Cell phones just might have one of the shortest life cycle periods of any electronic device. Every year some new phone comes out that makes current phones look like the bricks of the 80’s. You do your part and upgrade, but you now have a stash of old cell phones. Here are a few ways for you to rid yourself of that cell phone clutter.
1. Trade it in
Retailers are now starting to catch onto the fact that they can make more money off you with your old equipment. They do this by allowing you to trade in your old phone for a new phone. This saves you money on that shinny new phone.
Don’t plan on getting a lot for your trade in though. A $300 phone might net you $50 – $100 on a trade in. Not bad, but not great either. Still more than you got than just letting that phone sit in a drawer somewhere.
2. Donate it
One of the best ways to rid yourself of old cell phones is to donate them. There are plenty of people who need your old phone. Open your favorite Internet search engines and just look for ways to donate.
Some of the best places send your phone off to our service men and women. These folks need a good way to call home as it is. Why not help them out by sending them your phone.
3. Sell it
Trading in your phone not netting you enough coin? You can try to sell that phone. The Internet is full of places to try to pawn off that phone for a bit of cash. EBay and Craigslist are just two places that are common ways of selling old gear.
Maybe you don’t want to go through the whole selling process. There are new web sites popping up that allow you easily ship your cell phone off for cash. These places often have stipulations on phone condition, original packaging, and included cables. Their prices are also very dependent on how popular the cell phone was. You may not get a lot, but it is still money in your pocket.
4. Give it away
You can always give your old cell phones away. Even better would be to give it to your kids, especially if you have younger kids. This only saves you money on having to buy a new phone.
5. Recycle it
When all else fails to entice you, recycle your cell phone. Many companies that sell electronics now offer a free electronic recycling service. There are even local schools and charities that offer electronics recycling services. Do a bit of calling around and you just might be surprised at how easy it is to recycle electronic devices.
Upgrading cell phones is becoming common practice these days. Don’t just toss your phone into the trash, as there are plenty of great ways to rid yourself of that two-year-old phone. Just remember to pull all your information off the phone, as Mom doesn’t want a call from some stalker person.
