Before looking at our top tips for making money out of your unwanted items, it’s important to remember two things:
- Check the value: You never know what’s worth money. If you’re clearing items that you’re not 100% familiar with, it’s always worth checking to see what price similar things are selling for.
- Sell smart: There are many ways to turn a profit. It’s not just eBay and car boot sales anymore – you could make much more money if you sell in the right place.
Disclaimer: Please be advised, we’ve written this blog to share some of our thoughts and ideas, if you are in need of free and impartial financial advice, please speak to The Money Advice Service.
Here, we'll take you through the best ways to make cash out of your unwanted valuables.
Get rid of old or unworn jewellery
Gold, silver, or platinum jewellery
Any jewellery piece which is made from precious metals — gold, silver, or platinum for example — will hold intrinsic value thanks to the material used. No matter the design or the condition of a piece, you will be able to sell it with ease if you know where to go. Here at H&T Pawnbrokers, we buy gold and other precious metals in-store and online (via post). You don’t need an appointment; simply walk into your local branch and we can help.
Costume jewellery
While costume jewellery generally holds little intrinsic value (as pieces tend to be made from cheaper materials), the design and condition of the piece can ensure it’s worth more than its component parts. If you have costume jewellery in good condition, consider selling similar pieces together in a bundle or listing separate, more on-trend pieces on a selling app.
Broken jewellery
Broken jewellery can still be sold — particularly if it’s made of a precious metal such as gold, silver, or platinum. This is because these metals can easily be melted down and repurposed into new items. The value lies in the weight of the metal, and not necessarily the condition of the piece.
For other types of broken jewellery, you may be able to remove its component parts such as beads or charms and sell them separately.
Sell CDs, DVDs & old electronics
Out of date, broken electronics
Broken electronics are difficult to make any money from, but there are some gadget recycling companies who are willing to pay cash. This could be a good way to get rid of electronics, as their important components can be recycled and the rest is disposed of safely.
CDs and DVDs
Many households have now gone fully digital when it comes to their in-home entertainment such as music and films. Gone are the days of hoarding CDs and DVDs — everything is now on demand and instant access via the TV, tablets and smartphones. Thankfully there is still some money to be made by selling your CDs and DVDs.
Sell clothing and accessories
Designer goods
Designer clothing and accessories – particularly those in good condition – should sell easily and have plenty of interest. Designer items can be sold via dedicated apps, through an auction site, or directly to a pre-loved designer boutique in your area.
Clothing in new or good condition
Any decent garment can sell for a fair price if it’s presented well and listed in the right place. There are many apps available which specialise in the sale of clothing. If you don’t want to spend the time listing individual garments online, you might consider selling in outfits or bundles. Should you have rather a lot of clothing to get rid of, you could also consider selling it by the kilo.
Ripped, stained or worn out garments
It’s hard to make any money at all with clothing which is worn out or damaged, but certain garments may still hold some value. Depending on the material, you could cut old clothing up into strips of material to use in sewing or craft projects, and even sell batches of these materials online if they’re suitable for quilting or similar.
Surprisingly valuable items sitting in your loft
Many of us have items hidden away in our lofts or at the back of a cupboard, which we don't realise are actually surprisingly valuable. Keep an eye out for the following as they could be worth a pretty penny, and always do your research on how valuable a possession might be.
Beanie Babies
Not only are they incredibly cute and the perfect gift for a little one, but Beanie Babies can be extremely valuable too. Beanie Babies were incredibly popular as a toy when they first emerged in the early 90s, but more recently some collectors have found them popular as a financial valuable.
While not every Beanie Baby will be worth a fortune, there are a number of rare ones to look out for. Valentina is a particularly rare Beanie Baby, as the Valentine's Day themed bear was only in production for a year. And if you have a Valentina bear with no red stamp on the Tush Tag (the apt name for the tag found on the Beanie Baby's rear end), it can be even more valuable. These bears can be worth as much as $57,000 (approx. £43,388.12).
Football programmes
If you're the sort of person who can never throw away a football programme from matchday, good news! While they may not seem like much, programmes can be incredibly valuable if they come from particularly memorable or monumental games. For example, the programme for the England vs Germany World Cup Final in 1966 is an unsurprisingly valuable one in this country, and has been put up for auction on eBay for £1,000.
The most valuable football programme in the UK to date was sold for an impressive £30,000 in 2013. This programme comes from the earliest surviving FA cup final in 1882, between Old Etonians and Blackburn Rovers. While many of us won't have programmes as old as this one, make sure to not throw out programmes over 50 years old from particularly important games, as these are the ones likely to do well at an auction.
Vintage video games
If you're an avid gamer, your old video games may be worth more than you think. Old tech can be incredibly valuable, with a vintage Apple computer selling for $500,000 (approx. £382,537.50) at auction in 2021 (PCMag). So it's no surprise that vintage video games can go for a lot of money too.
There is also a selection of very rare Game Boy games that are particularly valuable. For example, Spud’s Adventure, a niche game based on a potato who has been given the task to save a princess, saw low sales numbers initially, but has since gone on to be a cult classic for Game Boy fanatics and collectors. Selling this game could make you an impressive $2,158.13 (approx. £1,642.76). On top of this, the prequal to this game, Amazing Tater, is currently valued at $1,745.84 (approx. £1,328.91) in mint condition.
Lego
Pretty much every family has a box of Lego somewhere in their house. It's a staple of so many people's childhoods, and it has been enjoyed for generations. But did you know it can also be very valuable too? Rare Lego sets can sell for surprisingly high figures if they're in a good condition, and especially if they've been kept in the original packaging.
On top of this, the sets don't even need to be vintage to be considered valuable. For example, the Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon was produced in just 2007, and has been sold second-hand for an impressive $15,000 ( approx. £11,417.92). However, older sets can do incredibly well too. The 1984 King's Castle set, for instance, is listed upwards of £2,000 on eBay.
Currently H&T does not buy or lend on these items but we do lend on a wide variety of other items such as handbags, artwork, watches and jewellery. If you have something you’d like valued, feel free to take it in to your local H&T branch. Alternatively, you can use our online pawnbroking portal and get a quote in 30 minutes* during business hours. *30mins applies Monday - Friday during office hours only (9-5.30).
If you’re looking to make a profit and declutter your home at the same time, use the tips above to sell your unwanted items for a fair price while spring cleaning your house.
And if you’re looking for more ways to make some quick cash from your spring clean, you may come across a valuable which would make a good pawn in exchange for a secured loan. Here at H&T, we offer pawnbroking loans for a wide range of items, including artwork, jewellery, watches, and more. Pop into your local branch today or read our pawnbroking guide to find out more.
REPRESENTATIVE 165.5 % APR
Representative Example: Total amount of credit: £200 for 6 months. Total amount payable in one instalment: £325.88. Total charge for credit: £125.88(Interest Only). Interest rate 125.9% pa(fixed). Maximum APR 165.5 %APR. Maximum payment term up to 6 months.
Pawnbroking Loans are secured on your items, if the loan is not repaid it will be sold to pay the debt.
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for Consumer Credit. (Please note that Cheque Cashing, FX, retail purchases and sales are not regulated by the FCA.)
