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On eBay? Six weird things to sell online.

Are empty egg cartons and old computer software of any value? Yes – eBay users can sell empty egg cartons anywhere between $10 and $20.

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Beck Diefenbach/Reuters/File
An eBay sign is seen at an office building in San Jose, California. There are unusual items people can sell on eBay: for example, someone can sell empty egg cartons between $10 and $20.

It seems that nothing is too head-scratchingly weird to be placed up for sale on eBay. But what if I told you that you could earn some extra cash on eBay by selling common household items that most of us toss without a second thought?

This is definitely an example of one person's trash being another's treasure. Selling what is typically considered garbage can net you a few hundred dollars a year from eBay and have you rethinking what you throw away. Did you know that you could make money selling:

1. Paper Towel and Toilet Tissue Cardboard Tubes

I know, right? Who would have thought that people would pay money for the cardboard tubes of spent tissue? The people who are selling them on eBay and making money, that's who! It seems that these recyclable goodies are popular for arts and crafts projects.

To cash in you'll need to stock up before you sell, saving at least 35 empty tubes. So grab a bag, toss in those tubes, and let them add up. Depending on the size of your family and how quickly you go through rolls will determine how often you can sell on eBay. It's not uncommon for empty cardboard tubes to sell for $10, $20 or $30. That's pretty good for something that is literally tossed in the recycling bin.

2. Empty Egg Cartons

To think I felt good about myself because I made a point of placing my empty egg cartons in the correct recycling bin for trash pickup. Who knew I could give them new life and bring people joy (and earn some extra cash) by selling them on eBay?

Like the cardboard tubes above, egg cartons seem to be wanted by the arts and crafts crowd. It's not uncommon for a stack of empty egg cartons to sell for $10 to $20, and it doesn't seem to matter if they are cardboard or foam. They are easily stackable and won't take up much space while you collect enough to sell. By saving my cartons (and taking my parents' empties), I should be able to sell a few stacks a year.

3. Coupons

How would you like to make $5 to $10 for selling one coupon? Sounds crazy, right? But there's a market for these recyclable bits. Some coupons seem to sell at a premium. For instance, a 15 percent coupon from Pottery Barn, or other high end stores, regularly sells for $9.99, and a $25 coupon sells for $14.99. Coupons for many other retailers like Macy's, Target, Home Depot, and more sell well too. The beauty of this is all you have to do is wait for them to show up in the mail and sell what you're not using. Doing this once a month could probably net you an additional $50–$75 a year.

4. Magazines

After being convinced that I needed to part with some of my beloved magazines, I jokingly implored my husband to check on eBay to see if anyone would buy them. I was surprised to find out that I could make money selling my old issues, and I started cleaning house!

Which magazines sell? The specific magazines and the prices they will sell for vary. For instance, one back issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray sold for $5, while a group of 11 magazines from 2008 to 2011 sold for $19.99. We're not talking rare or vintage stuff here, just regular issues that people are selling after reading them. Spend a few minutes on eBay looking up your magazines and you could be ready to sell and make some money too!

5. Old Computer Software

If you have software for computers you replaced years ago, you may be able to sell them for extra cash on eBay. That's exactly what I did when I discovered a bunch of old software in my junk storage drawer. Think no one is interested in your 2003 Microsoft Word software? Think again. That'll sell for $15 to $30 on eBay. And that's just one example. The amount of software out there is vast, so it's impossible to provide a lot of specifics for what will sell. However, it doesn't take long to check. Seriously, it's a potential gold mine. Pull out those old disks and check away.

6. Empty Makeup Containers

Specifically, the empty makeup containers of a specific high end brand, M.A.C., are in high demand. They are popular because of the retailer's "Back to M.A.C." rewards program where customers can exchange six empty M.A.C. makeup containers for a free lipstick. At $16 a pop, people are looking for ways to get their pricey lipstick for less. Empty M.A.C. containers sell anywhere from $5 to $40 depending on the number for sale and the cost of shipping. If you use this brand, it's an opportunity to score some extra cash. If you're looking for a way to get your M.A.C. for less, well, here it is.

So there you have it, six examples of common household trash items that can be sold on eBay for a few hundred dollars per year. I'll be looking for others because I'm sure there are more. That's my type of recycling.

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