Rising energy bills and mortgage rate increases have meant that many of us face financial insecurity over the next few months which could lead to a very bleak winter.
Daniel McCartney a collectables expert from Cardiff sat down with us at Pink Storage to discuss some of the most valuable items people may have stored away in their own homes that can be used to beat the cost of living crisis.
While the chances of finding a lost Van Gogh painting in storage are slim to none, finding paintings that are worth something is common. If you do have old artwork and want to see if it's worth something there are a few signs to look out for says Daniel.
"If the artwork is by a notable artist then it's likely the artwork will be worth money, while an artist's name may not be something you have heard of, doing a Google search will give you more information."
The condition of the painting and the frame also drives up the value of your artwork. "The condition of your painting is incredibly important to the overall value, if your painting has cracks or stains then this will decrease the value."
"The frame of your painting is also important when considering its value. If the frame looks handmade by the artist then it could drive up the value of the painting considerably.
Selling your old coins is a great way to earn a little extra cash, and while some coins are only worth a little above face value, some can be worth thousands to collectors. Daniel says "Have a look at what coins you have tucked away in the house and do a bit of research to see if any of them are valuable. When doing your research try not to get carried away because you may have a certain coin but only some variations are valuable."
"The London 2012 Olympic 50p coin is a great example of this. The error coin which has too many waves going over the swimmer's face is valued between £1000 and £1500 whereas the version without the extra waves is valued at £6."
Old video games may have sentimental value for many of us but they could also be worth much more. The old video games that you have stuffed in a box up in the attic could be worth thousands. Daniel says "Any video games that were produced in limited quantity should be taken for an independent valuation. You can also look online to see if any of the games you have are valuable."
Old comic books may be cluttering your home and you could be tempted to throw them out, but if you have a rare comic within you could be sitting on a fortune. While the chances of owning an action comic number 1 are virtually zero, you don't have to be sitting on one of the most sought-after comic books to make money. There are hundreds of comic books worth £100+ if they are in a good condition says, Daniel. "While there are too many comic books to mention that are worth more than face value. What usually makes a comic book valuable is the first appearance of a character. It doesn't have to be the hero either, villains first appearances also add value to a comic."
"While first editions of a comic can be valuable, it does depend on how many copies of that comic are in circulation and how much demand there is for that comic."
If you do need help paying your bills this year, taking the time to check if you have any valuable comics is worth it.
Comics worth £100+ include Spiderman Noir #1 (£200+), The Walking Dead #19 (£300+), Fantastic 4 Annual #6 (£400 - £30,000), and Amazing Spiderman #252 (£300+).
Just like video games and coins if a stamp is printed with an error they tend to be more valuable as they are rare. While the popularity of stamp collecting has dwindled over the years, you may be lucky enough to have been passed down a collection of stamps and you could be sitting on thousands of pounds. Daniel says "Britain has produced some of the most sought-after stamps which make them very valuable. Valuing stamps however can be difficult as distinct marks, or different variations of the stamp can have a drastic effect on the value."
Desirable stamps include British Guiana 1c Magenta 1856 (£8.7m), Penny Red 1863 (£550,000), Penny Black 1840 (£40 - £200,000+), Postal Union Congress Stamp (£1000+).
Daniel says "If you have a collection of stamps stored away somewhere at home and you're finding the cost of living difficult it's worth having your collection looked at and valued. There is a fine line between stamps being worth a few pounds to a few thousand so consulting with an expert is the best way to know if you have anything valuable on your hands."
If you do have collectables and don’t want to sell them but don’t have room in your home to keep them safe you may want to consider hiring a storage unit. We have storage units available in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and the rest of Wales.
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