Is there a first edition Harry Potter hidden away in your bookshelf – or a £7,000 copy of the Beano in the cupboard?
Before you go chucking that battered old Millennium Falcon toy out or taking old records to the charity shop, ask yourself a question.
Could they be worth a small fortune?
Because some of that old junk gathering dust at the back of a draw for the past few years could be worth thousands.
By being brutally honest with yourself, you may find there are sackfuls of items which you no longer need, want nor use.
So here are some tips to help you make some extra cash by selling off those goods which could actually worth a lot of money.
Old records
Although some records will be worth little and can often be bought in charity shops, certain early and rare vinyl can be hugely collectable.
Picture discs and early Beatles records can sell for over £100.
Lego
Rare Lego sets can sell for thousands of pounds online.
The sets that sell for the most money are still in the boxes, not opened since they were bought and are still factory sealed.
One of the most-desired items is the Star Wars Millennium Falcon.
On eBay, the spaceship is selling for as much as £6,500 while used editions are selling for more than £3,600.
Vintage jewellery
Quite often old jewellery will end up in children’s dressing up boxes but vintage pieces are popular among collectors, with items selling online for anything between £10 and £1,000.
There was even a plastic brooch bought in a charity shop for £1.50 which was sold at auction for £2,400, according to auction house Bonhams.
Harry Potter books
First editions of the Harry Potter books are now worth a hefty sum.
First editions – especially of the first two books – are worth at least £20 no matter what state they’re in and can be worth thousands of pounds.
Beano comics
The first edition of the Beano, which was launched in 1938 and came with a free gift, is thought to be the most valuable in existence – and can fetch thousands.
However, there are only 20 left in the world. A copy of the first Beano annual from 1940 is selling on eBay for £7,000.
VHS tapes
Surprisingly, a few rare tapes are worth a lot.
Experts say films that have never been released on DVD or Blu-ray and are original ex-rentals are more likely to sell for money.
Coveted titles include classic films such as Star Wars and King Kong as well as popular cult films.
Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks, The Beast in Heat and Betrayed have all sold for more than £1,000.
There are many specialist websites available on which you can sell your old and vintage items.
