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Hidden treasures that could earn you a mint - and you probably have a few of them in your home

Mirror 14/04/2018 Emma Munbodh

If you've not ventured into your loft in what feels like a lifetime, you could be one of millions of people sitting on valuable treasures, according to experts on this year's annual Clear your Clutter Day.

High street designer labels

It's no secret that people will pay big money for brand names, such as Ted Baker, Karen Millen and French Connection, but it's the high street designer editions that will fetch you the most unexpected cash.

Clothing from high street and designer collaborations such as Mary Katrantzou or Kate Moss for Topshop and Balmain for H&M are worth hundreds of pounds as demand is incredibly high.

a group of people looking at a phone: Credits: Getty

"The big money is in high street and designer collaborations, such as Mary Katrantzou for Topshop, with limited-edition dresses fetching up to £200-£350 each.

“Dresses always make good money as do jackets and coats," Tracy explained.

Limited edition shoes

In terms of newly collectable accessories, high street footwear like Irregular Choice (especially Star Wars and The Muppets licensed shoes) and limited-edition Andy Warhol Converse top the list.

Shoppers crave good condition limited editions - and will pay huge sums to get their hands on them.

"The more unusual the shoes, especially by a good reputable shoe designer, the more likely you are to get a great cash injection, Tracy said.

"High-end designer shoe favourites, such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Sophie Webster, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin are also sought after and always sell from low to the very high hundreds."

Decorated handbags

Cath Kidston

Other accessories which grow in value include handbags from Cath Kidson to Radley, Lulu Guinness and Kate Spade.

"High end designer bags in good condition always have a high resale value into the £1,000s" explained Tracy.

“The more decorative and unusual the bag the more it can command on the secondary market."

First edition books

First-edition books such as Dan Brown, Philip Pullman and George RR Martin's Game of Thrones are all highly collectible, and in pristine condition can net you hundreds, if not thousands.

Collections of children’s books such as Harry Potter, David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson are also sought after - so next time you bag up your recycling haul, make sure you sift out any of these, first.

We've got heaps on valuable books and how much they're worth - including action hero comics and Harry Potter books for you to browse.

Certain cookbooks can also command a premium especially if signed, including Fat Duck by Heston Blumenthal.

Music and rare movies on VHS and DVD

With streaming media the norm for movie and music fans, taking another look through DVDs and CDs sitting idle in the cupboard could prove a cash reward.

Tracy lists classic Disney, Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings DVDs as ones to watch out for.

"Special edition collectors Steelbooks are also sought after, with Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead collections selling between £200-£300."

We've got a full list of valuable Disney DVDs to watch for and the old VHS tapes worth a mint .

In terms of CDs, limited-edition box sets such as Queen - The Ultimate Collection, are selling for upwards of £250.

The Beatles' White Album with a low serial number and Please Please Me, rare 1 and 2 which are reaching £3,500 online, while The Rolling Stones, Kylie Minogue’s ‘Fever’ white vinyl LP (£150) and Oasis albums (£200-£300) are also in popular demand.

"Bands and artists tour recordings are also valuable, such as Bryan Adams live in India (£50-£80) and Madonna Erotica Gold Tour (£150-£200)," Tracy added.

The records worth more than a HOUSE: 20 most valuable vinyl discs revealed – do you have any?

Toys

BPM Media

Licensed toys or those hard to get hold of are the easiest and most prolific to cash in on, such as Power Rangers, Superheroes, Pokémon, My Little Pony, Sindy or Barbie, Paw Patrol and Lego, which are all big on the toy collectors’ scene.

"A Power Rangers Morpher can re-sale for between £40-£60, and keep an eye out for Shopkins and vintage toys fly such as Sylvanian Families which are already popular collectors’ items."

Finally, game consoles, such as Nintendo DC Consoles, Game Boy (£100 if unboxed) and vintage Atari Games Consoles are also highly collected items.

“The Original Donkey Kong Arcade Game and watch could fetch between £250 - £300, so keep an eye out for these too!" Tracey explained.

These old Sylvanian Families are selling for hundreds on eBay and here are the 8 toys that experts believe are now worth a fortune.

People go wild for Lego, too, so if you have any of these, get them valued.

Time to give your bank account a clear out

Clare Francis at Barclays has given us some top tips on how to clear your finances for a happier bank balance.

Don’t save it, shred it: If your cupboards and drawers are full to the brim with bills and documents, take note. Even though many Brits feel compelled to hold onto all their paperwork, once filed, 80% of these documents are never looked at again.
To counteract this, ask yourself how easy these documents would be to replace: if it’s not a birth certificate or driving licence, get rid of it. For all utility bills and statements, most of these can be viewed online. Generally if it is older than three months, you can safely assume it can be thrown away.
To prevent this happening again, pay bills as soon as you receive them and buy a shredder to securely dispose of old paperwork.
Put money aside for a rainy day: Whether you’re saving for the long term or for tomorrow, it’s a good idea to have an end goal in mind.
Setting up a standing order to automatically send money to your savings pot can be one of the easiest ways to sort out your spending.
Time it so that the money leaves your current account shortly after your salary (or other regular income) is normally paid. We've got plenty of tips on how get things for free and apps that will make you money to help kickstart your savings. You could also give our Penny Challenge a go - which could make you £600 by Christmas.
Consolidate your accounts: While selling your unwanted goods may provide immediate financial gain, de-cluttering your financial situation will be much more fruitful in the long-term.
With so many different products on the market, it’s easy to forget where your money is. A general rule to follow is that the fewer accounts you have the fewer statements you will have to juggle.
You can track down all of your accounts by checking your credit score for free. Here's our guide on how to detox your finances.
Netflix and (no) frills: While television or music subscriptions can be very tempting, these costs do add up, even if they go unnoticed.
Subscriptions such as Spotify, Netflix and Now TV all come with a monthly fee of a minimum of five pounds.
To cut down on unnecessary overspending, add up the total costs of these services and decide which ones you cannot live without. While you may not initially notice the benefits, the long-term saving will be fruitful. You might want to try one of these Netflix alternatives or find out if you actually need a TV Licence, here.