9 Things That Aren’t Worth Selling For Extra Cash
Written by
Laura Gariepy
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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If you’ve got a high credit card balance, need to beef up your emergency savings fund or want to pay for a special event without going into debt, you may wonder which of your belongings you can sell to make a quick and easy buck. You mentally scan through each room in your house for items to list online or put in the pile for your upcoming garage sale.
At first glance, you might think you’re sitting on a goldmine. However, many things aren’t worth selling for extra cash due to their high sentimental value, lack of monetary value or overall usefulness to your life.
Here are nine things you should avoid peddling to improve your financial situation.
Comic Books
When comic books became a popular collectible, publishers printed many special editions to appeal to buyers, oversaturating the market. Since most comic books aren’t rare, most aren’t worth much money.
Video Games
Video game manufacturers pump out countless copies of each title, making them commonplace. It’s even fairly easy to get vintage games at bargain prices.
Stamps
Stamp collecting used to be a popular hobby. Now, most people send an email instead of a letter and aren’t interested in stamps.
Antique Books
Old, leather-bound books can be a great conversation starter when prominently displayed on your coffee table or mantle, but they usually aren’t worth a lot. Unless you have a rare title in immaculate condition, keep it, read it and pass it down to the next generation.
Autographed Baseballs
Con artists have become excellent at forgery, making collectors question the legitimacy of anything autographed. If you’ve got a signed ball from an iconic player accompanied by a credible certificate of authenticity, you may have a saleable asset. Otherwise, it’s little more than a cool story to tell your friends.
Investments for Retirement
Selling investments from your 401(k) plan or individual retirement account (IRA) means you’ll have less money for your golden years. Plus, you may lose some of the proceeds to income taxes or early withdrawal penalties.
Life Insurance Policies
Your life insurance policy protects your family should the worst happen to you, so it’s best to leave it in place for that purpose. Plus, you may not get as much from the sale as you’d think due to broker fees and potential income taxes.
Family Heirlooms
Family heirlooms are sentimental and should stay in your possession — even if they’re worth a lot of money. Next time you think about selling your great aunt’s fine china collection or your grandmother’s diamond ring, picture the upcoming generation holding or using the item.
Your Primary Car
If you’ve got a second car in your driveway that’s not getting much use, turning it into cash in your pocket may be a good idea. However, if you only have one vehicle, rely on it to get to and from work and don’t have reliable public transportation in your area, it’s best to keep it.
What To Sell Instead
You may be able to reach your financial goals without sacrificing what’s important to you by selling:
- Valuable but not sentimental items, such as gently used electronics, designer clothing, shoes, purses, accessories or vintage furniture.
- Handmade items like jewelry, home decor or baked goods.
- Services, such as writing, editing, bookkeeping or tutoring.
- Digital products, including courses, photos, videos, e-books or printables.
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