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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

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  1. Home
  2. Finance

Top 5 tips for making money from unwanted items

From trash to treasure. - by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
  • 06 Nov 2019

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure is a phrase we all know, and in today’s world this could not be more true. From recycling plastic bottles and cans in exchange for 10 cents to selling old trinkets, you can make money from pretty much anything. 

WATCH: How to make a reusable bag from old plastic bags

With spring cleaning and decluttering now well and truly in motion, we have put together our top five ways to make money from your unwanted items around the house.

1. Dig out your old VHS tapes

Woman with VHS tape
Getty

Now is the time to check the back of your cupboards and drawers for those old video tapes from your childhood. Niche markets are on the rise all over the internet and collectors are searching far and wide for VHS tapes. While you might want to keep these for sentimental value, selling them can get you up to $10,000. Don’t fret it you only have DVDs, establishments will also pay good money for your first edition DVDs that you no longer need. 

2. Get recycling

Woman holding empty plastic bottles
Getty

Instead of putting your drink containers in with your household recycling, set them aside in a bin or bag to get yourself some quick cash. TOMRA recycling machines will give you 10 cents for every valid bottle, can or carton that is returned through their machines in NSW, QLD & NT. Alternatively you can opt to help others from now until 22 February by choosing to donate your earnings to Bottles for the Bush in support of farmers doing it tough this festive season. 

3. Sell toys in good condition

Cabbage Patch doll
Getty

Kids always want the hottest toy of the season, and more often than not these toys are rarely used before the next big thing comes along. Selling toys in good condition on sites like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace can give you a few more dollars that you didn’t have before. Not only will selling these toys help declutter your life, but it will make sure they are loved by someone else when they are no longer wanted in your home. It also pays to dig through your own box of childhood toys for sought-after collectables including original Cabbage Patch dolls, My Little Pony figurines, and Furbies.

4. Rid your home of old school gadgets

Nintendo 64
Getty

Selling all of your old gadgets can now make you quite a lot of money. Nintendo 64s and PS2s are selling for upwards of $300 on sites such as Gumtree and ebay with collectors paying even more for original remotes and games. This trend isn’t limited to gaming either, it applies to mobile phones as well. If you are one to replace your phone when a new edition comes out, odds are your old device is sitting in your wardrobe untouched. Selling old phones that still work can score you a few hundred dollars.

5. Upcycle your old furniture

Woman painting table
Getty

Upcycled furniture is not a new trend, however it is always a popular way to make some cash. With home trends constantly changing, people are always looking for the next piece to make their home stand out. Upcycling furniture may be a hobby for some, but is a business for others. Taking unwanted and unused items from our everyday lives and making them into works of art can be a great way to make some extra cash and even a living. 

  • DIY
  • Finance
  • Better Life
Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
Rebecca is the Digital Managing Editor of Better Homes and Gardens.

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

The unusual items you need to include in your will

The unusual items you need to include in your will

Your old Cabbage Patch doll could be worth thousands of dollars

Your old Cabbage Patch doll could be worth thousands of dollars

What you can and can't recycle

What you can and can't recycle

5 legal ways to reduce your capital gains tax on investment property

5 legal ways to reduce your capital gains tax on investment property

{headline}

{headline}

Tara upcycles an old sideboard

Tara upcycles an old sideboard

26 things to throw out before the end of the year

26 things to throw out before the end of the year

Reader project: From old coffee table to Hamptons-style ottoman

Reader project: From old coffee table to Hamptons-style ottoman

{headline}

{headline}

How one mum used an old car tyre to create a stunning ottoman

How one mum used an old car tyre to create a stunning ottoman

What happens to your mind when you declutter

What happens to your mind when you declutter

How to upcycle a second-hand table with tiles

How to upcycle a second-hand table with tiles

Five important financial decisions to make this January

Five important financial decisions to make this January

5 small ways you can be more eco-friendly this year

5 small ways you can be more eco-friendly this year

7 ways to slash your bills in the New Year

7 ways to slash your bills in the New Year

How to avoid creating Christmas clutter this year

How to avoid creating Christmas clutter this year

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