eBay or Vinted, or go to a local car boot sale if you’ve got lots of stuff to sell.
Check your old games, VHS and DVDs
Physical media is making a comeback in a big way with collectors. Many people are getting tired of streamers putting up their prices again and again, or that they only own a licence to borrow and not the permanent ownership to the title they’ve bought.
Special editions can bag a tidy sum on auction sites like eBay. Even not-so-special editions are new favourites. For example, people lament the lack of actor and director commentaries now we don’t have DVDs – so older DVDs with lots of featurettes and commentaries do well, if you highlight that as a selling point.
The Disney Vault VHS tapes can reach a pretty sum too for the Black Diamond editions, up to and over £200 for mint condition special editions. Even the standard ones can reach £25 each if they are in good condition.
Take your items to CEX or another second-hand shop if they are more mainstream or you don’t want to bother with posting lots of individual items. Or, list on eBay or online marketplaces. Make sure you take photos of items before you post them; many people choose to record a packing video to make sure they can prove the condition of the item as it was sealed and sent.
Lean Into vinyl sales
Just as people want DVDs and computer games they can hold in their hand, the record industry is booming and that means you can make money selling vinyl records.
There are two main reasons this industry is doing well. The first is the same as other media: people want to be able to hold the real thing, to own the media, and have it on their shelf to use whenever they want (not when an internet connection allows it).
The second is the trend for new artists to release special edition vinyl records, whether that’s Yungblud’s ‘blood’ Idols record that sells for up to £370 or every album released by Taylor Swift.
Sell broken gadgets
It sounds strange but if you’ve got a drawer or cupboard where tech items go to die, it’s time to clear it out for some cash. Selling broken gadgets can net you a tidy sum!
People like to buy broken gadgets because they can use the parts in other projects, or get specific parts for repairs that aren’t sold direct anymore. Some tech whizzes can even bring old gadgets back to life and sell them on for a profit.
Old phones, laptops, desktop computers, and even games consoles can all go for a pretty penny. List on online auction sites but make sure you clearly list as ‘spares or repair’, with photos of any damage or written description in the listing of what is wrong with it.
Get creative and upcycle
One way to flip items you don’t want anymore for more cash than you might expect is to upcycle them. This means turning a bog-standard item into a one-of-a-kind.
For some people, this means using embroidery or craft skills to transform old clothes into something new. For others, it could be restoring thrifted furniture and selling on for a huge profit.
Think about your creative side, your starting budget for materials (or what you already have to hand), and how much time you can set aside for an upcycling project. Now is a great time of year to do this, as unique items make great Christmas gifts.
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