SO YOU NEED SOME QUICK CASH!
Around your home there are literally dozens of items that you will probably never use or get any enjoyment from again. We tend to put things up in the shed or the attic, maybe under the bed or over at mum’s place when we don’t need them. For example; that old hobby no longer holds any magic and the hundreds of things that we completely forget we own like old records, disused appliances and furniture.
If you don’t get any use from things, why not exchange them for their value in cash. There are punters screaming out for all types of goods and it's easy to find buyers and swap some junk with them for their loot. The following list will jog your memory. Consider each item to see if you have some stuff somewhere that is no longer required. All these idle things will produce a tidy little sum that you can put to better use.
WHAT TO CONVERT INTO MONEY
Make a list of the unused valuables lying around at your place. Example: Old mower, 2 Rugs, 3 Paintings in spare room, Lamp stand, Camping equipment, Pair of gates.
WHERE TO SELL THINGS
Notice boards; At local schools, Corner stores, At work, Blocks of flats, On the internet. Sales; At trash markets, Garage sales, Car boot sales. Newspapers; The Saturday Age, Trading Post, Herald-Sun, Local Papers. Second hand dealers; Look in the Yellow Pages. Then there is of course Ebay www.ebay.com.au this is quite a safe way to sell and buy online.
GENERAL HINTS
A photo from a bygone era could be a sought after relic. However if you have a few and were to sell them off in one hit you may raise say $20.00. But if you were to enlarge copies of the best ones you could mount or frame them and double or treble your windfall. Surplus knives, forks, pots, pans & plates etc. would sell readily at a caravan park as they have a high loss rate.
Another very saleable asset is knowledge. You may have skills that others would be pleased to pay for. Local newspapers and plant nurseries are suckers for all types of handy hints. They're willing to compensate for your efforts on something basic like tips on growing tomatoes for the best results. A packet of your favorite flower seeds with special directions offered by mail order could return a nice little profit too. Here are a few more suggestions:
A neat sign on the roadside will bring buyers to you; E.g. Home made jam, Established trees, Fresh eggs, Wood work tuition etc. A sign on your car window has a lot of pull; "Baby Cot For Sale Tel: 6555-2370." Try it, It works.
If you find that you have a trailer load of pre-loved things, you could book a stall at a trash & treasure market to sell it. It is amazing how clothing, old mowers & tools are quickly snapped up at these venues. You may begin to realize that certain items are in demand and your new trading experience might encourage you to scan the classifieds for bargains to buy and resell at a profit. A garage sale or stall at the market can be a bit of fun too. If you have no junk of your own, go and see Uncle Bob and ask him for his preloved stuff and then there are all the neighbors to call on too.
When a new or useful gadget would come on to the market I couldn't help myself. I’d buy the item be it a computer, CD player or cordless tool. But very soon I’d realize that all the fun had gone out of it. Then when I sold it I lose money. Now however, I always buy used "Toys" as my wife calls them. This way I enjoy the thrill of the gadget bought at the best price and when I sell it off later I make a nice little profit.
At many auctions people unwittingly pay more than new price for old tools and appliances etc. Some people are so programmed that they buy only from the second hand market place believing they are getting the best value. So depending what you are selling, auctions can be worthwhile.
If you had a valuation on your car and checked the classified ads you would get an idea to within a few hundred dollars of it's worth, say $5000. Then if you were to advertise it for $6000 in Saturday’s paper when thousands of people scan the used car columns, immediately the car projects itself as being in better condition than other cars. Believe me there is always somebody out there who is looking to buy above average and willing to pay! With this in mind it seems feasible that other things could be permanently for sale E.g. The house, after all you would not be the only person to think it exactly right for you when you first see it. So why not advertise it at $25,000 above market value!
Selling things for more than their normal worth can be quite rewarding. The only draw back is that you need to have time on your side as this method can take a little longer to get a sale.
Now you have a high-class problem; namely what to do with all the loot. Good advice is to spend it wisely, but wisdom needs to be acquired. Nobody can help you there! browny@bigpond.net.au Need Another Fix? Click Me