30 Things In Your Home That Can Earn You a Lot of Money
#1 Perfume Bottles
What do you do with old perfume bottles? Well, if you are like most people then you throw them in the bin. But, do you know they can be of a lot of value depending on the size and material of the bottle? Yes, that’s right. There’s a high demand for empty perfume bottles. Perfumes usually run for years. In fact, a 100ml bottle will last you for over two years. Most regular bottles may not be of much use but custom-made or rate bottles can earn you up to $200 each. Check the International Perfume Bottle Association to find how much your perfume bottle can earn you.
#2 Books
If you have a library then visit it and look for rare books that have a fan following. Believe it or not, the first edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is said to be worth $6,500 today.
These books are usually bought by fans and museums. If you have one then head over to Amazon or eBay and put it up for sale. If you market it properly, you will be able to make a decent amount of money.
#3 Video Games
Video games can earn you money in a lot of ways. Some people make thousands by streaming games and some take-home hundreds by winning tournaments. You don’t have to do all this if you want to make money. All you have to do is look for old titles lying somewhere in your home.
Games like Marvel Vs Capcom, Doom, and XBAND are said to be worth over $200 each. You will find some of these games on the internet, the demand for real CDs or DVDs is still pretty high.
#4 Quarters
Have a look at your loose change and see if you’re lucky enough to find Kansas Quarters. Made illegal in 2005, these are said to be worth $100 today.
These coins are pretty easy to identify. A coin pressing machine error caused ’em to print ‘In God We Rust’ instead of ‘In God We Trust’ on the coins. Other than this, some other rare coins may also be in demand. So, look around for old quarters in the jar and see if the tables turn for you.
#5 Gaming Consoles
A new version of PlayStation is expected to hit the market in 2020. Expected to sell for under $600, the console will be among the most expensive gaming consoles out there yet there are some that can earn you over $1,500 even if they do not work. Yes, you read it right.
A special Xbox One Titanfall Development Team Edition was recently sold on eBay for $5,1000. You might not be lucky enough to have this limited console but others including Commodore 64 GS can also fetch good numbers.
#6 Typewriters
Typewriters may look good but the fact remains that they’re obsolete and do nothing but take up space. If you have an old model of a typewriter lying around then it may be a good idea to consider selling it. You can easily earn between $300 and $600 based on the model that you have.
Buyers mostly demand vintage typewriters for aesthetics. You can easily auction one online on websites like eBay. Other than this, consider visiting the nearest antique shop and find out the true worth of your typewriter.
#7 Notebook
If you have an old notebook lying around for years then take out a few minutes and read it. Believe it or not, some old notebooks can be worth thousands depending on what they contain. A few years ago, a man found a diary in a jungle that contained the life story of the writer. The diary was sold for thousands and received immense acclaim.
Of course, the diary has to be valuable for it to sell well. So, look for a notebook that contains something original that people would like to read.
#8 Old Phones
Technology is changing at a rapid pace and new mobile phones come out every year with better cameras and performance. Yet, vintage phones sell at a higher price since they’re rare. Companies use old mobile phones for study purposes and museums like to keep ‘em for obvious reasons.
So, if you have the first generation of phones lying somewhere, then consider putting it up for sale. Other than this, your old, wired telephone set may also be in demand. In fact, some movie producers are often looking for old phones to make movies look authentic.
#9 Postage Stamps
According to reports, over 20 million people collect stamps and many are willing to pay hundreds to get their hands on some rare postage stamps.
If you have some old and vintage stamps lying around then consider putting ‘em up for sale. Most people usually want discontinued stamps or rare stamps that are issued on special occasions.
We suggest you look at groups and pages dedicated to stamp collectors so that you can easily find a buyer.
An old stamp can easily earn you up to $50 and some rare ones are said to be worth $500.
#10 Photographs
Vintage photos are in demand, especially if they have a story to tell. You will find a section dedicated to pre-40’s photos on eBay, so go through your collection of photos and see if you have something the world would like to see.
A cute picture of your grandparents may not be of much value unless it contains something interesting, such as a much-loved celebrity in the background or a monument we admire.
A few years ago, a man bought a vintage photograph from an antique shop for $2. It’s one of the only two photos of Henry McCarty, more popularly known as Billy the Kid. Today, the pic is said to be worth millions. So, do not make the mistake the true owner of the picture committed.
#11 Greeting Cards
Since this is the digital era, most people now send and receive digital greeting cards. Yet, the demand for traditional cards, especially vintage ones, is still pretty high.
Some people love to collect greeting cards that contain special messages. Plus, if they can be of a lot of value if they have been sent or received by someone famous. An old Christmas card that may not be of much value to you today can easily fetch you about $50. However, we suggest you keep ‘em if the cards are of emotional value to you.
#12 Old Bags
If you’re rich and own designer bags like Hermes Birkins then you can easily earn over $20,000 by selling it since the demand for designer bags is pretty high. Some 20-year-old bags can still sell for a pretty high price.
Most women get sick of wearing the same bag and they end up lying somewhere in a corner. Do not make this mistake.
There is a huge market for vintage bags and purses. However, they need to be in good condition to sell well. Most people purchase designer bags to wear ‘em and flaunt ‘em. Hence, they want bags that look good.
#13 VHS Tapes
This is the era of Netflix, yet VHS tapes can still be worth a lot. Most kids today have no idea what a VHS tape is or how it works. In fact, most households do not even own a VCR. But, if you have an edition of some classic movies like The Lion King then it can fetch you some good numbers. In fact, a 1991 special edition of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was sold for $1,000 on eBay.
Other than this, rare and controversial titles also sell well.
#14 Dolls
Almost all the households have a doll lying around somewhere. While most new models will not earn you well, some old and discontinued models can be worth a lot.
In fact, ‘Out of Print’ American Girl dolls can fetch over $5,000. So, look around your house and see if you have old dolls lying around. Most people buy old dolls since they remind them of their childhood. After all, nostalgia really works. So get working and put your old dolls up for sale and see how much they can bring you.
#15 Musical Instruments
If you have a musical instrument such as a guitar that has been played or used by a popular name then get ready to laugh all the way to the bank since they can fetch you thousands of dollars.
Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour was recently in the news for selling $21.5 million guitar collection. If you have such rare guitars then you’re in luck. Other than this, classic pianos are in demand as well as they look good and can add value to a room. Plus, since pianos are durable, old models still work well.
#16 Comics
Whether you’re a Marvel fan or a DC fanatic, you need to know that old comics are quite in demand and can earn you thousands. When we say old, we mean comics originally introduced in the ’70s or ’80s.
Comics that star today’s popular characters like Spiderman and Batman fetch big numbers. In fact, the comic that introduced Black Panther to the world is said to be worth $1,000 today. It gained value once the movie hit the theatres.
The market for comics is huge and most old comics are not even available online, hence their demand is pretty high.
#17 Autographs
This is the era of selfies and very few people take out a pen to ask for autographs hence they’re considered pretty rare today. So, if you have an autographed item lying around then it may be worth hundreds.
Items signed by late artists such as Michael Jackson, John Lennon are worth a lot since they have diehard fans willing to spend hundreds and thousands to get their hands on an item signed by their favorite star.
We suggest you sell these items on fan clubs belonging to the star they have been signed by.
#18 Pokemon Cards
Remember the time when we used to invest a lot in Pokemon cards? They may not be as popular today but they’re definitely worth more than they used to be.
If you have complete sets in good condition then you can easily earn a few hundred dollars. However, if you’re lucky and have some rare cards stored somewhere then you can earn thousands. Don’t believe us? Let us tell you about a lucky man who sold a holographic Charizard for $11,999. However, such rare cards will have to be examined by an expert to verify they’re authentic.
#19 China Sets
If your mother loved collecting china sets then you may have a reason to thank her. You may not be fond of seeing old china sets resting on your dinner table but some people may be willing to spend hundreds to get their hands on what you consider useless.
You will have to take the goods to an antique dealer to get them appraised. Since china sets are durable, some can be over a hundred years old. If you have such vintage sets then expect ’em to bring you a few thousand dollars.
#20 Action Figures
The world is crazy for action figures and most production companies have realized it. However, when the first Star Wars movie came out, there were no toys ready for sale. Nobody expected the movie to be the kind of hit it went out to be.
Kenner had to quickly start production and the toys finally hit the shelves a few days after the movie’s release and they sold like hotcakes. If you have one of these lying around then expect to earn up to $10,000. However, it’s not just Star Wars, other rare action figures may also fetch impressive numbers.
#21 Vinyl Records
Some people love to collect vinyl records and they’re willing to spend thousands on some real gems. Check Amazon and you will come across dozens of sellers selling vinyl records. One lucky seller even earned $13,750 for a self-titled Beatles albums.
The worth of a record depends on the artist and the condition of the record. Unlike other items on this list, a vinyl record has to work for it to fetch good numbers.
So, go around and see if you have some vinyl records lying around. They’re obviously more useful than you thought they were.
#22 Paintings
We all know that old paintings by the likes of da Vinci are worth millions but some classics designed by some lesser-known names can also fetch good numbers.
However, it’s a tricky business since paintings are among the most pirated pieces of art. You will have to get the painting inspected by an expert for authenticity purposes before you put it up for sale. The artist doesn’t have to be recognized for a painting to sell well. He or she only has to be prominent.
#23 Old Computers
There are two kinds of people, some throw what they do not need and some keep useless items stored in one of the rooms. If you belong to the other category and have old computers lying in your house then it’s time to get moving.
If you have a first edition computer from a known manufacturer then keep your fingers crossed. Computers from some popular brands like Apple can earn up to $900,000. But, of course, such rare gems wouldn’t be lying around unattended.
#24 Wine
Now, this is a tricky one. We do not know of many people brave enough to keep old wine untouched but if you come across some old bottles of wine and you have no interest in galloping it down then consider putting it up for sale.
When it comes to wine, the older the better. It is not uncommon for people to buy wine and forget about it. Most people keep wine bottles in the cellar, hence it may be a good idea to have a look at your cellar and see what you have there.
#25 Weapons
The market for antique firearms is pretty big, especially since most states do not require the buyer to own a license in order to purchase antique guns and other weapons.
Everything from an old rifle to a vintage bow and arrow can be worth hundreds, even if it doesn’t work. However, guns have to be really old – above 100 years – for them to fetch a good price. Some good models can earn you up to $50,000. Plus, they do not even to be in working condition for them to sell at a good price.
#26 Ornaments
If you’ve got old Christmas decorations lying around somewhere in your house then it’s time to go through the boxes and see what you have. Everything from wind chimes to hand-blown glass ornaments can be of value.
Other than this, antique pieces that you bought years ago to decorate your house may be of more value today. If you’re in need then it may be a good idea to visit a specialist and get them appraised to get a price estimate. This way you’ll know where to turn to if you ever need money.
#27 Watches and Clocks
The opinion on vintage watches appears to be divorced but we can’t deny the fact that they are worth thousands, especially if they belong to valuable brands like Rolex and Hublot.
Other than this, vintage clocks are also highly valuable. It doesn’t come as a surprise that thousands of people visit clock museums and people are willing to spend thousands to own a part of history.
However, when it comes to watches, people usually opt for rare gems that have a history. So look around your house and see what you may have.
#28 Board Games
Move over Ludo Star and go through your old collection of board games and see if you have something others may be interested in. Most buyers are interested in old games that are in good condition.
A few years ago, a well-kept Monopoly Atlantic City fetched $146,500 at an auction. Some other board games that are heavily in demand include Fox and Geese, Swift Meats Major League Baseball Game, Coromandel Games Compendium, Fortune, Be a Manager and The War of the Ring Collector’s Edition.
#29 Money Bills
We talked about quarters earlier in this article but do not be upset if you own none as old money bills can also be quite valuable. Old American colonial currency and notes from other countries can be quite valuable as well. In fact, an old $10 bill can earn you over $100 depending on its condition, year, and country.
Finding a buyer for old currency notes can be difficult but if you have some lying around then consider posting an ad on eBay and other such websites and wait for your phone to buzz.
#30 Stickers and Labels
This may come as a surprise to some but vintage stickers can fetch a good price in the secondary market.
It is not uncommon for people to buy a pack of stickers but never use them. If you have some vintage stickers lying around then it’s time to go through the pile and see what you have.
Stickers from the ‘80s can fetch about $50 which may not be much but something is better than nothing. However, unlike most other items on this list, stickers have to be new/unused for them to get sold.