Three ways to make money with a spring cleaning as smart families share tips

BY clearing out your clutter, you can make tons of extra money this spring.

Clothes, old toys, books and other household items can all be sold, which can quickly add up to a big boost to the bank account.

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From second-hand sites to car boot sales, Harriet Cooke looks at the different ways to sell your stuff.

Car boot sale: good for instant cash

THIS is a great way to unload a lot of low value items such as curios, clothes, toys and books in one go.

Find your nearest retail location at carbootjunction.com.

The cost of a pitch starts at a few euros but can go up to £25.

You will need a table, groundsheets, change, carrier bags, a packed lunch and batteries to demonstrate how electrical appliances work.

Make sure goods look as presentable as possible, arrange them by category if possible, and spread them out so buyers can see what’s there.

Antiques expert Antony Charman of vintagecashcow.co.uk estimates that sellers can typically pocket ten to fifteen percent of an item’s original value.

He said: “Remember that regular visitors to car boot sales are prepared to haggle. Start with a slightly higher price than you actually expect, because then they have room to get you down.”

When packing, consider shouting, “50 cents all” if you want all your goods gone.

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CASE STUDY: Mum Katie Roberton and her son Arthur, from Bournemouth, often set up a stall at their local Ashley Heath car boot sale.

Ceramic artist Katie, whose work is on outlandishcreations.com, said: “The great thing about boot sales is you can make deals on the spot and get money straight away.”

Arthur, 12, said of the sale day: “It’s a lot of fun. I am selling my shoes that no longer fit.

I get between €5 and €30 depending on the condition and brand.

“A new pair of Nikes could fetch £30. My Hot Wheels toy cars and old children’s books sell for 50 cents each.”

Sell ​​Locally: Good for flogging large items

FACEBOOK Marketplace, Gumtree and other selling groups allow you to target local buyers.

It’s easy to create listings. Take some good photos of your item and upload it with as detailed a description as possible.

Interested parties will send you a message and, if you accept their offer, can collect the goods from your home and pay in cash.

Be wary of buyers who want to pay by other means, such as bank transfer or PayPal. Sometimes these can be scammers.

These sites are free to use, while a platform like eBay can take more than ten percent of your sales price.

Common household items such as games consoles, sofas, televisions, books, DVDs and baby clothes are among the most common to be snapped up quickly.

Michael Foote, from money-saving site quotegoat.com, said: “Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell unwanted furniture and have someone local come and collect it.

“It’s a good idea to include the cost of the amount you originally paid so buyers can see how much of a discount you gave.”

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CASE STUDY: Mum-of-two Joanne Swali, 42, who lives near Basingstoke, Hants, made £500 last year selling unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace.

The businesswoman, who runs wall sticker company stickerscape.co.uk, said: “I find it a bit of a hassle to sell things on eBay and then send them to the post office.

“It’s easier to sell on Facebook and have the items collected, even if it means occasionally dealing with scam messages or time wasters.

“Branded items seem to be doing very well, especially Ikea or baby toys from Lamaze, LeapFrog and VTech.

“I sell old toys in bundles. A box of my son’s old cars, diggers and construction vehicles sold for around £20.

“It’s faster to sell items in groups than to list them all individually.”

Resale or auction site: Good for designer gear

THERE are many resale sites for selling second-hand goods – and some are better for selling certain items because of the audience they attract.

Vinted is great for unloading clothes and is free for sellers while buyers pay fees plus shipping.

Consider eBay for selling higher value goods that justify seller fees, which are 12.8 percent of total sales, plus a 30 cent surcharge per order.

From April 8, there will also be a new “Regulatory Operating Fee” of 0.35 percent. So if you sold a keyboard for $30, you would pay $4.23.

Depop is great and charges sellers 12.9 percent plus 30 cents.

For designer clothes, try the Vestiaire Collective, which is usually free for sellers.

Please include all relevant details when describing the item, including brand name, dimensions, sizing, condition and materials.

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CASE STUDY: Mum-of-two Sarah Jamieson, 41, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, made £1,000 on Vinted last year after clearing out a wardrobe.

The photographer, who runs pictorialphotography.co.uk, said: “Last year I put about 75 items on Vinted and they each raised about £5 and £35.

“Most were from mid-range brands such as Monsoon, Laura Ashley and Mantaray.

“Boden clothes are selling really well, I had a few of their jumpers selling for £35 each.

“I’ve found that old brands like Dorothy Perkins seem to be popular, perhaps because people remember seeing the stores before they all closed.”

FREE FOREIGN EXPENSES FOR HSBC TRAVELERS

HSBC plans to abolish all charges for British spending abroad, starting by making its debit cards free for people going on holiday.

Sources say the change will start with Premier current account customers before trickling down to HSBC cash advances and standard bank account holders.

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While plans are in the works, there is no confirmation that the change will happen anytime soon.

Most major banks charge fees when customers use their debit card for spending or cash withdrawals abroad.

Customers of First Direct and Virgin Money already benefit from free spending and withdrawals, alongside customers of online banks Chase, Monzo and Starling.

HSBC currently charges 2.75 percent on all payments or withdrawals abroad, excluding Global Money Account customers.

The costs can quickly add up, as the costs apply per transaction. Two £20 meals will cost you an additional £1.10 in fees.