If your tiny room in your student halls or shared flat isn’t enough to make you declutter, we know what will: the lure of some cold, hard cash. Selling on items you no longer want or need could go a long way to bridging the gap to your next student loan payment, so read on to find out how to get the most dosh for your stuff.
Own something valuable?
First things first: work out if you own anything of significant value that you wouldn’t mind seeing the back of. Items such as signed pictures of popstars and antiques gifted by your grandmother can be worth a fortune. If you’re not sentimental, why not get some money for your items rather than leave them gathering dust?
Don’t worry, you don’t have to hunt down an appraiser and waste your precious time outside of lectures. Value My Stuff offers an online valuations service, and can tell you how much anything from sports memorabilia to stamps are worth within 48 hours. You just need to upload photographs and any available details about your item.
Selling student textbooks
Course textbooks can cost a packet, then end up being left on your bookshelf the next semester. However, there are plenty of ways to get some cash back on yours. See if your department is running a book sale any time soon, or head to a university bookstore like Blackwell’s to trade them in.
There are plenty of online selling portals, but you’ll probably get the best prices from Amazon Marketplace or a textbook specialist like Abe Books.
Getting rid of old clothes
Clothes in decent condition can make you some dosh, whether they’re from Versace or Primark. Simply put them up on an auctioning site like eBay with good-quality pictures and informative descriptions, and you should see the bids roll in. Keep your eye out for zero insertion–fee weekends in order to minimise your costs.
What to do with old CDs, DVDs and games
You can sell old CDs, DVDs and games on Amazon or eBay, but if you’re looking for a more convenient option, it might be worth trading them in. CEX takes most types of media and will offer you store credit or cash, and you can apply online or in-store. GAME stores will take your old video games and consoles.
There’s also musicMagpie. Simply enter the barcodes of your items on the site or through the app, send products you wish to sell off in a parcel (there’s currently free courier collection) and then wait to get paid by your choice of bank transfer, cheque or e-voucher.