Turning your skills into money. Over the past few years I have had a huge career change from Head of Department teaching Sociology to freelance writer and editor. Never before have I felt that I can be there for my children and also make money. As a University student in 1998 the internet was all new to me, email was alien and my first mobile phone did not text. This all seems alien to my own children and it is amazing just how fast this all developed. One of the by products of this is is how it has opened more opportunities for working self employed and having multiple income streams. I can work no matter where in the world or house I maybe.
Gone is my 9-5 job that took me out of the house and away from the children. I have forged my own successful career and in doing so have different ways to earn money.
- I blog both here and at Emma and 3 with both blogs being monetised
- I write for other businesses and their blogs for example Don’t fret about debt
- I am the editor for Tots100
Writing about how to save busy parents both time and money is really important to me and over the years I have tried different ways. I have done mystery shopping, selling online and exam marking. All this done at home around family life. A huge growth area I have seen this year is local selling sites and I have both bought and sold via them. Just today my husband has been dispatched to collect a Sylvanian Christmas set I spotted on a local selling site. Toys are always popular to sell on as they are often in great condition and children do outgrow their fads and what was once a favourite toy becomes abandoned at the bottom of the toy box.
However it appears that just maybe we should hold on to some of the toys that our children outgrow as they are certainly collectible and maybe the antiques of the future. My mother in law has some of the vintage Fisher Price Toys and I was shocked to discover just what they are worth. Erin loved playing with this old record player that I am sure many of us remember owning.
Making money from toys
- Use the tool that has been developed by Co-operative Insurance to find out which of the toys you grew up with are worth money today. You can find the handy tool here where you can select toys by decade.
- Keep boxes where ever possible as they add value to the toys
- Charity shops and car boots are great places to pick up popular toys cheaply to put away in the attic for the future.
- If you can – keep the toys as new, in sealed packaging. It maybe worth buying two. one for playing and one for keeping!
- Toys that are popular are often linked to popular films or programmes.
- Finally toys that are first editions are always going to be worth more than later editions. For example the circa 1996 Buzz Lightyear is worth £14 already and those Tamgotchis we all played with way before Ninnetendo dogs and all the subsequent apps are worth a staggering £50. I can still remember asking my mum to feed mine whilst I was at school so it didn’t die!
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