The decluttering trend sweeping the UK isn’t just good for your home – it could boost your bank balance too
If you’ve watched Sort Your Life Out and suddenly felt the urge to pull everything out of your cupboards, you’re not alone.
The show has quietly sparked a decluttering boom across the UK, with viewers inspired by its mix of chaos, honesty and genuinely life-changing results.
And at the centre of it all is Dilly Carter, whose calm, practical approach has made her the unlikely face of Britain’s clear-out revolution.
But there’s one thing the programme doesn’t fully focus on: just how much money you can make from doing the same thing at home.
At MoneyMagpie, we’ve been running our Clear Your Clutter campaign for years, long before it became prime-time viewing.
We’ve tested the best places to sell everything from clothes and books to furniture and even scrap – and the results can be eye-opening.
“I’ve seen people make hundreds just from one weekend of decluttering,” I say. “Most of us are sitting on a small fortune without even realising it.”
The Dilly method actually works – but you have to commit
The biggest takeaway from Sort Your Life Out is simple: get everything out. Not a drawer here and there – everything.
“It’s the only way to properly see what you own,” I explain. “Once it’s all in front of you, it becomes much easier to be ruthless.”
Start by dividing items into four clear piles:
“People are always shocked by how much they have,” I add. “That’s when the money-making opportunities start to appear.”
Clothes can bring in quick cash
Clothes are usually the easiest and fastest way to make money. From our experience at MoneyMagpie, a wardrobe clear-out can generate anywhere from £50 to £300 or more, depending on what you have.
“People massively underestimate what their clothes are worth,” I say. “Even high street brands sell well if they’re in good condition.”
Best places to sell include:
- Vinted for everyday items
- Depop for trend-led pieces
- eBay for bundles
For designer labels, platforms like Vestiaire Collective can fetch significantly higher prices. “My top tip is to bundle similar items together,” I say. “It saves time and often sells faster.”
Books are one of the easiest wins
If you’ve got shelves full of books, you could be sitting on easy money. “You don’t need to photograph anything – you just scan the barcode and get an instant price,” I explain.
Sites like WeBuyBooks and Sell Your Books are both reliable and widely used in the UK. “They’re quick, straightforward and ideal if you’ve got a lot to shift,” I add.
Typical earnings range from £20 to £100, but it can be more for larger collections.
Furniture can bring in bigger payouts
Larger items can feel like a hassle to sell, but they’re often where the bigger money is. “People are often too quick to give furniture away,” I say. “But there’s real demand for good-quality second-hand pieces.”
Platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are ideal for local sales. “We regularly see people make £100s just from a sofa or table they no longer need,” I add.
Even the ‘random bits’ are worth money
It’s not just the obvious items that have value. Old cables, unused appliances, textiles and even broken items can all be sold or recycled.
“This is where people miss a trick,” I say. “All those little bits add up.” From our testing, this category alone can bring in £50 to £200.
Make it manageable – and even enjoyable
Decluttering can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. “The key is to break it down,” I say. “Do it in short bursts, put some music on and treat it like a challenge.”
Setting a goal can also help. “Say to yourself: ‘I’m going to make £100 this weekend.’ It completely changes your mindset.”
How much could you make?
Based on MoneyMagpie’s Clear Your Clutter campaign :
- Clothes: £50–£300
- Books: £20–£100
- Furniture: £50–£500+
- Miscellaneous items: £50–£200
Total: £150 to £1,000 or more
Obviously these figures were dictated by the amount our readers sold, but showed that Quite big money really is available.
The bottom line
The popularity of Sort Your Life Out shows just how many of us are ready for a reset at home. But as well as clearer spaces and calmer minds, there’s a financial upside too.
“As soon as you start looking at your belongings differently, everything changes,” I say. “What used to be clutter suddenly becomes potential income.”
And with a bit of MoneyMagpie organisation – and a touch of Dilly Carter-style ruthlessness – that spare room clear-out could turn into a very tidy payday.
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