SAVVY SELLERS
Three easy ways to make cash from a spring clearout as savvy families reveal top-selling items
And we look at how families can apply for extra childcare help this spring ahead of the September rollout
BY clearing out your junk you could make buckets of extra cash this spring.
Clothes, old toys, books and other household items can all be sold off, quickly adding up to a major bank account boost.
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From second-hand sites to car boot sales, Harriet Cooke looks at the different ways to sell your gear.
Car boot sale: Good for instant cash
THIS is a great way to offload lots of low-value items — such as bric-a-brac, clothes, toys and books — in one go.
Find your nearest sale site at carbootjunction.com.
Pitch costs start at a few quid but can reach up to £25.
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You’ll need a table, ground sheets, coins for change, carrier bags, a packed lunch and batteries to demonstrate how electrical items work.
Make goods look as presentable as possible, arrange by category if you can, and spread them out so buyers can see what’s there.
Antiques expert Antony Charman, of vintagecashcow.co.uk, reckons sellers can typically pocket ten to 15 per cent of an item’s original value.
He said: “Remember regular car boot sale-goers will be ready to haggle. Start with a slightly higher price than you’re actually expecting, as this will give them room to wriggle you down.”
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At packing up time, consider shouting, “Everything 50p” if you want all your goods to go.
I’m a car boot sale pro and here are my top tips to bagging the best deals and no, you really don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn
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CASE STUDY: Mum Katie Roberton and her son Arthur, from Bournemouth, often set up a stall at their local Ashley Heath car boot sale.
Ceramic artist Katie, whose work is at outlandishcreations.com, said: “The great thing about boot sales is doing deals on the spot and getting instant cash.”
Arthur, 12, said of sale day: “It’s good fun. I sell my shoes that don’t fit any more.
I get between £5 and £30 depending on condition and brand.
“A newish pair of Nikes might get £30. My Hot Wheels toy cars and old children’s books sell for 50p each.”
Sell locally: Good for flogging large items
FACEBOOK Marketplace, Gumtree and other selling groups let you target local buyers.
It is straightforward to create listings. Take a few good snaps of your item and upload them with as detailed a description as possible.
Anyone interested will message you and, if you accept their offer, can collect the goods from your home and pay in cash.
Be wary of buyers who want to pay through other means, such as bank transfer or PayPal — sometimes they can be scammers.
These sites are free to use, whereas a platform such as eBay can take more than ten per cent of your selling price.
Common household items such as games consoles, sofas, tellies, books, DVDs and baby clothes are among the most likely to be snapped up fast.
Michael Foote, from money-saving site quotegoat.com, said: “Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell unwanted furniture and have somebody local come and pick it up.
“It’s a good idea to include the cost of how much you originally paid so buyers can see how much you’ve discounted it.”
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CASE STUDY: Mum-of-two Joanne Swali, 42, who lives near Basingstoke, Hants, made £500 last year from selling unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace.
The businesswoman, who runs wall sticker company stickerscape.co.uk, said: “I find selling things on eBay and then sending them off at the Post Office is a bit of a faff.
“It’s easier to sell on Facebook and have the items collected, even though it means occasionally dealing with scam messages or time-wasters.
“Branded items seem to go really well, especially Ikea or baby toys from Lamaze, LeapFrog and VTech.
“I sell old toys in bundles. A box of my son’s old cars, diggers and construction vehicles sold for around £20.
“It’s quicker to sell items in groups than list them all separately.”
Resale or auction site: Good for designer gear
THERE are lots of resale sites for selling secondhand goods — and some are better for flogging certain items due to the audiences they attract.
Vinted is great for offloading clothes and is fee-free for sellers, while buyers pay fees plus postage.
Consider eBay for flogging higher-value goods that justify its seller fees, which are 12.8 per cent of the total sale, plus a charge of 30p per order.
From April 8, there will also be a new “Regulatory Operating fee” of 0.35 per cent as well. So if you sold a keyboard for £30, you would pay £4.23.
Depop is great and charges 12.9 per cent plus 30p to sellers.
For designer garments, try the Vestiaire Collective – which is usually free for sellers.
List all relevant details when describing the item, including brand name, measurements, sizing, condition and materials.
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CASE STUDY: Mum-of-two Sarah Jamieson, 41, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, made £1,000 last year on Vinted after a wardrobe clearout.
The photographer, who runs pictorialphotography.co.uk, said: “Last year I put around 75 items on Vinted and they made around £5 and £35 each.
“Most were from mid-range brands, such as Monsoon, Laura Ashley and Mantaray.
“Boden clothes sell really well, I had a couple of their jumpers which sold for £35 each.
“I’ve found old brands such as Dorothy Perkins seem to be popular, perhaps because people remember seeing the shops before they all closed down.”
Declaring taxable earnings from sales
SECOND-HAND selling can help line your pockets, but if you earn more than £1,000 a year (April to March) from it, you may need to declare it and pay tax.
Platforms including eBay and Vinted now share seller information with HM Revenue & Customs.
If you make more than the limit, you should fill out a self-assessment tax return which will calculate how much you owe.
You can contact HMRC with queries online at gov.uk or by calling 0300 200 3300.
FEE-FREE FOREIGN SPEND FOR HSBC TRAVELLERS
HSBC plans to scrap all fees for Britons spending abroad, starting by making its debit cards charge-free for people going on holiday.
Sources say the change will begin with Premier current account customers before funnelling down to HSBC advance and standard bank account holders.
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While plans are in the works, there is no confirmation the change will happen soon.
Most major banks charge fees when customers use their debit cards for spending or cash withdrawals abroad.
First Direct and Virgin Money customers already benefit from fee-free spending and withdrawals, alongside those with online-only banks Chase, Monzo and Starling.
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HSBC currently charges 2.75 per cent on any payments or cash withdrawals abroad, excluding for Global Money Account customers.
The charges can quickly rack up as the fee is per transaction. Two £20 meals out would cost you an extra £1.10 in fees.
FAMILIES can apply for extra childcare help this spring ahead of its September rollout.
The Government has confirmed parents of nine-month-olds will be able to apply for 15 hours of free cover from May 12.
It is encouraging people to get their applications in early to make sure they get a place.
Parents of two-year-olds will start receiving 15 hours of free childcare from April.
Meanwhile, working families with children aged nine months to three years will get 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025.
You can currently get 30 hours of free childcare for kids between three and four.
Apply at gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working.
Once the application has been approved, you will get a code to give to your childcare provider.
Parents who are not on Universal Credit or Tax Credit may qualify for £2,000 a year of tax-free childcare for each of their kids.
Those claiming certain benefits might be able to get free childcare for two-year-olds.
You should contact your council or local provider for information about eligibility.
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