As we welcome the new year, many of us will be making resolutions to declutter our homes and embrace a simpler lifestyle. Over the past year, I've been on a similar journey, striving to rid my cupboards of old items that were merely occupying space.
One of the primary areas I targeted during my decluttering spree was my wardrobes. I have a bad habit of clinging onto clothes long after I've stopped wearing them - either because I convince myself I'll eventually shed enough weight to fit back into dresses I've owned since I was 16, or because I associate fond memories with an item of clothing that's well past its prime.
However, with a new baby and space in our terraced house at a premium, it was crucial that I managed to declutter. That's how I discovered Vinted, a second-hand selling app that allows sellers to list their old items and dispatch them without any fees.
All postage and insurance costs are covered by the buyer, and there's no limit to the quantity you can sell on the app. Over the past year, I've made an impressive £533 by selling my old clothes on Vinted, which provided a much-needed financial boost during my maternity leave.
I'm thrilled with the amount I've earned on the app - but my side hustle almost came to a halt before it even began, all due to one challenging lesson I had to learn, reports the Liverpool Echo.
I initially priced my items on the app based on what I paid for them and their perceived value. However, this was a mistake.
Vinted has a feature that shows you the price of similar items being sold on the app, providing an idea of how to set your prices. When I saw the suggested prices for some of my items, I was shocked.
Designer items in excellent condition were being sold at incredibly low prices, and it felt wrong to part with such high-quality items for such a meagre sum. I listed my items at the prices I believed they were worth, and firmly declined any offers from buyers suggesting a lower price.
Consequently, my items remained unsold on the app for months because I was too stubborn to reduce my prices. It took me some time to understand that just because something had a certain retail price doesn't mean you can expect to receive that as a re-seller.
Ultimately, the items are worthless if they're just sitting in your wardrobe, unworn and unsold. So, I finally decided to put aside my pride and list my items at the prices suggested by the app.
Immediately, I saw a surge in sales and my Vinted balance increased.
Some of the prices I've managed to sell items for are, frankly, absurd, with products listed for as little as £1 on my profile. However, these small sales accumulate gradually, and if you keep the balance in your Vinted account until you reach a target amount, you'll see a significant difference when you finally cash out.
There have been some sales that have truly pained me - including a Harrods scarf with an RRP of £30 with the tags still attached which sold for £10, and a Sister Jane dress that cost me over £100 which was sold for £20. But every time I cringe at the price I'm listing a cherished item for, I remind myself it is simply worthless sitting in my cupboard, and I need to come to terms with the price-per-wear I've had for the item.
One of the reasons I adore Vinted as a buyer is because I can find some incredible items at a bargain price - and I just need to accept that this is also true as a seller. People use the app to find a bargain, so I should provide them with one.
