Sell online for a bit of extra cash

Could you use a bit more cash? In these days of economic upheaval and financial turmoil, who couldn’t? Look around your home. Is it full of ’stuff’? Is you loft full too? Full of things that you thought you’d better keep … just in case.

Well, now might be a good time to think about getting rid of things you possess and no longer need … to give you a bit more money for the essential things in life.

Most people over 50 who have a family life will probably have built up a stock of excess goods. It may be your things, or it may be things that the kids left behind now they’ve grown up and gone, and let’s face it, they’ll never need that Lego again, will they?

It’s time to de-clutter.

You could try a car-boot sale. These are very popular and give you a chance to get rid of your unwanted items. The trouble is that so many people are doing it, and how many copies of Blue Peter Annual 1972 can be sold on one cold Sunday morning?

You can widen your audience – and stay in the warm – by using an online auction site. The most famous is ebay, but there are others: bidboogie.co.uk and ebid.net are two examples.

These are not just for youngsters. If you’ve got a PC and connection to the internet, what does it matter if you’re over 70? Signing up is straightforward, and you’re away.

If you do sell online it’s worth bearing in mind a few tips:

• Look around to see if other similar items are being sold, and check the price
• Take photographs of your items
• Understand your responsibilities as a seller
• Be honest about the condition of your items
• Post things wrapped well and on time – but only when you’ve received the money

Get online, sell your stuff, and make a few bob! It’s fun!

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