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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
When it rains, it pours. For the 59 percent of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, unexpected expenses can quickly turn into financial emergencies. Get creative by creating a list of household items to sell for quick cash.
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Here’s a List of 9 Household Items to Sell for Cash Today:
1. Clothing
Sell your gently used clothing to local consignment shops for cash. The more name brands you have, the more you can expect to earn for your clothes.
If you don’t have any consignment shops in your area, turn to free classified ads like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Designer brands sell very well on eBay especially if you can prove the item is authentic.
2. Old Gift Cards
Gift cards are a gift that keeps on giving. You can sell old gift cards for cash online or to family and friends.
Be warned that there are a lot of scam sites that claim to buy back gift cards. Try Cardcash.com or Cardpool.com if your gift card has a balance of at least $25.
You won’t get the full value in cash, but something is better than nothing.
3. Garage Space
Turn empty space in your garage into cash by offering it as storage space. Sites like Neighbor.com connect homeowners with people who need storage space.
Homeowners can advertise their space as well as set rental rates. The site sets guidelines for transactions to help those who don’t know what to charge.
Make sure any service you use gives you access to liability insurance in case anything gets damaged in your home.
You’ll also want coverage for potential injuries so they don’t fall under your renter or homeowner’s insurance policies. Listings are available for 48 states and the District of Columbia.
4. Old Cars
One easy way to make the neighbors happy while adding a little extra to your bank account is by selling an old car. Old cars that can’t be repaired for less than its value or that no longer run are considered junk cars.
Junk car owners can bring in thousands of extra dollars by selling cars for parts. A quick Google search for ‘Junk car buyers near me‘ will give you contact information for dozens of auto salvage companies in your area.
Most companies will buy junk cars no matter their condition. In major markets, auto salvage companies will also pick up the junk car easing your burden of getting it towed.
5. Extra Bedroom
Most people have heard of sites like AirBNB and VRBO. The premise is easy.
List an extra bedroom, or your whole house, for rent for a price you set. Homeowners in cities that attract visitors to annual sporting events or major attractions can earn thousands of extra dollars per month during peak season.
The amount you earn is based on your location and the amenities you can provide. Larger luxury homes in desirable neighborhoods command the money.
6. Books
Sell rare, collectible books to earn extra money. First editions are highly sought after by book collectors.
If you have a gently used, out of print book, take it several local bookstores for an estimate. You’ll want more than one quote especially if you’re new to bookselling.
Books don’t have value just because they’re old. Books that are scarce, have the original dust jacket and that is signed by the author often have the most value.
You can determine the value of a book printed after 1970 by searching using the ISBN number online.
College students should always sell textbooks as soon as the semester ends. Textbooks are expensive but can usually be sold back to the college bookstore if they are still in good condition.
7. Remote Controls
One of the more unusual household items to sell for quick cash is a TV remote control. Remote controls can be sold on eBay to a variety of buyers with peculiar tastes.
You’ll get the most money if you have lots of remotes of the same brand. Companies that refurbish home electronics get products that don’t come with remotes.
Customers won’t buy certain electronics with a remote so these businesses turn to eBay for secondhand remotes on the cheap.
8. Sports Equipment
Sporting good companies often buy back used sporting equipment. Condition is important in getting a good offer for your equipment.
Top brands command the highest buyback value as does fitness equipment like treadmills and punching bags. Connect with the shop owner to find out what equipment they need as it changes seasonally.
If you don’t own the equipment in demand, you might be able to find the goods cheap at a local thrift store and resell it to a used sporting goods store for profit.
9. Toys
Toys are not all created equal. Most have very little value and can’t be resold at all.
But other toys, like LEGOS, have a surprisingly high resell value and can be resold almost at the price you bought them. Do your research before listing your toys for sale.
Check eBay for similar toys to see how much you can earn. In order to make money, the toy should be in good condition.
Specialty toys like electric scooters ride on cars are also a great option for selling at local kids’ consignment shops.
Household Items to Sell for Quick Cash
If you’re looking for household items to sell for quick cash, start by cleaning out your closets for items you rarely use. Sort by the condition of the items to find the best options.
No matter how valuable an item used to be, if it’s falling apart now, it’ll be hard to find a seller willing to give you more than a few dollars. Use trial and error on auction and free classified sites to learn what sells best in your area.
You might be surprised to learn what someone else wants to add to their collection. When listings are free, you have nothing to lose and only cash to gain by putting your products out there.
For more information on making money from home, check our blog for updates.
