Top 9+ items you have around your home that are worth more than you think

With the cost of living higher than ever, many of us are looking for ways we can make a little extra cash to supplement our income - and selling stuff which you already own is always a good option. Of course, if you have an attic full of nostalgic treasures then you could potentially be quids in, but what if you don't own any collector's items? Well in that instance the option of selling second-hand goods rears its head and you'd be surprised how much money you could make for your old books, clothes, sporting equipment or even household furniture. Obviously much depends on the condition of the items but with Brits searching for second-hand items more than three million times each month, it's become clear that certain household objects are more in demand than others. In fact the market has become so popular that now more than £21 billion is spent on second-hand products in the UK each year, and six in ten (60%) adults buy used goods (Picture: Getty Images)

1. Books – 18,100 monthly searches, £9 average

OK, so we'll be honest, you're not necessarily going to make your fortune from flogging your battered old books (unless you happen to have a first-edition of the first Harry Potter book or something similarly pricey). But with nearly twice as many searches as any other second-hand item, used books are by far the most in-demand household object, with hundreds of thousands of used copies of novels on such sites as Awesome Books and World Of Books. So check your shelves, see which books you no longer need, and get in on the action. Space Station claims that on eBay the average book sells for £9, so there's some decent money to be made depending on the size and quality of your collection (Picture: Getty Images)

2. Golf clubs – 9,900 monthly searches, £95 average

Next on the list we come to sporting equipment - chiefly golf clubs, which are hugely popular when it comes to second-hand sales. 10,000 people a month are looking for used clubs so if you have some gathering dust in the attic that you're looking to get rid off, head on over to eBay where the average clubs go for around £95 (Picture: Getty Images)

3. Sofas – 6,600 monthly searches, £242 average

It's no surprise to learn that furniture is one of the top categories for second-hand items online, and sofas lead the way. Space Station says that that homeware worth a fortune is thrown away in the UK each year but there's no reason why yours has to join the heap of unwanted pieces, as you could sell them online instead. The average price for a second-hand sofa on auction sites is £242 - but depending on the condition yours could potentially fetch a lot more (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

4. iPhones – 5,400 monthly searches, £220 average

Considering how much a brand new handset costs, it's no surprise to see that second-hand phones are doing a roaring trade on second-hand sites. Vodafone recently said that almost a quarter (24%) of adults are looking to get their hands on a refurbished handset over buying new. However, it's iPhones which are the most in-demand, with over 5,000 searches for second-hand handsets every month according to Space Station. So, if you have an old iPhone laying around the house that you're not using, you could make a tidy sum for it - with some iPhone models selling for upwards of £360 on eBay (Picture: Getty Images)

5. Bikes – 5,400 monthly searches, £223 average

Here's something you might well have sitting around unused given how popular cycling became during the pandemic. Now that life has returned to normal, it’s likely that many bikes lie in storage. If you’re not using yours, someone else who has kept the habit up might well want it with over 5,000 people searching for old bikes each month. And you could get around £223 for it on eBay or another auction site (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

6. Clothes – 5,400 monthly searches, £15 average

Given the rise in popularity of preloved clothing and second-hand bargains, it's no surprise to see clothes making this list - and for many it's also one of the easiest things you can sell. We've all got stuff laying around we no longer wear, and with the explosion in popularity of Vinted and Depop there's already a built-in market for your old togs. Brits buy around three items a year, at an average of just over £15 each. So exchanging your preloved for pounds is no bad thing (Picture: Getty Images)

7. Wedding dresses – 4,400 monthly searches, £62 average

Speaking of clothes, one item you may well have sitting unworn for a while is your wedding dress - something you may well have spent a significant sum on for the privilege of wearing once. Unless you're keeping it for sentimental reasons, or to pass on to another family member, there's money to be made in selling your dress to make someone else's big day. And indeed, there's also a market for it, with over 4,000 people searching monthly for second-hand bridal gowns. On average, you could make around £62 for yours on an auction site - but once again, you could make less or a lot more depending on its make and condition (Picture: Getty Images)

8. Jewellery – 3,600 monthly searches, £46 average

Clothes might well fetch you some decent money online, but have you also considered flogging some of that old jewellery you no longer wear? According to Elle Magazine, the global second-hand jewellery market will reach $1.3bn by 2027, so if you have pieces that you're looking to sell, list them online and turn that gold into cash. Necklaces tend to sell for around £40 in the UK, but bracelets can actually get you a lot more money, typically going for an average of £196 (Picture: Getty Images)

9. Watches – 3,600 monthly searches, £201 average

Finally, you may not necessarily have an expensive bit of jewellery to flog, but how about a watch which is sitting around unworn? The rise of smart watches means that many people have swapped their traditional timepieces in favour of a more high-tech alternative. If you're among the people whose second-hand is now, well, second-hand, and your watch is a designer brand, you could make hundreds by selling it online. Rolex watches are the most desired, and if you've got one you no longer want you could potentially get thousands for it on eBay. So if you want to sell, don't waste any more time (Picture: Getty Images)

All prices are correct at time of writing, and could change to a higher or lower average at any point

Have you ever bagged a second-hand bargain? Let us know in the comments!

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