London

Flog your designer clothes
If times are hard but you have a good stock of designer and high-street labels in your wardrobe, it might be time for a clear-out. Of course, there is eBay, usually a sure-fire way to get rid of stuff, because there’s always someone in the world wanting that quilted caramel-coloured Chanel purse or Bertie wedge sandals. If you can’t be bothered with all the fuss of Jiffy bags, there are reputable second-hand clothes shops throughout London. Some, like Raspberry Beret on Northcote Road, offer a sale or return policy whereby they put your stock in the shop, and when it sells, split the profits 50/50. As does L’Homme Designer Exchange near Marylebone High Street, which only accepts top designer labels like Gucci, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, as long as they’re less than three years old. Others, like retro shop Bang Bang in Goodge Street, will buy the item off you upfront at a fixed rate of about 30 per cent of what they will sell it for in the shop. The advantage is that you get the money immediately.
Bang Bang, 21 Goodge St, W1 (020 7631 4191) Goodge Street tube. Open Mon-Fri 10am-6.30pm, Sat 11am-6pm.
L’Homme Designer Exchange, 50 Blanford St, W1 (020 7224 3266) Baker St tube. Open Mon-Thur 11am-6pm, Fri 11.30am-6pm, Sat 11am-5pm.
Raspberry Beret, 151 Northcote Rd, SW11 (020 7738 0977) Clapham Junction rail. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm.
Retro Man/Retro Woman, 20, 32, 34 Pembridge Rd, W11 (020 7792 1715/020 7727 7040) Notting Hill Gate, tube. Open daily 10am-8pm. Feature continues

Rent your parking space out
More and more people are renting out their car parking spaces to commuters in order to capitalise on the large number of motorists who refuse to give up driving to work, but are terrified both at the prospect of entering the congestion charge zone and by over-zealous parking attendants who can spot an expired ticket from 500 yards.

A secure parking space within the congestion charge zone, particularly in W1, will see a return of about £3,000 per year. Spaces around the edge of the zone, in places like Latimer Road, South Kensington and Baker Street, command £2,500 per year, and spaces further afield, in areas such as Greenford and Bethnal Green are worth £1,000 per year. The closer to tube or train connections, the more money your space is likely to command. The internet is the best way to advertise your space. Gum Tree is a well-visited site and placing an ad should stoke up some interest. Net London is also a good place to advertise. Both sites allow postings for free.
www.gumtree.com; www.netlondon.com