BUY & SELL LIKE A PRO OVER XMAS
With a house full of new things, New Year is a great time to cash-in on a clear out – and snap up a bargain upgrade
Atypical household spends roughly over £800 extra in December, so how we buy and sell in the aftermath of Christmas can make a real difference to our finances. Oli Townsend, deals expert at MoneySavingExpert. com, shares his top tips...
BUY NEARLY-NEW TECH
Those who received the iPhone 11 or Galaxy Note10 for Christmas may be selling their old model. “Cut costs by up to 50 per cent buying refurbished phones, laptops or tablets,” says Oli. “They’re restored to full working order, and often come with a warranty. For January sales, use comparison tools like Google Shopping, PriceSpy, Price Runner, or price-tracker CamelCamelCamel – it reveals whether what you’re buying could be cheaper at another time. Big retailers like Amazon, Currys, Argos and John Lewis proactively price-match each other on technology, and with John Lewis this applies for 28 days after purchase, too.”
KEEP PACKAGING
Think about getting rid of old stuff to make room for new. “Lots of people will be doing the same in January, so prices dip slightly,” says Oli. “Branded goods – still wrapped or with tags – sell best, as do rarer or highly sought-after items.”
GET RID OF GAMES
“Sites like WeBuyBooks, MusicMagpie, CeX, Ziffit and GameXchange are your best bet for old consoles or games,” says Oli. “If you can, keep them wrapped in their original packaging. The eBay app allows you to scan any item with a barcode using your mobile phone camera, to see what identical items have fetched in the past.” You can even sell faulty electrical items, since people fix them or use them for parts. “Just be clear about its condition in your description,” Oli warns.
CLEAR CLOBBER
Given new clothes? The average UK woman has £500 worth of “surplus” outfits, so sell some online. “With local Facebook groups and Facebook Marketplace, your audience isn’t as wide, but they don’t charge fees. eBay, however, takes 10 per cent of the sale, including postage, plus Paypal fees. Think about descriptions. Shoes labelled ‘sneakers’ fetched £32 on average, while ‘trainers’ sold for £21, and perfumes described as ‘authentic’ sell for £13 more on average than those described as ‘genuine’.” For kids’ clothes, sell a job lot. “Selling lots of cheaper items as a bundle is usually more economical, but always sell expensive branded goods separately for the best price,” says Oli.
CHOOSE YOUR MOMENT
“On eBay, look out for promotions – they often run weekend deals where sellers’ fees are capped (advertised as ‘Sell for £1 max’).” Sell seasonally, too. “Prioritise things depending on the time of the year – so now would be a great time to sell kids’ winter gear, rather than trying to flog swimsuits and beachwear.”