7 Items You Don't Need Anymore That You Can Turn Into Some Extra Cash

In a financial crunch, most people will take money from anywhere they can find it. Before going into debt, consider using some of the assets you already own. Chances are, there are things you own and no longer have a use for that do have some value. Below is a list of seven such items.

Scrap Metal

If you have owned motor vehicles and a garage for a period of years, chances are you have amassed some scrap metal. Instead of taking it to the dump, sell it to a scrap yard. This is a quick way to get some cash instantly. Consider letting family and neighbors know that you are taking a trip and offer to get the scrap metal off their hands for even more cash.

Jewelry

While jewelry may look nice, it isn't always a necessity or in style all the time. Authentic jewelry holds monetary value that you may not even be aware of. For example, old jewelry that was handed down to you by family members are often worth much more than you think. You can get money from the gold in unwanted jewelry, no matter how out of style it is. If you need money fast, one great idea is to take some of the jewelry you own to pawn shops in DC. Pawn shops will typically buy old jewelry for a great price. 

Collectibles

In the past, you may have collected things like baseball cards, figurines or comic books. Whatever the case, these items don’t have a lot of extended use. Most people, for example, only read a comic book once. Consider selling these items on online auction websites to convert them into their cash value. Chances are, someone will find them valuable and be willing to pay a good price for your collectibles. Ebay is a great place to sell your collectibles and get the most money out of it, since people can bid however much they want, and you get to choose the starting bid. 

Old Computers

One thing that must be constantly replaced is your computer. However, what you may not know is that even computers from the 90’s or 80’s are still valuable today. There are many collectors out there as well as stores that allow you trade in older models for part of the price of new ones. You can even sell certain parts of your computer for quick cash. People are always looking for specialized parts to finish their projects or build a new computer.

Sporting Equipment

Most people go through stages where they try out new sports they quickly abandon. They may have spent a lot of money on things like skis, tennis rackets or golf clubs. If this is a case, turn these items into cash. Many people are looking for lightly used sports equipment to find better deals, and you can sell them for a decent price. 

CDs

If you have a computer with a CD drive, you have the ability to back up all the CDs you have on your hard-drive. After doing so, sell these CDs to a music store or through an online retailer. While they may seem outdated, you can still get some extra cash from them. 

Baby Items

After your children grow up, chances are you’ll no longer have a need for things like cribs and baby toys. Instead of letting these take up room in your home, trade them for other things you may need with couples that have or are expecting children. You could also sell them online for a quick and easy way to make extra money on the items you don't need anymore.

Overall, there is no reason to take on a loan you won’t be able to pay off if you haven’t made true use of the assets you already own. There are likely to be many valuable items in your home that you no longer use. Get creative and find ways to turn your unwanted items into quick cash. You should also consider selling old items at a yard sale or online.

What You May Have At Home That Could Bring In More Money

Some homeowners don’t realize that they may have hidden treasures in their home. These valuable items might be in plain sight, overlooked or stashed away and forgotten. In today’s economy, every little bit of income is a welcome relief. To find the value of anything worth investigation, the Internet or library are popular sources. Whether the items are antiques or contemporary, just about anything collectible has a website that describes the item, dates it and appraises value to it. It only takes a little research to discover the value of anything that catches your eye and might provide extra income. If you have seldom or never gone through articles in your basement or attic, the time to start is now since these are likely troves for unexpected treasure.

Paper and Print Products

The sky is the limit when considering old paper and print products. We’re talking about old books, comic books, baseball or football cards, stamp collections, old programs, advertizing or movie posters and other paper items that denote age, groundbreaking events or cultural significance. First addition rare books and comic books in good condition are very desirable to collectors, and age is certainly a consideration. Books over 100 years old that are rare and not first editions can fetch money as well as author-signed copies from famous authors. Comic books from the 40s to the 70s are valued by the collector for either rarity or subject matter—Spiderman, Batman and Superman, to name a few. An old stamp collection can bring in a tidy sum if it is an old and forgotten collection that might have increased in value over the years.

Movie and circus posters are valuable when found in aged and original condition regardless of the genre or subject matter. The oldest movie posters come from the silent era of films that feature some of the very first actors that became household icons. Any poster related to King Kong, Frankenstein, Karloff or Lugosi films (The Black Cat, The Mummy, Dracula) and Metropolis can fetch very high dollars. Some of the very early Ringling Brothers circus posters are very desirable and rare. Movie and circus posters have extra value because of the artists who rendered them and some names are considered very valuable.

Old baseball and football cards, the earlier the better, are sought after by serious collectors. This depends upon the athlete, their record, notoriety, or even their controversial nature such as Shoeless Joe Jackson. 

The Old Toy Box

Grandpa and Grandma’s toys may be very desirable to any collector since they may have been made during the war years or prior. These toys were made to last, usually made of metal, prior to the plastic manufacturing process. Japanese toys made of tin from the ‘60s and ‘70s have a niche all their own, and in good condition can sell to the highest bidder. Some toys that are more recent can fetch enormous sums, like the 1994 GI Joe Manimals Vortex MOC C-7, which pulled in $20,100 on eBay just recently. Toys need to be researched, with particular attention to age, manufacturer, popularity if in a series or film media and condition. Toys in their original packaging can fetch twice the price of a standalone piece.

Gold and Silver

You can never go wrong with gold and silver jewelry since these items are worth their weight in precious metals. However, if they are antique pieces such as rings, earrings, broaches, bracelets and necklaces, there can be some hefty money involved. Any semiprecious gems or stones attached to the item are an added bonus. Gold and silver items can come in different styles like art deco, baroque and Victorian. Antique pieces will typically have that older, worn look that might have a patina which shows some exposure to the elements. 

Gold is rated in karats, typically 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K. Sterling silver may have markings like .925 or .999 which denotes the amount of silver used in production. Any plated jewelry pieces do not command as much as the pure metals. It is very important to have jewelry appraised by a professional. Such sources like a Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, local jewelry shops and jewelry appraisers are qualified to determine the intrinsic and real value of domestic and foreign jewelry. 

Old Mobile Phones

One of the more contemporary sources of hidden treasures is the discarded mobile phone. It is not uncommon for a family to discard old mobile phones in exchange for new ones that debut every year or so. A family can accumulate a half dozen or more. The thing is they have value when turned into buyers who have exchange programs on the Internet. You would be surprised how much they can demand in price, simply because they are loaded with expensive circuitry and metals that are highly recyclable. Now is the time to gather them up and research their worth on the Internet. Some models will command higher prices than others. 

Searching for hidden treasures in your home is not complicated. You don’t need a road map, old house or secret panel to find potential items of value. It takes some luck, but mostly a keen eye and a little investigation to determine exactly what you have that might bring in unexpected dollars. You might be surprised at what’s been sitting under your nose all this time.

Ways to Raise Extra Cash Quickly

These days many of us are struggling to pay our bills. Most of the time we are OK, but it does not take much to take us to the point where we have to push paying a bill into the next month. Perhaps the car breaks down, or the kids need new coats and shoes because the weather has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. These things happen to all of us.

Statistics show that more and more of us are dipping into our savings, or borrowing money from friends and family. Demand for payday loans has increased by 50%+ since 2011, which is a sign of just how many of us are finding ourselves desperate for cash.

Fortunately, you can easily raise money by selling stuff online. Today, it is possible to sell practically anything using the web. It is a relatively quick way to get the money you need. So, here we are going to take a brief look at some of the ways to sell your old or unwanted items online.

Selling Via Classified Sites

Classified websites are quick and easy to list items on. However, you have to bear in mind that they have no structured way for money to change hands. As a result, most people make the exchange face to face. This means that you have to invite buyers to your home. Given that you do not know these people there is an element of risk in doing this, so not everyone likes selling via classified websites. With small items, meeting them in a public place to do the exchange is an option, so it is still worth considering.

Some classified sites charge you to advertise. If you are selling a big item that is OK, but if you are selling lots of small items the cost of listing them all can leave you out of pocket, overall.

The other drawback is that you have no idea of whether your items will sell, or how much you will actually get for them. People will usually knock you down a bit. On top of that, you do not know when your items will sell, if you need money quickly, perhaps to make your car payment, this can be a problem.

Selling Via Auction Sites

Selling via auctions sites has all of the same potential pitfalls as selling via classified sites. However, most offer a secure payment system that works the majority of the time. In addition, buyers expect deliver through the post, so unless you are selling big items there is no need to invite strangers into your home.

Sell to Traders and Re-cycling Firms Using the Web

The last option is one that many people miss completely when looking for somewhere to sell their stuff online.

Many people do not realize that there are large companies out there that want your stuff. They will buy a surprisingly long list of items off you including CDs, electrical goods, games, and even old clothes. The best of these traders will give you a price up front, and will even pay the postage.

If you have never looked into this way of selling online, take a few minutes to do so. You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to raise extra cash this way.