How to make extra cash before Christmas by selling your junk
HOUSE full of clutter? Don't throw it away, because it could earn you hundreds.
Old jam jars, empty perfume bottles, outdated technology and even coat hangers are being sold for up to £1,550 online - and it could help you feel less cash-strapped this Christmas.
Christmas can be a stressful time of year as it puts a huge financial strain on families.
Last year, 36 per cent of Brits carried Christmas debt into 2018, with a quarter starting the new year with credit card debt, according to research by.
But there is a way to ease the burden by selling your unwanted clutter - and some of it could be worth hundreds.
There's a market for everything on re-selling websites such as and , from old mobile phones, outdated tech such as CD and MP3 players, and even empty jam jars and perfume bottles.
To get the best price possible for your old phone, you should ideally keep the original box, charger and any other accessories.
It may also be worth replacing the battery.
How to make the most money from your old tech
Compare and Recycle says the average family has more than £600 worth of old tech lying around. Here's how to make the most money by re-selling them:
1. Find the original chargers – If you have the original charger or power cable, you are bound to earn more money.
2. Make sure it works – If it doesn’t work, you might not be able to sell it for anything, so pull out the charger and find out whether the item actually works. If it doesn’t show any signs of life, try a different power cable first. If that still doesn’t work, then recycling companies will still be able to recycle the device responsibly.
3. Wipe the device – Protect your personal data and it will help your offer price if you restore to factory settings before you sell it.
4. Replace the battery – If you remember the device having a problem with holding its charge, then replacing the battery with another one can be a good way of keeping its value. Find any official new batteries on eBay and you might just find that for as little as a fiver, your device will hold charge and work much better.
5. Give it a clean – Get some tech wipes for a couple of pounds and scrub away all the grime. A clean and working device will be more valuable. Get in the cracks and crevices with some folded card or a toothpick and really clear the device. A compressed air cannister is a great household item that can also prolong the life of PCs and consoles.
2. CD players - Up to £900
CD players are fast becoming a relic of the past, even though you can still buy them new from some retailers.
You might not think they would be worth much anymore, but they can still fetch surprisingly high prices on eBay.
As with all tech, you'll get a better price for your CD player if it's in really good condition, or if it's a newer model.
But even if you have an old model that's been lying around for a few years, you could still earn some money from it.
A Samsung HT-Q100 Home Cinema System Kit recently sold for £18 on eBay despite being made in 2006 - so selling your old gadget could give you some extra pocket money this Christmas.
3. MP3 Players - Up to £132
5. Coat hangers - Up to £62
That was for 750 coat hangers though, which works out at just 8p per coat hanger.
So you will need to collect quite a few if you want to make any significant amount of money.
Where can I sell my secondhand goods?
YOU can make money from flogging your old things online, from clothes to furniture. Before you throw them away, think about whether it's worth making a profit from your junk.
eBay - You can list up to 20 things a month for free on the auction site but they do charge 10 per cent if you manage to sell the item, including postage and packaging. Laura Rose made a whopping £30,000 selling her old clothes on eBay.
Gumtree - You can list jobs, property, clothes and even pets on Gumtree for free but you'll have to pay a fee of you're a business, agent, dealer or landlord.
Preloved - Similar to Gumtree, you can list things for free. It works best when the seller can meet up with the buyer.
Facebook Marketplace - The social media site offers a sellers service, Marketplace, which allows you to get rid of your unwanted things for free to sellers in your local area. It's cash in hand and there are no postage costs.
Depop - The app helps you sell your clothes. Take a photo on your phone, list it on , share it on social media, and wait for someone to make the purchase.
Compare and Recycle - shows you the highest price you can get for your old tech. It can saves time searching for the best deals.
6. Empty jam jars - up to £35
You will probably need to collect a few before you can make that kind of money from selling them though, as there were 35 jars in the job lot.
An IT consultant from Swindon recently revealed he'd made £2,500 in a year by flogging his old phones, tablets and CDs online.
And Warehouse worker Joe Kadomrezz, 30, made £3,858.16 from selling old CDs, DVDs and games to pay off his bills - and he even got enough to go on holiday with his best mate.
If you're feeling the squeeze this month then here are some ways you can make some extra cash from home.
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