If you have items you no longer need, you can earn a bit of extra cash by selling them online. Or make someone’s day by giving them away. From furniture, clothes or your old gaming console, you’ll be surprised how quickly your items can find a new home.
While you watch your bank account grow, so does your positive impact on the environment. Giving your items a second life beats sending them to landfill or even recycling them.
Before you start, these handy hints will help you get your unwanted items out the door in a flash.
Find the right platform
There are plenty of free platforms to sell your stuff but Facebook Marketplace is often the quickest. It uses a simple form, connects you with local buyers and lets you boost your ad for a small fee. You can also hide your listings from your friends. This is a great option to sneakily resell unwanted gifts.
Facebook has many buy, swap and sell groups. It also has buy nothing groups where you can offer your things to the local community. After you join the group, it’s as simple as creating a Facebook post and responding to comments. Or you can just share your Facebook Marketplace listing to these groups to expand your reach.
If you’re not on Facebook, online marketplaces like Gumtree, eBay, Etsy, Depop and Rosella Street may be your best bet. SwapUp and The Closet will list your clothes for you on their site if you're time poor. You just send it to them and they take a percentage on each purchase. Freecycle is great for giving things away. You’ll need to create an account before creating a listing on all these platforms.
Price it right
Research similar items in your area and price yours just below the average to encourage quick interest. Be open to negotiation – most buyers expect it.
If you simply want it gone, list it free. You’ll be surprised what people will take.
Post more than one photo
If a picture’s worth 1,000 words, 5 good photos will make your listing pop. Use good lighting, shoot from multiple angles and avoid cluttered backgrounds. Fill the frame and shoot at eye level where possible.
For clothing or jewellery, a photo of you wearing the item helps buyers visualise it on themselves. Take close-ups of any damage to the item so your buyers know exactly what they’re getting.
Tell a story
Everyone loves a good origin story. Sharing some history about your item may spark interest and reassure shoppers. When did you buy it? Which brand is it? How has it been used? Why are you now parting with it?
Items you're giving up reluctantly are much more desirable. Like that big designer lounge that doesn't fit into your new apartment. Or the treadmill you don't use because you now go for walks with your new puppy.
Take measurements
People will want to know what size your item is, especially furniture. Don’t forget to give width, height and depth dimensions. Putting these in your listing will save you time answering questions later.
Be honest about its condition
If your item has seen better days, it’s best to declare that up front. Detail any stains, cracks, holes or broken bits so there are no nasty surprises for your customer. Some people seek out fixer-uppers to flex their repair skills and grab a bargain. Likewise, if it’s new or never been used, you may be able to ask for a higher price.
Be responsive
Check your listing multiple times a day and answer any enquiries straight away. Get ready to haggle. Most people will ask you to drop your price, but if you’re not open to it, mark the price as non-negotiable in your ad.
Most platforms have seller ratings. Your polite, timely communication will help future transactions. A kind word goes a long way.
Update the listing status
Once it’s gone, mark the item as sold or remove the listing. If someone’s on the way to pick it up, update the post to ‘sold pending pick up’. You may notice people will start replying with NIL, meaning next in line, if your first offer doesn’t work out.
Be safe
Most platforms have a messaging system so you don’t need to share personal details. There’s no need to communicate by text or WhatsApp.
Avoid giving out your bank details. Cash for in-person pick-ups is safest and sites such as eBay offer secure payment options for a small fee.
Be aware of common Facebook Marketplace scams. Avoid people who ask for personal information and be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true.
For home pick-ups, have a friend or family member with you, just to be safe.
Still no takers?
If you’ve tried everything and still don’t have any offers, you can avoid putting it in landfill by donating to a charity: ReLove, Reverse Garbage, Bower Reuse and Repair Centre or Pyrmont Cares.
As a last resort, look up your item in our recycling help tool.
Published 4 March 2022, updated 2 January 2026
