What To Do With Your Old Electronics

You’ve been decluttering, and you’ve noticed that you have boxes of junk that you want to get rid of. You have some old clothes that you’re going to donate to the nearest thrift store. You have books that you want to sell to a used bookstore or stash in your neighborhood’s little library cubby. And you have a big box full of various electronics, from old smartphones to video game controllers, that you’ve accumulated over the years. You’re not exactly sure what to do with these.

If you’re hoping to rid yourself of old electronics, these are some options you should look into:

Sell Them

Are your electronics still in working condition? Then, you should sell your electronics to the highest bidder and pocket the profits. You can sell electronics through online marketplaces like Declutter, ItsWorthMore, BuyBackWorld, CanItCash or Gazelle. 

Before you post listings online, you will want to put some effort into clearing your personal data off items like computers, tablets and smartphones. You don’t want a complete stranger to have access to that information. So, you will want to wipe your personal data and create a blank slate for the next user.

The Benefit of Selling Electronics

When you’re not in a great financial spot, selling your old electronics is a good way to make some cash and make it quickly. You can use that fast cash to boost your budget, pay down your credit card or bulk up your emergency fund. A little bit of extra income could make a big difference and give you some much-needed financial relief. 

Without this extra income in your pocket, you might struggle to handle surprise expenses that come your way. For instance, you might need to call a plumber to unclog your sink or fix your water heater out of the blue, but you can’t afford to pay their final bill. In that case, you could go to a website like CreditFresh to see whether you meet all of the qualifications for a personal loan. A personal loan could be just the solution for you. It could give you access to enough funds to pay off your surprise expense as soon as possible and then allow you time to repay what you borrowed through a straightforward repayment plan. 

It's better to use your personal savings to pay off surprise expenses than personal loans. So, if you don’t have any personal savings, you should try to collect some by selling those old electronics. 

Donate Them

If your electronics aren’t selling in online marketplaces, you should consider donating them to a good cause. Many charitable organizations are looking for electronics donations, including Goodwill, Salvation Army, World Computer Exchange and Cell Phones for Soldiers. Doing this could give your items a second life!

Recycle Them

What if your electronics don’t work? You should never throw old electronics into the garbage, even when they have dead batteries or are broken beyond repair. 

Putting any form of electronic waste into the trash is a bad idea. Electronic waste contains toxic materials that can pollute landfills, leaching into the nearby soil and water. To do your part to take care of the environment, you should keep your e-waste out of the trash and bring it to an organization that will recycle it safely. 

What are some organizations that have e-waste recycling programs?

• Best Buy

• Staples

• Walmart CExchange

• Call2Recycle

• Earth 911

Don’t be stumped when you look at the box full of old electronics sitting in your hallway. Follow these tips and get rid of them!