I’m paying for staycation with car boot sale side hustle – it’s so easy, anyone can do it
ONE man’s trash is another man’s treasure – and no one knows that better than two Scots sisters who have set out to prove that everything has value and nothing belongs in the bin.
Lisa and Lesley Harley, from Kikrckaly, Fife, have revealed how their quirky side hustle can turn all your unwanted items into cash whilst giving them a new lease of life.
The clever sisters, who both worked together as support workers, love a good bargain and often visit second-hand and charity shops.
But they decided to take it to the next level and began selling their own unwanted items for a little bit of cash on the side.
And what better way to do that than at a car boot sale?
However, unimpressed with the lack of options in their local area, Lisa, 34, and Lesley, 33, decided to create their own indoor car boot sale.
The pair revealed their plans to trial it at Templehall Community Centre on Saturday, May 25, and were blown away by the amount of interest.
Overnight, they sold out over 25 stalls and have said they now want to encourage people to get into the scene to make some extra money.
It just blew up with so many people interested… We’ve had loads of nice comments and we basically got fully booked overnight, we’re so excited!
Lisa Harley
And Lesley told the Scottish Sun that they’ve been so successful that the extra cash has helped her pay for her staycation holiday with her partner, two kids, and two dogs.
Lisa added that they have been inundated with people wanting to get involved after news spread of the car boot sale.
She said: “When we set up our first car boot sale, it just blew up with so many people interested.
“We originally wanted to do it to promote people shopping and selling second-hand to get an extra bit of pock money to help towards things.
“I mean, with the cost of living and everything everyone needs to be making a bit extra on the side!
“That was our main reason for doing it, it just felt like there wasn’t a lot in our area for places to do so we just decided to do one ourselves.
“We’ve had loads of nice comments and we basically got fully booked overnight – we’ve got 25 tables that are all fully booked and we’ve got people on our list for next time.
“We can’t wait, we were hoping for people to be interested in it and they have shown interest so we’re so excited.”
The sisters are well-known around their hometown for their numerous side hustles over the years.
Lisa is a well-established baker who makes incredible cakes while Lesley creates stunning personalised paintings.
But selling things has become their main passion and side hustle.
It’s easy because half the stuff is in your house already, lying around, so you can go around with a box and pick up what you don’t use
Lasley Harley
Lisa explained: “We both have other side hustles, I bake cakes and my sister does personalised panting.
“But the selling is really our main side hustle, we love getting rid of clothes that the kids outgrow or things we don’t need anymore.
“I got into selling things on eBay and Lesley sells things on Vinted, but we’d rather do it in person and cut out the fees.
“It’s easier, and people like to see what they’re buying and who they’re buying it from, too, sometimes.”
Lesley explained that while their passion doesn’t see them raking in thousands of pounds, they love seeing an old, unwanted item get a new lease of life from someone grateful to pay a small price for it.
The mum-of-two said: “It’s not really a money maker, it’s more about selling things that people can make use of again. Like at our car boot sales, everything is 50p.
“That’s the beauty of it though, like we sell things that a charity shop or second-hand shop won’t take, like a bra – shops won’t take or sell these but some people don’t mind because it’s been washed and cleaned and it can get an extra lease of life.
“It’s just something as simple as that! Everything at a boot sale can be reused, everything goes and it means nothing is wasted.
“The beautiful part of it is that there is nothing worth throwing in the bin.”
But any money Lesley does make gets put towards something special for her daughter, Harley, 3, and one-year-old son Alexander.
This year, it’s helping her pay for a six-week caravan holiday in the summer.
Lesley said: “Any money I make goes into a pocket for the kids, that’s personally what I use it for, like our caravan holidays – it can help pay for a six-week caravan holiday. It’s nice.
“We’re not in it for the money, it’s the little benefits, and we’re massive second-hand shoppers.”
Top car boot sale tips
PROFESSIONAL reseller Chris Hayden shared his nine tips on how you can make quick cash at car boot sales.
- Nostalgia finds – “I would probably rely on looking for items you had in your childhood and you wish you still had now because some can be worth money”.
- Pop culture – While it’s hard to predict what people will buy, Chris says newbies can take inspiration from popular culture.
- Trainers hack – Vintage trainers are all the rage these days and Chris explains it’s worth keeping an eye out for brands that are in good condition.
- Start small – Chris believes resellers develop a “sixth sense” for what will sell and advisors amateurs to stick to low-cost items.
- How to hunt – “I’m an everything seller, so I’m chilled out and not worried about running around. I can take my time looking in the boxes and make sure I don’t miss anything.”
- Review unsold items – To ensure most of his stockpile has sold within a six-month period, he reviews the price and the search terms he has used to list the product.
- Put in the hours – Chris explains that being a full-time reseller isn’t as easy as it seems and requires a lot of commitment.
- Starting out – For those just starting out, Chris recommends selling belongings first to build up money to spend on stock and also to get used to using eBay.
- Get registered – One of the most common mistakes Chris sees is professional resellers forgetting to make themselves a legitimate business.
But she has encouraged people to have a go at their unique side hustle, adding that anyone can do it because it’s so easy.
Lesley added: “I run around two kids and two dogs, so it’s easy because half the stuff is in your house already, lying around, so it’s easier to go around with a box and pick up what you don’t use.
“I’ll go through their clothes and anything that doesn’t fit them anymore I’ll put them in a bag for the garage and then they’re washed and sold at a boot sale – it’s just second nature to us now.
“We’re happy that everyone has been so interested in this, it’s like people have been wanting something like this.
“People love a car boot sale – it’s a great day out and you can pick up a toy for next to nothing.
“We’re very much promoters of small businesses, all our friends are all the same, they all have cleaning businesses or they make cheesecakes and we’re always sharing their pages on social media.
“We’re all promoting small businesses and watching them thrive, all our tables are people with small businesses, if it helps get them a step up on the ladder then we’re all for it.
“And it also lets them dip their foot in the water of car boot sales.”
