From a very early age, I was taught the value of money. Not only did I do chores to earn a weekly allowance, but I was expected to save my money for things that I wanted to purchase. And like most kids — I wanted lots of stuff, which motivated me to come up with creative ways to make money.
I made money by selling lemonade from a stand in our front yard. I went door-to-door trying to sell my neighbors my handmade arts and crafts (I didn't sell any). I collected salamanders from our backyard and called around until I found a local pet store that would buy them. I found aluminum cans and traded them into the recycling center for cash.
Fast forward, and not much has changed.
In college, I sold my old textbooks and CDs for cash. I sold old clothes to consignment shops. I even sold my body to science, by participating in pharmaceutical research studies.
My point is, when you’re short on cash, there are TONS of ways to make extra money by selling things.
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If you need some extra pocket cash, here are 27 things to sell for money.
1. Sell Your Knowledge
Are you a math whiz or a tech guru? Do you know a foreign language? Are you an excellent cook? Then cash in on your knowledge.
Sites like Brain Mass and Skillshare allow you to create online courses for free — and when people enroll in your class you'll earn a percentage of the sale. Each site has a different monetization model, so visit each for specific details. Be sure you check out this post — it has a bunch of different sites where you can sell your expertise!
Don't want to create a course? No problem. You can teach a variety of topics online. Companies like Gogokid, Chegg, and Tutor Vista allow you to sell your knowledge for cash. See this post for an extensive list of teaching and tutoring resources.
2. Sell Your Art
Do you love to paint or draw? Then sell your art online on a website like ArtPal or Artfinder. ArtPal accepts paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, handmade jewelry, crafts, and you can sign up for free. With Artfinder, you can sell original paintings, photography, prints, sculptures, drawings, and digital art. Artists must fill out an online application for consideration and once accepted into the program, artists earn 67 percent of the sales price.
Related Content: How to Sell Art Online and Make Money
3. Sell Used Baby Gear
Is your baby all grown up? Not having any more kids? Then sell your used baby furniture, gear, toys, and clothes at a Just Between Friends sale. At JBF you simply bring in your items to a local sale, price them, and then two weeks later you receive your consignor check in the mail.
Don't want to go the consignment route? You can also try selling your used baby gear on websites like VarageSale, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay. Each site has its own pros and cons, so do your research before choosing a platform.
4. Sell Your Belly
While this is a HUGE commitment and undertaking, it can be very lucrative if you’re healthy, the right age, and you have the right mindset. Being a surrogate (carrying someone else’s baby for nine months) pays anywhere from $25,000 – $40,000, plus the cost of medical bills and treatments.
5. Sell Your Car
Are you ready to sell your car? Then download the Blinker smartphone app and cash in! Blinker literally makes the process of selling your car a snap. Just download the app, take a photo of your car, list it, and review offers that come in. Currently, Blinker is available in the states of California, Colorado, Texas, and Florida.
6. Sell Your Breast Milk
Yes, you heard me correctly, breast milk! In fact, there is a whole website called, Only The Breast that is dedicated to moms selling and those looking to buy breast milk. $2.50 is the average selling price per ounce, which means if you're able to pump an extra 16 ounces per day, for 30 days — you could earn a whopping $1,200 a month!
7. Sell Used Books
Do you have old books piles of books collecting dust? Free up some space and make some money by selling them online at Cash 4 Books. Enter the book’s ISBN and get a quote. If it’s a wanted title, send your books in with their pre-paid shipping label. Once the books are received, you’ll be paid either via check or PayPal.
8. Donate Your Body to Science
In college, I participated in many clinical research studies. Once I even found an overnight weekend study that paid $2,000 for staying two weekends — which was gravy money, because I used my time there to study for my college classes. If you're interested in selling your body to science, use Clinical Trials.gov to locate trials around the globe. Compensation will vary depending on the type of medication, the length of the study, the number of blood draws, and the number of visits. Payments are usually made by check from the clinical research organization.
9. Sell Used Clothing
Do you have outgrown children’s clothing or styles that you no longer wear? Then sell your gently used clothes on thredUp. To get started, go to the SELL TAB and order a free Clean Out Kit. Once you receive the prepaid bag with a shipping label, fill it up with clothes, shoes, jackets, handbags, and accessories and send it off in the mail. You'll receive a notification once thredUp receives your bag and evaluate your items. thredUp accepts around 60 percent of items sent in, and you can transfer your earnings via PayPal or thredUp credit. If you sign up now — you can earn a $10 thredUp credit by using this referral link.
Related Content: Where to Sell Used Clothes Online for Cash
10. Sell Your Handmade Crafts Online
Do you make gorgeous jewelry or cozy knit scarves? Then sell your handmade goods, vintage items, or craft supplies on Etsy. It only costs .20 cents to list a product on Etsy for four months (or until it sells). Once your item sells, Etsy collects a 3.5 percent transaction fee on the sale price. Feel like Etsy is oversaturated? This post covers other places where you can sell your handmade wares.
11. Become an Egg Donor
Are you young and in good health? Then donating your eggs may be a viable option for you. You must be between the ages of 21 – 32, a non-smoker, and in overall good health. Donors can make anywhere from $5,000 – $8,000 per retrieval. Want more information on being an egg donor? Check out this post from The Penny Hoarder.
12. Sell Your Old Electronics
Did you just upgrade your smartphone or laptop? Then consider selling your old smartphones, tablets, laptops, and computers on Gazelle. Just find your gadget on their website, answer some questions, ship it off for free, and get paid via check, Amazon gift card, or PayPal. Gazelle has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
13. Sell Your Jewelry
Do you have jewelry from an old flame? Then sell it at a pawn shop, local jewelry store, or on a platform like, Out of Your Life. While Out of Your Life has an A rating with Better Business Bureau, I have not used them personally. Be sure to do your research before sending off your precious gems.
Related Content: How to Sell Your Jewelry Online and Locally for Extra Cash
14. Join a Direct Sales Company
You've probably heard of Avon– but did you know there are thousands of direct selling companies that sell fun stuff like on-trend jewelry (Stella & Dot), wine (Traveling Vineyard), premium hair care products (MONAT) and stylish clothing (cabi)? While you usually have to pay a small startup fee to get started — the direct sales industry is a great way to sell new products from home. From makeup and jewelry to gourmet food and clothing, whatever your passion there’s a direct sales company that caters to it. For more information, check out some of the best products to sell from home.
15. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards
Have you received a gift card for a store that you don’t shop at or that’s not close to your home? If you’re not using it, sell it on the platform, Card Cash. Just enter your gift card info online and get a free quote. Cardpool pays up to 92 percent in cash for your old gift cards. Payments are made via check, PayPal, or direct deposit. Cardpool is a member of the Better Business Bureau.
16. Sell Your Hair
Do you have long hair? Are you ready for a change? Then sell your hair using HairWork.com or HairSellon.com. You’ll need at least 10 inches of healthy hair — but you can make anywhere from $100 to $4,000 just by selling your locks.
17. Sell Your Design Skills
Do you have graphic design skills? Then use your talents and skills to sell logos on 99 designs. Simply find a contest, submit a design, and if yours is chosen as the winner, you make money.
Or try using your design expertise to create and sell t-shirts — there are a bunch of online platforms that allow you to design, setup up shop, and sell t-shirts for FREE.
You can also check out Fiverr — it's a platform where you post services that you’re willing to sell for $5.00. People sell everything from writing services, design services, voice over services, to making phone calls, posting social media updates, creating videos, and more. Once you make a sale, Fiverr will keep a $1 fee and payments will be issued via PayPal.
18. Sell Your Opinion
Do you enjoy sharing your thoughts and opinions with others? Then make some money by participating in focus groups. Just sign up with one of these platforms and wait to be invited to focal group opportunities. These gigs are usually an hour long and pay anywhere between $50 – $150 an hour!
You can also share your opinion by taking surveys online using platforms like Swagbucks or InboxDollars. Both of these platforms are free to join, and you earn points by taking surveys, watching videos, printing out coupons, searching the web, and other random tasks. Both platforms offer a $5 sign-up bonus for new participants.
19. Sell Your Old Music
Sell your used CDs, DVDs, and video games at Decluttr. Just enter the item's barcode on the site to get a quote. Decide which items you’d like to sell (minimum of 10 items per transaction) and send them in using a pre-paid shipping label. Once items are received, Decluttr will send you a check.
20. Sell New Stuff
With Shop Your Way (Sponsored by Lands End, Sears, and Kmart) you can sell clothes, shoes, accessories, appliances, toys, home decor, and much more. Sign up for a free account and then view the startup videos to get started. Simply share items via social media and earn a 5 percent commission on items you sell through your personal shopper link.
21. Donate Your Plasma for Money
Are you a healthy individual? Then donate plasma at BioLife Plasma Services. Your first visit will take approximately two hours for donation screening, medical check, and retrieval time. Upon successful completion, you’ll be paid via a Visa Debit Card. Donors are allowed to donate two times in a seven day period and subsequent visits only take one hour. Call your local chapter for compensation rates.
22. Sell Your Photos Online
Sell your photos online to stock sites like Dreamstime.com. Simply upload your photos and sell your images. You’ll receive 25 – 60 percent from each sale you make. For more places to sell your photos, check out this MASSIVE list of sites you can sell on.
You can also try selling your photos using the smartphone app, Foap. Download the application to your smartphone and upload your photos. Once your image receives five positive ratings from other Foap users – your photo will be published for sale. You will earn $5 each time someone purchases your photo. Payments are made via PayPal when the user requests a cashout.
23. Sell Practical Tips to Magazines
Do you love to DIY? Are you in the know? Then share your tips, strategies, and hacks with magazines for money. Cuisine.com pays $100 for solving common cooking problems. Check out this article on ways to make money from home for more magazine submission sites. You can also search online for “submit a tip” or in the back of physical magazines. Prefer to write articles for magazines? This article has step-by-step instructions on how to get started.
24. Sell Random Stuff
Got furniture, appliances, toys, or other random items you'd like to sell? Try Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or VarageSale to sell your wares. While I've used all three platforms, my favorite is my local Facebook Swap Group. I like that I can see who's selling or buying the item and that it's local, so I don't have to drive too far to meet up.
25. Sell Your Recipes
Are you an exceptional cook? Then sell your recipes to magazines, cooking contest websites, or article databases. Magazines will usually pay $25 – $500+ if they publish your recipe. Some sites to check out are Cooking Light ($50 and a free t-shirt) and Sunset.com ($250). With article databases, they publish your recipe online and then place ads alongside your recipe. The more page views to your recipe, the higher revenue share you earn, and the more recipes you share, the more earnings you’ll make. For more ways to make money selling recipes — check out this article.
26. Sell Tickets
Do you have a concert or sports tickets that you’ve won or are not able to use? Then sell them on StubHub. List your tickets for free, once they sell, StubHub collects a 15 percent fee from the total sale. Payments are made via PayPal or check.
27. Sell Your Wedding Dress
Is your wedding dress collecting dust in the closet? Then sell it on SellMyWeddingDress.org or StillWhite.com. Listings range from $19.95 to $29.95. Neither sites charge commission fees. List your wedding items, prom dress, wedding dress, or wedding gown to tons of potential buyers.
Conclusion.
There are lots of ways to make money by selling things. Sometimes you just need to think outside the box to see all the money-making opportunities that are right in front of you.
What things are you selling from home? Have you found something creative to sell? Drop us a note below, we'd love to hear from you!
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Originally published June 11, 2014. Content updated May 10, 2018.
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Great info, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed the list, Tina!
Do you plan on selling stuff?
Yes, trying to figure out where to start.
What are you trying to sell?
Hey I’m from South Africa, I actually loved the idea of sharing your opinions with focus groups and I tried to search for my state but I couldn’t find it…. Is the focus group opinions only based in America?
I think Respondent has some worldwide opportunities.
woo, this is great, but can you involve in any of this without having website?
Hi Peter,
You don’t need a website to sell most of these items. In most cases, you use the third-party’s platform to sell your goods or services.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Hi I am in Nigeria. please can you tell me how to make money online here?
Hi Helen,
The Work at Home Woman is for U.S. residents.
Please check out FlexJobs for international listings:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck on your job hunt!
Yes, I have some old home video and some old disk to sell. How do I contact?
I sold most of my jewelry and got some good money and I do not regret it. Certainly I will sell some of my clothes that I do not use anymore.
That’s great. What platform did you use to sell your jewelry?
Wow that’s cool. I am totally going to try it☺
Another great option to make a profit in your spare time is Swagbucks.
Swagbucks is rated A+ by the BBB and gives you cash back for purchasing from the places you usually already buy from. It also pays you to use coupons (double win!), provides surveys that can earn you cash, and gives you money for taking advantage of certain special offers.
You may as well get paid for doing things you already do! Teens can participate too! :)
Holly,
Thank you so much for posting this information. I am getting ready to retire in about 18 months and am looking for ways to supplement my income. You have inspired me in so many ways! I feel so much less stressed about retirement now!!
You’re welcome, Gayle! So glad you’re feeling inspired on your new path. Keep us posted!
thanks a lot for this useful article, are the above can be done from kuwait? am expat in kuwait and i dont work and am willing to work from home
The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents.
Take a look at FlexJobs for international work-at-home jobs:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck!
I would just like to say this is truly an informative web site as well as he rest of the women that are leaving comments and praise.To the loving and caring person or persons that researched,tried and cared to inform others of potential ways to earn more income . Thank you so much and Blessings your way.
Glad you enjoyed the article, Jessica!
Holly I am totally impressed. No which made me drop a commemt on such article, I feel you have solemnly touched peoples life with this and surely you just touched mine. This are great ideas individual needs to benefit from. At this point I’d say thank you and I have come to chose from the list. Once again thank you and God bless you bountifully.
WOW, I am indeed impressed dear. I have been an entrepreneur for years and am always looking for legitimate ways to make money from home. So many scams out there today, so we have to be very careful. Again, thanks for the information.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Janet.
I would like to work at home making real money an you help a 65 yr old with disabilities please
Hi Sissy,
Have you looked at this post?
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/jobs-for-people-with-chronic-illnesses/
I liked the wedding dress one a lot.
For some reason my computer will not allow me access to your post about “111 sites for selling your stuff,” but maybe you can help me out by just answering my question this way.
I am wanting to start a business of my own doing consignment via the internet, however, I want it to be a platform or site in which I am able to post my items individually like an E-Store. I want to sell clothing, household items, hand-made items and art work, as well as services and resources such as E-books, E-courses, and one-on-one services such as life and recovery coaching…what is your suggestion for the best way for me to go about organizing this business as far as a platform or site??
Hi Lindsay, For the consignment shop you’ll want to set up an e-commerce website. For the e-books and coaching services you can set up a blog or you can use a third-party platform. I’ve included some links to all of the various options. Good luck and keep us posted!
E-commerce: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/building-a-website/
Blog: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/setup-blog/
Teaching/coaching platforms: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/make-money-teaching/
Why does everyone need to know that holly?
I was responding to Lindsay’s question.
Hello…
My name is Christal. Thank you for this article. My family and I have been homeless for the longest time. We just moved in our 2 br apt after months of living out of motels with our 3 children. My husband and I are looking for work. We our brand new to this city and state and dont know our way around. We have a go fund me campaign…kenny Taitt is the name you can find us under. We our not just asking for financial donations. …anything will help toilet paper, diapers anything will do. Even if you cant donate or help please at least share our go fund me story…or contact us at [email protected] if you would like to help and want to communicate with us via email. Thank you.
Hi Christal,
I’m sorry to hear about your challenges.
These articles will give you a great place to start your WAH job search:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/earn-income-2016/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/right-job/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/work-home-jobs-location/
Good luck with your job hunt!
While this list is perfectly fine if you need to make some quick cash for small purchases here or there, I expected a little more variety from a site called theworkathomewoman. So many women have worked in careers where they have gained tremendous skills in marketing, sales, IT, engineering, Human Resources, education, the list goes on and on. This knowledge can be transformed into an independent consulting business that can allow a woman to earn a lucrative and sustainable living. I’d love to see a post that explores those possibilities in equal measure. Don’t get me wrong–I am all for empowering women at all levels, and these are good suggestions, but we shouldn’t underestimate ourselves.
Hi Talia,
This post is written for the individual who wants to earn a little side cash. We also have articles on professional careers like coaching, nursing, and marketing. If you’d like me to point those out to you — let me know and I’ll drop the links in a comment for you. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello and thank you for this article. I am looking for direct sales companies that are focused on health and being all natural.
Hi Stephanie,
There are a bunch! doTERRA sells wellness products and essential oils. BeachBody sells fitness programs and accessories. Isagenix sells healthy weight loss products.
For a full list of companies, check out this list: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/direct-sales/
Hello, have heard about Jeunesse? Kindly contact me on [email protected] or whatsapp me on +234-8092401443 for more clarifications and how it works. You will love it.
Plexus! Health and Nutrition company!
Shopmyplexus.com/jacquelynhtx
I will try what I can do , I realy want to be a business man,in fact , iam a Namibian and I want you to encourage me on what to do.
Hi Johannes,
The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents.
Take a look at FlexJobs for international work-at-home jobs:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck!
Thanks for this great contribution. Love it. But I am in Nigeria, can I participate
Hi Vera,
The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents.
Take a look at FlexJobs for international work-at-home jobs:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck!
I have been buying and selling gently used stuff for number of years, but there are so many sources that I did not know about. Thanks for the informative post. Bookmarked! :)
Glad you enjoyed the list, Gurki!
Hi Holly,
This is another one of your wonderful and informative articles. I tried the link to Lea Black under the jewelry category you listed here and I couldn’t seem to find any information on how to join her direct sales program through Facebook. Do you know if this opportunity is still available? Do you have any additional information about the Lea Black company?
By the way, thank you for all of the great information you give on this site. You truly have a wonderful website and it’s one of the best and legit resources for mothers and women wanting to work from home. Keep up the fantastic work!
Hi Damita, Glad you enjoyed the list! I emailed Lea a while back and the opportunity was on hold, but she was planning to relaunch it. Not sure of the new launch date. She’e very responsive if you want to try and email her.
And THNAK YOU for your kind words! It means so much to me! =)
Breast milk,really ?Who will buy?
I know … I would have never thought about selling breast milk, but there are moms out there who are unable to breastfeed and who want their babies to get the benefits from breast milk.
Great information, thank you, I will try a couple of these sites out. Again thanks.
Glad you enjoyed the list, Reba! Keep us posted on how they work out for you.
I really enjoyed this article because you were not trying to sell something, just giving out great information. I think the breast milk is a great idea, since you can produce as much as you can pump, even if your not pregnant. I bet the moms that can not breast feed like this. I thought the eggs was a great idea too, since both ideas help the buyer and seller.
I meant even if you have not been pregnant or had a baby, you can still produce milk.
Glad you enjoyed the list, Skylar =)
I’m really thrilled , have to check this out, thanks.
Good luck, Josie!
Hello .. What about Argan oil ?? For skin and hair ?
There is probably a direct sales companies that sells Aragon oil or that has it in their products. If I hear of one I’ll let you know.
Wow! This is highly informative. But I live in Nigeria and most of these things don’t apply. Like my wedding dress is been lying in my closet for some time now but there is no site to sell here.
The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents.
Take a look at FlexJobs for international work-at-home jobs:
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
Good luck!
Maybe it is an opportunity for you to create a website for used things in your country.
Hello every one.
I am from Mongolia
I want to do some thing that Mongolia don’t have that they need here in Mongolia if you all have any idea of what I can do and start can you all please wright me an email at this account [email protected]
thank you all for you help
Hi Paul.
The Work at Home Woman is for geared for U.S. residents.
Please check out FlexJobs for global opportunities.
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
hi! I live in Nigeria, can you tell me ways to make money online from here please.
The Work at Home Woman is for geared for U.S. residents.
Please check out FlexJobs for global opportunities.
http://flexjobsrocks.go2cloud.org/SHPF (affiliate link)
While most of these are great tips, I don’t ever recommend selling breastmilk. Greed and desperation often make people do very unethical things. If anything, only sell to body builders or sports junkies (many will pay top dollar for a healthy, all natural supplement). There’s just too much at stake when you’re talking about an infant’s sole source of nutrition.
Loved this article. I am hoping to retire from 20 yrs of nursing in a long term care facility in August. I want to completely declutter my house and possibly earn some money in doing so.
I think your ideas are a great starting point.
Glad you enjoyed the tips, JoAnn! Congrats on your upcoming retirement — very exciting!
This information is truly priceless, as I have just retired and looking for ways to make extra money now, I look really forward to trying some of these! Where do you think is best for selling items I have left from my consignment boutique, such as sign holders, store type items? Thanks so much!
Hi Dara, I just found this site, and very happy I did. Did you ever sale all the extra things?
How dear tell me in detail
This information is amazing. I have soooo much “stuff” that I could be making money from, Thank you for enlightening others with these articles.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Indeed. Takes a lot of guesswork out of deciding which sites are good or not, and best of all……they’ve already been found for you!
Thanks
mISSION MARKEY