25 Things to Sell to Make Money Right Away

You’re probably in a bind and wondering whether there are things you can sell to make money.

Oftentimes, you only have to look around your house and take stock of what you have that you don’t use anymore.

I know, I know, spring cleaning is so exhausting.

But if you can make money out of the stuff you uncover, wouldn’t you be inspired to do it soon? Even today?

Seeing the piles of clutter might also make you rethink your spending habits. Every time you’re tempted to reach for your credit card, remind yourself of what you went through while clearing unused stuff and really, REALLY consider if you’re going to use whatever you wanted to buy.

Here are some ideas of stuff around the house that you can sell to get some money quickly.

The 25 Best Things to Sell to Make Money Fast

Start clearing your house of clutter and look out for these things that you can sell.

1. Old Electronics

Technology is evolving every day, from phones to computers to TVs.

People generally assume that as technology evolves, it makes its predecessors obsolete.

That is not always the case, and even if it does, it doesn’t mean you can’t sell it!

How many old cell phones do you have sitting in a drawer somewhere?

Gather your old electronics, be it old laptops, phones, portable DVD players (remember these???), radios, watches, or even old calculators, and put them up for sale.

I’ve talked about how to sell old laptops and old phones before, so these articles should help.

2. Clothes

You probably have many clothes lying around that either don’t fit you or just don’t like to wear anymore.

People usually just donate them to Goodwill or to the Salvation Army.

But sometimes you do need some cash, so don’t feel guilty about selling your clothes to make money, especially if they’re in very good condition.

3. Shoes and Handbags

If you have designer shoes and handbags that you took care of, they’re some of the best things to sell to make money.

It’s even possible to charge more than what you bought them for, depending on the rarity and the condition of your items.

4. Jewelry

Among some more common things you can sell to make money is your old jewelry.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be gold or silver or any other expensive material. Even replicas, costume jewelry, or fake jewelry for children would likely have buyers.

When selling your jewelry, make sure to get them appraised by a reputable jewel appraiser beforehand. This way you can find out the real value of your items before auctioning them off.

You can find an accredited appraiser easily on the American Society of Appraisers website.

5. Books

The chances of you rereading a book decline considerably after the first read, and after the second, it becomes almost negligible.

This doesn’t just apply to novels but to textbooks as well.

If you have stacks of old books lying around, give them life again and put them in a new reader’s hands.

Surprisingly, books hold their value quite well and some even go up with age.

Time to clear off some of those bookshelves.

6. Toys

Children outgrow their toys in a matter of months, if not quicker, and if that toy is in good shape, all is not lost!

There is a separate section dedicated to either handmade or used toys on a number of websites that can enable you to sell them from home.

7. Furniture

It isn’t uncommon for furniture to end up in a garage, storage facility, or attic after some usage.

But that’s silly.

Worst case scenario, you can sell them for a really low price to college students needing furniture in their dorms.

Best case scenario, you can refresh your furniture and sell it to used furniture dealers or on flea markets.

8. Musical Instruments

Remember that time you were going to learn how to play the violin and you quite 2 weeks into the New Year?

Hey, this isn’t about me. This is you we’re talking about.

According to statista.com, the total revenue from the purchase of musical instruments has amounted to $4.3 billion in 2021.

People are spending money on instruments and my your failed New Year’s Resolution could be worth something.

9. Sporting Goods

Oh yeah, exercise equipment.

I may have used my New Year’s analogy a little too early.

Brand new sporting goods such as bicycles, fishing gear, baseball equipment, and others tend to sell well on every online store, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t looking for cheaper alternatives.

There’s always a demand for secondhand sports and exercise goods and equipment.

10. Antiques

The market for antiques is ripe with buyers, both online and in person.

One example is something like Hummel Figurines.

These little porcelain things are just sitting in people’s houses and they could be worth thousands of dollars.

You might want to check in with other family members before you start selling off heirlooms, though. It’s really not worth starting a family feud over ceramic figurines.

11. Artwork

In a true bind, you can literally rip the art off your walls and put it up for sale.

However, bear in mind that art is extremely challenging to appraise because it’s only really worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

12. China Sets

Lots of newlyweds register for expensive china sets and never even take them out of the cupboard.

I’ve been married 5 years and we have $2,000 worth of plates we’ve used once.

Your mistake could be someone else’s discount china.

WAIT.

The china was the mistake, not the wedding.

Sorry about that.

13. Old Video Consoles and Games

Modern consoles have made sharing games easier, which has kind of slowed down the used games market.

However, there are a LOT of people out there who want original retro consoles and games and are willing to pay a premium for them.

Dust off that Nintendo because it could be worth some money.

14. Planners

Every New Year, people often make planners and schedules that they are going to follow throughout the year but are unable to keep track later on.

If you are one of those people and your planner has gone unused, you can always sell it to people who manage to keep track of their daily routine.

Of course, it would be better if this is an undated planner so that anyone can use it anytime.

Man, this list is slowly turning into a list of failed resolutions.

15. Kitchen Gadgets

Your old utensils and tools might not be useful for you, but there are many who can still use them, either for their kitchen needs or as decoration.

For instance, you may have started to take up baking as a hobby, and so you have plenty of cake pans and measuring tools lying around, but then you gave it up maybe because you don’t have the time or your oven broke down (it happens).

Instead of staring at your unused gadgets, just sell them and earn money while helping others with their needs.

16. Tools

Although no tool is ever obsolete, if you do have any that you think you don’t need, or are getting an upgrade, don’t throw them out!

Instead, ask around if anyone is willing to buy them. You’d be surprised at how many tool junkies and DIYers there are who are constantly looking for good deals on tools.

17. Holiday Decorations

Now, be honest. How many bins of decorations do you have sitting in your attic?

Start taking the minimalist approach to holidays and selling those decorations you can let go of (that is, those without much sentimental value).

You may have to wait when it’s close to that holiday before you can sell them, but at least have them clean and ready for when buyers inquire about them.

18. Baby Gear

The used baby gear market is HUGE.

There will always be new moms looking to save some cash on baby expenses by buying second-hand.

If you don’t plan to add to your population count, unload what your child or children will never use again and get some money out of them.

19. Makeup

Ever bought something in the wrong shade or wrong formula for your skin (you’re allergic or you broke out)?

Or maybe you simply have buyer’s remorse and you’ve lost the receipt?

Sell them to sites such as MUABS or GlamBot.

Facebook Groups also has buy and sell groups that trade in new and used makeup.

20. Gift Cards

You may have been given a gift card (or a dozen) to stores you never shop at.

Fortunately, you can turn those gift cards into cash or another gift card to a store that you do shop at.

Start at websites like Gift Card Granny to exchange your gift cards for cash.

21. Old VHS Movies

To be clear, I’m talking about VHS tapes of feature films, not home videos or your parents’ wedding videos.

eBay has made buying and selling VHS tapes popular. You might be able to sell your old tapes or anywhere from $5 to $25, and even more if they’re sealed.

Disney classic animated films are especially in demand, but obscure and B movies that aren’t available on DVD can sell for up to $100 or more.

22. Scrap Metal

Handling and collecting scrap metal might sound like a tetanus infection waiting to happen, but these are one of the more valuable things to sell to make money.

People make a living finding and selling scrap metal, and thieves target demolition and renovation sites to steal some.

But you don’t have to go that far. If you have old appliances, old kitchen pots and pans, patio furniture, or even aluminum cans in your home, you can sell them.

Try to keep your eye out for copper in old electronics and cables, as these are more valuable.

23. Vintage Stuff

There’s old, and then there’s vintage.

If you still have your grandparents’ stuff sitting in your attic, don’t be afraid to rummage through it and possibly find things to sell among their old canes or cans of denture cream.

You may find old postcards, rugs, retro cameras, typewriters, coins, clocks, dolls, sheet music, stamps, lace, and so on. These may look like junk to some people but are treasure to others. The trick is to find these buyers.

Etsy and eBay are probably the most popular online marketplace for vintage goods. Of course, flea markets are also good places to sell your vintage items.

24. College Notes

Provided you haven’t graduated from college too long ago, the subjects you took are in demand, and your notes are legible and detailed, students will pay for them.

Here is a guide on how to sell your college notes for side cash.

25. Hair

This is probably one of the stranger things to sell to make money, but hear me out.

If you have long and shiny hair and are ready for a change, you can easily sell your hair online.

You can make anywhere from $100 to $4,000 just by selling your locks.

There are probably local hairdressers that might be interested in your hair to make as extensions.

It’s weird, but it’s a real thing, I promise.

Best Places to Sell Your Stuff

So you’ve done your spring cleaning and you have all this stuff.

Now what?

Here are the best ways and platforms to sell your stuff.

1. Host a garage sale.

Sort and organize your items, price them, set a date, and advertise it all over town.

Give out flyers and post it on your neighborhood Facebook group.

When the day comes, remember to have change on hand, be polite when haggling, and be safe. Lock your doors and windows, keep the curtains drawn, and don’t let anyone in under any circumstances.

If you have any items left at the end of the day, don’t fret. Read on for more places to sell your things.

2. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace makes it easy to sell your stuff to people in your area who may have missed your garage sale or don’t have the time to get out of the house.

Doing your transactions over social media may sound sketchy, but it’s a great way to actually have a record of your transactions with people and vet your buyer through your mutual friends, if you have them.

3. Craigslist

aka. Old Reliable.

Everyone has at least heard of Craigslist and a few are even brave enough to use it regularly.

Be prepared to haggle and make sure you take proper precautions when meeting up locally.

4. eBay

eBay makes it so simple.

Simply upload a few pictures of your product on eBay, type in relevant details, click on “Sell,” and done!

Whether you’re selling an old phone, jewelry, furniture or any of the things listed above, you can get bids on your items pretty soon.

5. Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace where you can list your handmade, vintage, or factory-made items easily.

While the Etsy crowd is more “craft-minded,” the Vintage category is a great place to sell the vintage stuff you unearthed in your home.

6. OfferUp

OfferUp is stepping up its game to becoming a huge name in the buy and sell industry.

You can sell your products to people all over the US with OfferUp, provided you are comfortable shipping your stuff and dealing in credit.

7. Bookscouter

Bookscouter is only available for books as it works based on the ISBN behind it.

Once you enter your book’s ISBN number, Bookscouter automatically starts finding the best buyer for you (usually vendors).

Start Scouring Your House For These Things to Sell and Make Money Today!

Whether you’re saving up to buy something or would simply like to have some extra cash, rolling up your sleeves and doing some Kondo-ing might make you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

So start turning your mess into money today!

But if you have stuff that you aren’t using or use quite infrequently but just can’t let go of, you may be able to rent them out so you can still make some money from them.

Ever made money from selling your stuff? Did we miss out on potential moneymakers in this list? Tell us in the comments so we can add them here!