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We all know the benefits of decluttering: more space, better mental health, and a simplified cleaning schedule. But one of the biggest challenges is what to do with the belongings we’ve decided to part with.
We might question…Should we throw them away? Take them to a charity shop? Or try to sell them – but if so, where and how? Meanwhile, these belongings continue to clutter our homes, preventing us from reaping the benefits of a cleaner, clearer space.
This is why we’ve partnered with Vintage Cash Cow, a free and convenient decluttering service, and the number one choice for selling valuables online. Their team of over 100 vintage and antique experts will carefully appraise your items, and a member of the friendly buying team will make you an offer by phone within seven days.
If you accept, the money will reach your bank account within 24 hours. And if you’re not happy with the offer, the Vintage Cash Cow team will return your items for free. You can see a full list of what items the team buy, from old toys to silverware, here (and check out what they don’t buy, here).
To send your items to Vintage Cash Cow and get a free quote, you can start by ordering your free postage pack. You can add as many items as you like to your box, and you’ll get a total sale price for everything.
So, which of your decluttered household items have the potential to return a profit? We’ve pulled together a list of 11 surprising household items that could make you money.
What makes vintage items so valuable?
Charming and unique, vintage items have skyrocketed in popularity over recent years. More people are looking for specific vintage items to add to their collections – largely due to their fascinating stories, superior quality, and nostalgia.
This demand drives prices up, which is why seemingly ordinary things – from an old pen stuffed into a shoe box to that forgotten train set up in the loft – can hold more value than you might think. So, before tossing things out, it’s worth doing some research.
While rare, designer and good-quality vintage items may be more likely to sell, even imperfect, non-designer items could be worth something. Items made of metals like silver, brass, and pewter can also be valuable for their ability to be melted down and recycled into new items.
Part of the thrill of decluttering is realising the potential value of items that were otherwise taking up space and gathering dust. So, next time you uncover old items at home, remember to pause before throwing them away. If you’re unsure where to start with getting items valued and sold, you can always refer to Vintage Cash Cow’s buying list below to see what they accept.
Give unwanteds a better next chapter
Your once-loved items are just waiting to be useful again. Pop them in a box, send them to Vintage Cash Cow for free, and they’ll make you an offer to rehome them all.
11 surprising items in your home that could make you money
1. Hidden gold
Gold has long been valuable for its durability, symbolic significance, and wide range of practical uses. It’s been a store of value for thousands of years – particularly during periods of high inflation or when flat currencies lose purchasing power – and will likely continue this way for thousands more.
Whether you’ve got gold jewellery, watches, coins, cuff links, pens, lighters, compacts, or cigarette cases at home, they’re likely worth something. Even scrap gold is valuable because it can be melted down and repurposed.
Vintage Cash Cow accepts all these items and also reminds people to check clasps on necklaces and bracelets, as these can sometimes be gold, even if the rest of the jewellery isn’t. These small details can be surprisingly valuable and might be worth more than you realise.
Vintage Cash Cow’s handy guide can also help you check whether your gold is real, which includes looking for hallmarks and using the magnet test (real gold isn’t magnetic). Plus, you can read more about the types of gold, from 24 karat to gold-plated, to get an idea of how valuable your items might be. You can find out which gold-plated items Vintage Cash Cow accepts here.
2. Costume jewellery
While not having the same intrinsic value as fine jewellery, costume jewellery can be valuable due to its rarity, and different features and characteristics – think rare glass, vintage rhinestones, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco. Jewellery from specific eras, designers, and with historical significance or craftsmanship can also hold value.
Some of the many different types of costume jewellery that Vintage Cash Cow’s antique experts love include amber, shell cameo, coral, early plastics, kitsch, and bakelite beads.
3. Silver items
You might own all sorts of silver items, from cutlery sets and silver plates and trays, to jewellery and miscellaneous items. Most silver is worth something, though the purer it is and the better it’s been looked after, the higher its value. There are two main types of silver you’ll typically come across: sterling silver (made from at least 92.5% pure silver) and silverplate (made from a different base metal with a thin layer of silver on top).
Sterling silver items will generally be worth more, as their silver content is much higher. While silverplate items can still be worth selling, their value will depend on whether the item itself could be valuable to someone – for example, jewellery – as they can’t be melted down.
To check whether your items are silver, you can use tests, such as rubbing tarnished silver with a cloth to see if the marks come off (they should), or checking the smell, as pure silver shouldn’t have a strong metallic odour. You can also check for a 925 stamp. For more tips and advice, check out this article from Vintage Cash Cow.
Give unwanteds a better next chapter
Your once-loved items are just waiting to be useful again. Pop them in a box, send them to Vintage Cash Cow for free, and they’ll make you an offer to rehome them all.
4. Cameras
Cameras have come on leaps and bounds over the decades in terms of picture quality and functionality. But it’s not uncommon to hold onto old cameras, even when we upgrade, so you may have one of two collecting dust in a box somewhere.
Old Polaroid, Kodak, Fujifilm, and Ricoh are just a few of the camera types that might be worth some cash. Vintage Cash Cow also accepts old lenses and cameras with faulty equipment.
5. War medals
When decluttering, you may be in two minds over whether to part with your family’s war medals because of their sentimental value. And if you do decide to sell, it can be reassuring to know that they’ll go to a good home, where a collector will appreciate them.
How much your war medals are worth will depend on factors like rarity, condition, whether they’re part of a collection, and what they were awarded for. A Victoria Cross medal, for example, which has been awarded 1,358 times, will be worth more than a Star medal, which has been awarded 365,000 times since 1914, meaning there are more of them around. Some collectors may also pay more for a medal awarded to a certain soldier or for a specific act of bravery.
Because medals need to be seen to be valued, it’s important not to accept an offer from any buyer who hasn’t seen your medal(s). Vintage Cash Cow will value your medals for free when you send them in using a free postage pack.
6. Fountain pens
If you’ve got old fountain pens squirrelled away, they could be worth more than you think. Parker fountain pens, for example, are known for their exceptional build quality, strong collectors market, and iconic status as one of the most recognisable pens of the 20th century.
Montblanc, Sheaffer, Waterman, Peikan, and Conwat Stewart are among the other brand names that could earn you some money. But Vintage Cash Cow accepts all kinds of fountain pens, whether broken, boxed, unboxed, or even in a stained box. So think twice before tossing yours away.
Give unwanteds a better next chapter
Your once-loved items are just waiting to be useful again. Pop them in a box, send them to Vintage Cash Cow for free, and they’ll make you an offer to rehome them all.
7. Brass
Strong, corrosion-resistant, and easily recyclable, it’s easy to see why brass – made mostly of copper and zinc – is so highly valued. It’s a popular metal found in many British homes, used to make everything from musical instruments and decorative items to electrical components and plumbing. In older houses, some fixtures and fittings, such as door knobs and knockers, are made of brass.
To identify brass, look out for items in your home with a bright, yellow-gold appearance. Though it can be shiny and reflective when freshly polished, brass can also become tarnished with age and use.
Vintage Cash Cow accepts all kinds of brass items, from ornaments to fire irons. They’ll either be recycled for their metal value or sold to buyers who value them for their vintage or antique qualities.
8. Old toys
Our old toys tend to ooze nostalgia, which can come with a price tag. Vintage toys that were once worth pennies or just a few pounds can sometimes sell for triple figures, depending on the item’s condition, rarity, and current demand.
Toys like vintage cars, action figures, mohair teddy bears, train sets, skateboards, wind-up dolls, chess sets, and peg dolls could all sell for a pretty penny.
9. LEGO
Nearly all of us have played with LEGO at some point – either as children ourselves, with our kids or grandkids, or as adults for some nostalgic fun. So, the next time you’re decluttering and find LEGO sets tucked away in attics and cupboards, it’s worth considering whether you’ve just unearthed some hidden treasure.
LEGO sets generally increase in value over time. This is especially true if sets are rare, limited edition, or from popular themes like Star Wars or Harry Potter. Examples of some of the most valuable sets, which can be resold for hundreds of pounds, include the Taj Mahal, Café Corner, the Eiffel Tower, and the Grand Carousel.
But the even better news is that even if you have just a jumble of loose LEGO bricks, they could still be worth something. Vintage Cash Cow will accept these, as well as all boxed sets and models (complete or incomplete), and all LEGO Minifigures.
Give unwanteds a better next chapter
Your once-loved items are just waiting to be useful again. Pop them in a box, send them to Vintage Cash Cow for free, and they’ll make you an offer to rehome them all.
10. Phones and tablets
Many people assume that only the newer iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet models can be exchanged for cash, but this isn’t true. Even older models like the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 6S can return a profit.
The amount paid will vary depending on age and condition, and mobile phones must be unlocked to receive an offer. You can see which Apple devices Vintage Cash Cow accepts here – and for Android devices, head here.
11. Sunglasses
Because sunglass styles go in and out of fashion, you may find yourself with one or more pairs that you no longer wear or wish to keep. Good quality designer sunglasses aren’t cheap, so it can be a shame not to try making some money out of them – unless, of course, you’d rather donate them to charity.
It’s also a common misconception that vintage sunglasses won’t sell if they’re scratched or discoloured. But Vintage Cash Cow will buy all kinds of vintage sunglasses in any condition – from Chanel and Louis Vuitton to Ray-Ban and Christian Dior.
Final thoughts…
One of the trickiest things about decluttering is deciding what to do with your unwanted items. Many of us would love to make money from the hidden treasure in our homes, but simply don’t know where to start, or don’t want to go through the process of finding individual buyers.
With Vintage Cash Cow, this buying process is made simple. You can order a free postage pack, send off all items in one go, and receive an offer within seven days. Once you accept, the money will reach your bank account within 24 hours. And if you decline your offer, you’ll receive your items back free of charge.