For many retired Australians, the Age Pension helps cover the basics, but let’s be honest — a bit of extra money can make life a lot easier.

It might pay for fuel, caravan park fees, medication, a meal out, birthday presents for the grandkids, or just give you a little more breathing room.

That’s where reselling can be a great option.

Garage sales, op shops, Facebook Marketplace, deceased estate clear-outs, tip shops and car boot sales can all be places where small profits are hiding in plain sight. But before you start filling the spare room, shed or caravan with “future treasure,” it’s important to understand how earning extra income may affect your Age Pension.

As of July 2026, a single Age Pensioner can generally earn up to $218 per fortnight before the income test starts reducing their pension. For a couple living together, the combined amount is $380 per fortnight. The part-pension cut-off is $2,627.80 per fortnight for singles and $4,016.80 combined for couples living together.

There is also something called the Work Bonus, which can help eligible pensioners who earn income from employment or self-employment. It generally allows the first $300 per fortnight of eligible work income to be ignored under the pension income test.

But here is where reselling gets interesting.

Selling your own unwanted household items occasionally is usually very different from buying items specifically to resell for profit on a regular basis. If you are buying with the intention of making money, listing regularly, keeping stock and treating it like a business, Centrelink and the ATO may look at it differently.

The Australian Government explains that hobby income is treated differently from business income, and a business generally needs to declare income to the ATO.

So the question is not simply:

“Can I sell things on eBay while on the pension?”

A better question is:

“Am I just clearing out a few personal items, or am I operating a small resale business?”

There is nothing wrong with either, but the rules can change depending on what you are doing.

For many retirees, reselling does not need to become a massive operation. It might simply be a fun way to make an extra $50, $100 or $200 here and there. Find a few underpriced items, sell them online, keep active, meet people, learn new skills, and maybe fund the next little adventure.

The key is to keep records.

Write down what you bought, what you paid, what it sold for, postage costs, platform fees and your actual profit. That way, if you ever need to explain your activity to Centrelink, the ATO or an accountant, you are not relying on memory and a shoebox full of receipts.

A simple notebook or spreadsheet is enough to start.

Reselling can be a brilliant retirement side hustle, especially for people who enjoy treasure hunting. Grey Nomads travelling around Australia are in an amazing position — every town has different op shops, garage sales, markets and clearance opportunities. One town’s dusty old item can become another buyer’s dream find online.

But do it wisely.

Before scaling up, check the current Services Australia rules, speak with Centrelink if needed, and consider getting advice from an accountant or financial adviser. Pension rules can change, and every person’s situation is different.

The goal is not to accidentally create a Centrelink headache.

The goal is to stay active, have fun, rescue useful items, and maybe turn a few bargains into fuel money, coffee money, or a little extra comfort in retirement.

Because sometimes the best pension booster is hiding at the bottom of a $2 garage sale box.

*Please note We are not Financial advisors and the information given is subject to change and circumstance as is meant as a guide .

Biker Mice From Mars: The Radical Rodents Racing Back Into Collectors' Hearts

If you were a kid in the 1990s, chances are you remember three muscle-bound mice riding motorcycles, battling evil corporations, and delivering one-liners faster than a V8 engine could rev.

Biker Mice From Mars exploded onto television screens in 1993 and quickly became one of the coolest action cartoons of the decade. Combining motorcycles, aliens, action, and a healthy dose of humour, the series built a loyal fanbase that still exists today.

For resellers and toy collectors, Biker Mice From Mars has become one of those nostalgic lines that can still deliver some very nice surprises when found in storage units, garage sales, deceased estates, or forgotten boxes in the shed.

The cartoon followed three heroic mice from Mars:

After their home planet was devastated, they arrived on Earth and continued their battle against the villainous Plutarkians, who were determined to exploit Earth's resources for profit.

The show ran from 1993 to 1996 and developed a strong following, particularly in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Naturally, a successful cartoon needed a toy line.

Enter Galoob.

Galoob released the first Biker Mice From Mars figures in 1993.

The figures were heavily detailed, featured removable accessories, and came with some very impressive vehicles and playsets for the era.

Unlike many toy lines of the time, the motorcycles were almost as desirable as the figures themselves.

Collectors today often look for:

And just like many 90s toys, condition is everything.

Back in the mid-1990s, prices were roughly:

At the time these were considered affordable toys and many were played with heavily.

Which explains why finding complete examples today can be challenging.

As always, condition, completeness, and packaging make a huge difference.

Typical current collector values:

Most loose figures sell for:

$20 - $60 AUD

depending on condition and accessories.

Examples with all accessories and minimal wear can achieve:

$60 - $150 AUD

and sometimes more.

The bikes are often the stars of the show.

Depending on condition:

$50 - $200 AUD

is common.

Collectors love original packaging.

Mint boxed examples regularly sell for:

$150 - $500 AUD

with rare pieces occasionally exceeding this range.

This is where things get interesting.

Store displays, prototypes, promotional pieces, and rare foreign releases can command serious money from dedicated collectors.

These are the types of items that can turn an ordinary garage sale find into a very memorable day.

Biker Mice From Mars sits in a unique category.

It wasn't quite as mainstream as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but it developed an incredibly loyal fanbase.

Many collectors who grew up in the 1990s are now in their 40s and 50s and have disposable income to spend on reliving childhood memories.

Sound familiar?

It's the same nostalgia cycle that has boosted:

The generation that played with them now has the money to buy them back.

As resellers, we often focus on obvious brands.

Lego.
Hot Wheels.
Star Wars.
Pokemon.

But niche nostalgia can be where the real profit hides.

Many people cleaning out sheds or storage units don't realise that a dusty Biker Mice figure can be worth considerably more than a modern toy still sitting on retail shelves.

If you're sourcing from:

keep an eye out for anything featuring those three famous Martian mice.

The best finds are often mixed into tubs of seemingly ordinary toys.

Whenever I see a box of 80s or 90s toys, I don't just look for the obvious items.

I slow down and scan for the weird stuff.

The toy lines that weren't massive sellers often become the hardest to find decades later.

That's why Biker Mice From Mars remains one of my favourite "BOLO" items.

Because somewhere out there, sitting forgotten in a shed or storage unit, is a complete collection waiting to be rediscovered.

And if you're lucky enough to find one?

You might just hear the sound of three motorcycles revving all the way to the bank.

"Not every treasure fits in a shoebox..."

When most people think about valuable finds from storage units, they picture coins, jewellery, collectibles or rare toys.

Me?

Sometimes it's the furniture.

Like this magnificent Victorian mirrored sideboard we recently rescued from a storage unit.

(Insert your photo here.)

The previous owner probably paid a small fortune for it many years ago.

Today, many people would simply call it "an old cupboard."

That's where opportunity begins.

Unlike modern flat-pack furniture, genuine antique furniture was built to last generations.

Many pieces were handmade by skilled cabinetmakers using Australian Cedar, Blackwood, Mahogany, Oak or Walnut.

The quality can be astonishing.

Hand-cut dovetails.

Solid timber backs.

Hand carvings.

Original brass hardware.

Mirror glass over 100 years old.

Once you learn what you're looking at, these pieces become much easier to spot.

One thing I've learnt over the years...

The best antiques rarely come from antique shops.

They often come from people who simply want them gone.

Places worth watching include:

• Storage unit auctions (my favourite)

• Deceased estates

• Clearing sales

• Facebook Marketplace

• Garage sales

• Country auctions

• Rural property clearances

• Estate auction houses

Sometimes families inherit furniture they don't have room for.

Moving one of these enormous sideboards isn't easy.

Many younger buyers simply don't have space.

That creates bargains.

Not every old cabinet is worth thousands.

Collectors generally look for:

✅ Original condition

✅ Solid timber

✅ Quality carvings

✅ Original hardware

✅ Working locks

✅ Original mirror

✅ Matching pieces

✅ Known maker

Even scratches and wear are usually preferred over poor modern restorations.

This is one of the biggest profit makers.

Australian Cedar can be worth considerably more than similar-looking imported timbers.

Blackwood is highly sought after.

Mahogany remains popular.

Oak never really goes out of fashion.

A simple trick is learning how each timber ages.

The colour often tells the story.

• Victorian Sideboards

• Hall Stands

• Cedar Chests

• Roll-top Desks

• Bookcases

• Dining Suites

• Display Cabinets

• Marble-top Washstands

• Bentwood Chairs

• Kitchen Dressers

Prices vary enormously depending on condition, maker and location.

As a very general guide in Australia:

Exceptional examples by well-known makers can sell for much more.

They polish everything.

Sometimes that's the worst thing you can do.

Collectors often prefer original patina.

Over-sanding or applying glossy modern finishes can reduce value dramatically.

Clean first.

Research second.

Restore only if needed.

Different pieces suit different buyers.

Facebook Marketplace
Perfect for large local furniture because buyers collect it themselves.

eBay
Best for smaller antiques and unusual pieces, although freight can be challenging.

Auction Houses
Ideal for exceptional or rare furniture with proven history.

Antique Dealers
Quick sales, although they'll naturally need room for profit.

Specialist Facebook Groups
Often overlooked and full of serious collectors.

Whenever I find an old piece of furniture, I never assume it's just "old."

I look underneath.

I check the drawers.

I inspect the joints.

I look for labels.

I photograph everything.

Five minutes of research can mean the difference between selling something for $150...

...or discovering you've just rescued a piece worth several thousand dollars.

Sometimes the biggest treasure hiding behind the roller door isn't the smallest item.

Sometimes it's the one that takes four mates and a trailer to load.

Always remove every drawer before moving antique furniture.

Not only does it make the piece much lighter, but you'll be amazed how many old letters, coins, photographs and forgotten keepsakes have fallen behind drawers over the last hundred years. I've found more than one surprise that way!