Decluttering & Recycling

Last year I mentioned that I am a minimalist, though I do not subscribe to the 100 item challenge.  However, there is value in disposing of items that are no longer providing any value in your life.  Rather than trashing them, why not recycle them for cash.  Here are a few places that accept gently used and sometimes roughly used items, in an effort to create a more sustainable economy and the planet.  For really old devices, they extract the precious metals to be used in new devices.

Note: Shop around all these sites and programs to get the most money for your product. Also, one site or store may not take it, but another might so keep shopping around. Also, if you are getting store credit make sure it’s at a store you will actually use.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list.  Comment down below if you know of any other places or apps that have worked for you really well.  Some apps work best in the city versus the suburbs.

1. Amazon.com Trade-In: They will give you Amazon gift card, for Kindle e-readers, tablets, streaming media players, BlueTooth speakers, Amazon Echos, Textbooks, Phones, and video games.
2. Best Buy: Will buy your iPhones, iPads, Gaming Systems, Laptops, Samsung mobile devices, Microsoft Surface devices, video games, and smartwatches for BestBuy gift cards.
3. Game Stop (one of my favorites): Will take your video games, Gaming systems, most obscure phones, tablets, iPods, etc. and will give you cash back.
4. Staples: Smartphones, tablets, and laptops can be sold here for store credit.
5. Target: Phones, tablets, gaming systems, smartwatches, voice speakers for a target gift card.
6. Walmart: Phones, tablets, gaming systems, and voice speakers can be cashed in for Walmart gift cards.
7. Letgo app: A great way to sell almost anything.  Just make sure you meet up in a public place to make the exchange, like a mall or in front of a police station. Your safety is more important than any piece you were willing to part with in the first place.
8. Facebook.com Marketplace: Another great way to sell almost anything. The same warning is attached here as in Letgo.
9. Decluttr.com: They pay you back via check, PayPal, or direct deposit.
10. Gazelle: They will reward you with PayPal, check or Amazon gift cards.
11. Raise: This is for those gift cards you know you won’t use.  You can sell them for up to 85% of its value, via PayPal, direct deposit, or check.
12. SecondSpin: This is for those CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, and you can earn money via store credit, check, or PayPal.
13. Patagonia: For outdoor gear and it is mostly for store credit.
14. thredUp: This is for your clothes. Once they are sold via the app you can receive cash or credit.
15. Plato’s Closet: Shoes, Clothes, and bags can be turned in for cash.  Though they take mostly current trendy items.
16. Half Price Books: Books, textbooks, audiobooks, music, CDs, LPs, Movies, E-readers, phones, tablets, video games, and gaming systems for cash.
17. Powells.com: For your books and you can get paid via PayPal or credit in your account.

My advice, I try to sell first to a retailer, because they are going to always be there, it’s their job, it’s safer, you can do it at your own schedule, and you will get what they promise you.  No hassle of no-shows, fear of meeting a stranger, getting further bargained down when you are there and they conveniently forget to bring the full amount, or them arriving way late.

Another piece of advice is to hold on to at least one old phone (usually the latest one), for two reasons: (1) if your current phone breaks, you can use this as an interim phone, (2) international travel, if the phone is unlocked.

Subsequent advice is to make sure you turn off and clear out all our old data from electronic devices.  The last thing you want to do is have your data compromised when doing something positive for the earth.

Also, Look for Consignment shops, local book stores, and ask around. You never know who you may be able to sell stuff to.  At a consignment shop, you deposit your items there, and if they sell, you get a part of the earnings. When all else fails, what you cannot sell, recycle it by donating it to goodwill, habitat for humanity, etc.