How to have a ‘no-cost’ Christmas

Families could have a ‘no-cost’ Christmas AND help to save the planet by cashing in their second-hand stash, according to new research.

Online marketplace Gumtree has revealed that simply selling your unwanted second-hand items could stop you from dipping into your hard-earned cash this Christmas.

It says the average British household owns valuable, unused items worth more than £800. Selling your unwanted goods  will not only save you from putting presents on plastic this year, it will also help to reduce waste and encourages a more sustainable world.

Each year Brits throw away 108 million rolls of wrapping paper, 54 million platefuls of food, 189 batteries and 100 million black bags full of packaging from toys and gifts.

And by Christmas Day this year, 11 million of us will still be paying off debt from last year’s festive season.

If that’s not enough incentive to scour your house for valuables, Gumtree has teamed up with 21^stCentury collectables expert Tracy Martin to identify the ‘Top 10 Valuable Once-Loved List’ of items most likely to earn you some extra cash:

Top 10 Valuable Once-Loved List

1. Clothing from high street and designer collaborations
2. High-street shoes, especially limited edition
3. Handbags – the more decorative, the higher the value
4. First-edition books, particularly popular series’ like Game of Thrones
5. DVDs – go for classics like Disney
6. Limited-edition CDs and band and artist tour recordings, again, the more famous the better
7. Vinyl records, particularly collectors items
8. Licensed or rare toys are the easiest to cash in on, such as Power Rangers, Pokémon and My Little Pony
9. Game consoles, such as Nintendo DC Consoles, Game Boy and vintage Atari Games Consoles
10. Kitchen and housewares, appliances and gadgets like Kitchen Aid’s, as well as vintage 1950s coffee and tea sets

The research reveals that the average British household currently has 22 unwanted or unused items stockpiled worth a potential £881 – totaling £17.7 billion across the country.

Gumtree’s global ‘Second-Hand Economy Report’ – which explores how much people are selling, swapping, buying or donating pre-loved items – found that the booming second-hand economy has already given Brits a much-needed monetary boost in the last year. Almost half (42 per cent) of people have sold unwanted or unused items, making an average of £378, which is £10.5 billion nationally.

A Gumtree spokesperson said: “Our research shows how the second-hand economy excels for all round value. It provides people with the chance to both make and save money but also helps reduce waste and encourages a more sustainable world, so important in today’s current climate.”