Never throw away empty gin bottles as it could make you rich

Many of us love flogging our unwanted items online.

If your clothes are spilling out of your wardrobe, your children have outgrown their outfits, or your home is filled with tat you know you’re never going to use, it could be time to have a huge sort out.

Selling online can not only help clear items out of your home, but it is an easy way to make some extra cash. However one woman insists she has gone even further than selling clothes, homeware, toys and games; now she sells actual rubbish online too.

She insists people really want certain items she would throw in a rubbish bin – and they sell fast. Bargain hunter Kirsty, is a part time eBay and Vinted seller, who managed to make a whopping £8,000 last year by getting rid of her unwanted items.

The savvy seller admitted recently she was able to make £10 by selling an empty bottle of Whitley Neill gin on eBay.

Speaking on her TikTok page, where she often shares her best tips and tricks for successful selling, Kirsty said: “I have just sold an actual piece of rubbish on eBay.” “This sale has blown my mind,” she added.

Kirsty shared she found the gin bottle on the floor by a bottle bank. She noted: “So when this was new and full of gin this was between £20 and £25, so when I saw it I thought people like these coloured glasses for upcycling projects and things like that, so I knew someone on eBay would buy it.”

She listed the item for £9.99, admitting she “aimed quite high”, and someone paid the full price for it. “It’s crazy, a tenner for something that was literally going to go in the bin.”

The seller also charged £3.55 for postage. The postage costs her £2.97 so she was left with a £8.65 profit.

Kirsty said she would be packaging the bottle in bubble wrap, a sturdy box, and a padded box, to ensure it is secure and won’t break on route to the buyer.

She advised: “Do look out for glasses which are coloured, or they’re more unique or unusual because people do like to collect them, or like I said, they like to use them for their upcycling projects.”

Commenting on Kirsty’s video, others shared ‘rubbish’ items that they have managed to flog too. One said: “I love this! I’ve sold loads of empty perfume bottles and boxes. Amazing what people will buy isn’t it!?” “I used to sell my empty perfume bottles,” commented another.

One other shared: “I’ve sold bags that other bags have come in before. Paper Michael Kors one. I was like you can make money with anything.”

Another said: “Honestly, you will be surprised. I sold a £1 coin circulated for £6 on Vinted.” One other added: “Well done Kirsty! I love selling ‘rubbish’.”

“What!? I’m definitely doing this,” added another. Another pondered on an idea and said: “In Brighton, I walk past hundreds of recycling boxes a day. They have all sorts of different fancy coloured bottles in. Could be a money spinner.”

Have you ever tried this? Share your selling experiences in the comments below.