Don’t have a Rembrandt in the attic or an antique sideboard in the living room? No worries. What we think is old junk is often a little treasure to other people.
Companies buy back old phones. Websites offer to pay for old CDs and DVDs. And the general public are always scouting car boot sales looking for something ‘ex-loved’ to take off our hands.
Follow the links below for more info… although you’ll have to do your own search for that last tip.
- Car boot advice
- Getting started on eBay
- Getting started on Vinted
- Which? guide to selling online
- Best deals for old tech
Spirit of enterprise
Many of us have hobbies or skills that could bring in a bit of extra income. The key is to start small and do something we enjoy. If we’re creative, selling handmade items or crafts can be a fun way to earn. Sites like Etsy and Folksy make it simple to reach customers, or we could start closer to home with local markets and fairs.
Animal lovers can turn their passion into profit too. Dog walking and pet sitting are in high demand — and websites such as Rover, Tailster and Pawshake help match carers with owners.
For those who prefer looking after little humans, Care.com and Childcare.co.uk list babysitting and childcare jobs with built-in safety checks.
If we’ve got a car or bike, delivery work through Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat offers flexible hours and quick pay.
Or for something simpler, online survey sites such as Swagbucks, Ipsos i-Say and YouGov pay small rewards for sharing opinions.
Check out Quids in! top 10 tips for selling online here.
Most side hustles can fit around other work, studies or caring duties, and even an extra £50–£200 a month can help. If our earnings from these activities add up to more than a certain amount in a year, we’ll need to register with HMRC.
Honest trade
If we’re selling regularly or for profit, we might count as self-employed and need to declare income. Keep simple records of sales and costs. (See GOV.UK’s “working for yourself”.)
Tax basics: Many casual sales are fine, but trading profits can be taxable and some one-off sales can have capital gains implications — Which? explains when tax can apply.
Ace that space
Householders have options too. Got a spare room? What about taking on a lodger or signing up to a foreign student hosting scheme to generate some extra cash? The Rent-A-Room scheme, for example, means we can earn up to £7,500 a year from lodgers, tax-free and not counted as income for Universal Credit claimants. An unused parking space, especially if it’s somewhere useful to commuters, can also yield some dosh. Renters, though, should check the terms of their tenancy.
- Rent-A-Room Scheme
- Serious advice on taking lodgers (advice based on England and Wales)
- Rent out a drive or parking space
