Do You Have Money Hidden in Your Home?

Have you considered scouring your home for overlooked cash (and not just loose change between your couch cushions?). People and businesses are willing to pay good money for items that many of us own. If you seldom or never use these possessions, why not sell them and put the cash proceeds to better use for yourself? Read on to learn how to find money hidden in your home!

Extra Cars

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, your household may have needed multiple vehicles for everyone to get to work, but that’s changing with more companies permanently adopting remote or hybrid work environments. As a result, you may have a vehicle that you’re not using very much.

Since the summer of 2020, the consumer price index for used cars and trucks has risen more than 50%, making that extra vehicle more valuable than ever. If you have an alternate form of transportation when you need it, such as another car you can share with family members or easy access to public transit, selling your limited-use vehicle to a local dealer, online car retailer or individual buyer can improve your financial position in several ways:

• Eliminating a monthly car payment from your budget if you don’t own the vehicle outright
• Lowering your auto insurance premium by removing one of the insured vehicles off your policy
• Reducing overall vehicle expenses for maintenance, repairs and fuel

Antiques

Is your attic, basement or storage unit filled with antique or vintage furniture and objects you inherited from relatives or bought yourself but aren’t using? Unless you truly think you’ll need or desire these things in the future, selling them will free up space in your home and add some cushion to your budget. Antique Trader reports that the following furniture styles have been top sellers among shoppers in recent years:

• Art Deco
• Mid-Century Modern
• 1970s Modular

Martha Stewart notes that many people are turning to vintage and antique pieces as an eco-friendly alternative to buying new items at chain stores. In addition to wood furniture, she says that ironstone serving pieces, Persian rugs and old mirrors are hot items right now.

To figure out what your stored antiques are worth, start with an online search to educate yourself about their value. Then contact a few antique dealers to confirm your findings. Depending on the items you have, you can sell them as follows:

• To an antique store that will buy your piece and try to re-sell it
• At a consignment shop that will display it and take a certain percentage of the price if it sells
• Through social media posts or an online site like eBay or Craigslist to an interested buyer

Coins, Comic Books and Trading Cards

According to Shawn Surmick, an avid collector and writer, a rare coin went for almost $20 million in 2021. Makes you want to dig up grandpa’s old coins and currency from trips around the world, doesn’t it? Surmick says vintage comic books and Pokémon cards also bring top dollar.

The value of these items depends on their rarity and condition. Typically, coins with aged patina but no nicks or other imperfections are the most prized. Likewise for comic books and trading cards that have never been used or have no tears or bent edges. Visit local coin shops, comic book stores and collectibles dealers to see how much you can get for your items. Consulting with multiple experts and fact checking with an online search helps ensure you get the fairest price.

Vintage Clothing and Classic Albums and Toys

In addition to antique furniture and decor, Antique Trader says vintage clothing like classic Levi jeans, Nike sneakers and couture dresses and handbags are popular re-sale items. Plus, collectors seek classic vinyl albums and nostalgia-inducing toys like Barbies, action figures and board games, such as Monopoly and Risk. The better their condition, the higher their value.

Event Tickets

Are you a season ticket holder who can’t make every game or performance? Let’s say you bought concert tickets to see your favorite band months in advance only to realize you have a mandatory work event the same night. Or what happens when you come down with the flu days before you’re supposed to see a touring musical?

It’s easier than ever to sell tickets you can’t use on sites like SeatGeek, StubHub and Vivid Seats. Just beware that although most secondary ticket marketplaces like these let you list your tickets for free, they charge varying service fees when the tickets sell.

Matured Savings Bonds

And don’t forget about savings bonds you might have in your possession. You can find out their current value by using TreasuryDirect’s Savings Bond Calculator. 

Some of the smartest uses for your new-found cash include building your emergency fund, padding your savings account or shrinking your credit card debt.

Editor’s note: Quorum is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this article and derives no benefit from these businesses for placement in this article.