With Christmas coming up I've been trying to make as much money as I can so that we have a nice healthy budget for presents. The one way I know I can make a few extra pounds is by selling online.
I like to have a good old de-clutter of old toys and clothes (to make way for the new) and anything that is in a nice condition, or designer I pop on local Facebook selling sites or eBay. Have a little browse on these sites to see the types of things that sell well and to gauge how much to charge.
If you are creative you can also sell things that you have made. Even more so at Christmas. Think about the sorts of things that you would buy online, or "enkle penger og raskt" in Norwegian - it could be personalised tree decorations, printed quotes, handmade ornaments or even handmade clothes or accessories. If it takes off you could find yourself with a profitable business and even set up your own website with a trusted web hosting service selling your creations. It's so great to be your own boss and this is a great career option for many mothers who don't want to go back to the 9-5 after having children but who want to work or do something in their spare time.
When you are selling online there are a few things that you need to consider though...
Do you have a reliable internet connection? It might sound obvious, but without this you are not going to get very far with selling from home. So you first need to think about how you are going to achieve this. The best way is to look at some Spectrum internet plans and see which is best for you in your area.
Where are you going to sell your goods? Think Facebook local pages for bigger, bulkier things. eBay is great for things that you are going to send via post or courier. Etsy or Folksy are great sites if you want to sell your handmade creations.
Package your goods well. You want them to arrive in good condition. If you are setting up a business selling online, great packaging will make your brand stand out.
Consider how you are going to get your item to your buyer. Bigger items you sell on eBay or Facebook you can ask to be collected from your house. Smaller items you might want to send in the post. It's also worth looking into a courier such as TNT. Often their prices are very competitive and they offer tracking services so that you know your item has been delivered.
Finally you will need to keep detailed accounts of your earnings and expenses and report to the Inland Revenue that you are self employed or earning any extra income. You might need to fill in a self assessment to calculate any tax that you owe.
Do you ever sell things from home? Feel free to share your tips in the comments below. If you liked this post please share it with your friends and Pin it for later...
hann182014 says
Some great tips here. I would like to start making money from selling at home
We Made This Life says
You should go for it!
CurvyGirlThin says
this is a great post with some great tips. I need to downsize my belongings overall so will definitely be following some of your advice.
C x
We Made This Life says
Good luck with the declutter!
Fatima says
Great post! I’ve been thinking but not just getting the right motivation. Keeping up with the reports and expenses might be tricky though.
We Made This Life says
I think once you know what you are doing it gets easier!
The Inner Circle says
We used to sell Christmas ornaments on Ebay in another life and did very well doing it. But it takes a LOT of time to keep your store up and running.
We Made This Life says
Well done you! I can imagine that it's hard work!
The Inner Circle says
It was but it helped that we only sold 2-3 types of ornaments. We used to visit the post office 1-2 times a week...
Jenni says
We used to sell online it takes blood, sweat and tears to set up but was worth it
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) says
I have not really sold anything on line although I do buy blog props from ebay sometimes.
Kelly Allen says
Gosh, you forget how detailed this kinda thing can be, especially the tax side of things, but so good to have a comprehensive lsit to help those keen on making some extra cash! I haven't sold anything online for a few years, but will use this in the future to keep me on track! 🙂
Lynne Harper says
What a great post. I run a few facebook selling pages and the mums love selling their childrens items either to rebuy bigger sizes or save for birthdays and xmas. Its a great way to make some extra money isnt it x
Pip Milburn says
I love having good clear out, I’ve got quite a few things on eBay at the moment. My aim is to make enough money to cover the cost of Christmas xx
We Made This Life says
Good plan! I've got the same idea!
Emily Underworld says
Thanks for the tips, I need to sell my clothes! I'd never heard of Folksy before.