Making Extra Money

Selling at the Flea Market Earns Money

Flea markets, garage sales, yard sales, or any combination. Flea markets charge for your table or spot, and for a sale at your home the town may require a permit. But this is a time-tested way of earning some money. Price to sell and you’ll make lots. Flea markets are often open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, especially during the warmer months. Expect to leave with $50 after unloading your unwanted possessions to customers

Pawn or Consign Your Possessions

The pawn shop will take jewelry, musical instruments, appliances and electronics, among other things. Consignment shops often specialize in clothing, or they can be a general consignment of anything you are hoping to sell. Research the value of what you are hoping to consign or pawn before heading out to these stores.

Turn Unused Media into Cash

There are independent and franchise stores that will “buy back” these items. They are the used book stores, for example. Sometimes, the stores will only offer store credit. But other stores often offer cash. They are also often chain stores, not just local used CD stores. For example, Gamestop will give you cash for your video games. If you have a college nearby, its bookstore will “buy back” all sorts of novels and text books.

Antique Dealers Can Be a Source of Income

See if what you suspect has an antique value actually does by heading over to your local antique dealer. This is also true for stamps and coin collections.

Cash in on Your Garden

Do you have interesting plants or grasses on your property? Considering dividing or harvesting for sale at a farmers market. If in need of pots, try the local garden center for extras, often they throw out a massive amount of these original pots. And, the center may also have some plants about to expire that could be yours for the asking. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Or, if you have extra from your vegetable or herb garden, sell them too. Compost, cow manure and firewood can all be sold for cash.

Sell Older Items at Vintage Stores

Some stores and vendors specialize in vintage clothing. If you have a particularly dated set of clothes straight out of the 1980s, it could be worth money to a vintage clothing dealer. Often a vintage clothing store will also be a place to get cash for vintage jewelry and toys.

Turn Your Craft Skills into Cash

If you have a craft skill, consider participating in a craft fair. The places are also a great place to sell craft materials, such as bags of potpourri, grapevine and pinecones.

Convert Unused Space into a Money Maker

Do you have space you don’t need? You can offer it up for rent for people that do need space to store things. This may mean space in your attic, garage or spare room, but also your shed. See if your friends, neighbors or relatives are up for the idea before the public. The rented space can even be your yard. Beekeepers could pay for your space to put their hive, for example.

Unwanted Furniture into Extra Money

There's also people who deal in used furniture. Sometimes, it’s an entire used furniture store. This may require an appointment, and sometimes the cost to haul it off is deducted from the value you will get. A representative may stop by to check it out, or you may have to show up with it.

Fitness and Sports Equipment Buyback

Another used-store specialty is the used fitness and sports equipment dealer. These folks will take a look at your old hockey equipment, free weights, bowling ball and dart board, among other things. There’s even a franchise dedicated to it: Play it Again Sports.

Rent Out a Room and Earn Hundreds

Finally, there is a source of income in renting out a room or finished basement. This one may require the most responsible and knowledge of the law. Get help to figure this one out from a tenant/landlord law expert and the municipality.

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