Flogging A Dead Horse

'Horses' get into so many popular phrases
'Flogging a dead horse' - which means 'doing something that is a waste of time'
'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth' - do not find faults with something given as a gift
'Only fools and horses work' -smart people make a living without hard graft

That last phrase became the title of the popular sitcom about the Trotter Family and friends- Del, Rodney et al, who were Cockney 'wide boys' making a living as dodgy market traders in Peckham. And when they talked of "flogging" something, they meant selling it. Well, I have been attempting to flog this-and-that over recent weeks, with mixed results.

The coffee percolator, went on eBay, along with a couple of smarter dresses and a linen jacket. Also a fancy Lakeland Norwegian Kransekakke baking tin [brand new. still in box - bought at a Boot Fair, and I'd never used it] I wasn't aiming for a fortune, so didn't go for high prices.
One top was sold- but the buyer never paid up, so I withdrew that and eBay refunded my fees without any fuss.

The Pokemon Psyduck made me a profit of £2 - which is better than nothing. I think the most unexpected sale came from my sashes. In 2005, I was responsible for a large conference, and all our stewards wore bright satin sashes [cue Julie Andrews, and cheerful singing***] I have kept these in a biscuit tin ever since. But at no point did I need them - although I cut one up for a sewing project about 7 years ago.

It suddenly occurred to me that with the popularity of hen parties, I could re-sell them as pink HP sashes ["Unprinted - personalise them with a sharpie"] And I sold them for £6 profit. 
Since the beginning of July, I have notched up around £65
Then I moved on to FaceBook Marketplace.
The advantage of FM is that people collect the items and you don't have to worry about postage and stuff.
The odd thing is that almost all the stuff I have sold there has been to people with whom I have a connection already through mutual friends. Even one item where the buyer said "Can you take it to church and give it to X for me please?"]
The young lady who bought my Biker Jacket looked brilliant in it- and insisted on rounding the payment up by £5 because she'd had to mess me about re the collection date. I was so pleased it would be worn regularly, and hope she keeps safe on her new set of wheels.
I'm only listing one item at a time on Marketplace, as that way I can keep a check on stuff. It is averaging out at around £10 a week with minimal effort on my part. And that's fine by me. I am still taking bags of other stuff to the local Charity Shops - and I have a pile of books building up for Ziffit...
***Bob has recently sorted out our LP collection. How come we have THREE copies of the Sound of Music? I've put "double set - 1965 mono plus 1981 stereo" for sale online. But I don't really think anyone will buy them!