Get Money (or a Tax Deduction) for Your Used Tech
Your old phones and laptops may be worth more than you think.
Declutter your home and you're likely to find an old phone in a desk drawer or a 15-year-old desktop in a box in your basement. Instead of building up piles of used electronics, and infuriating your partner or roommates, sell them — they may be worth more than you think. If you can’t sell them, donate them. The charities below accept even nonworking devices, and you may be able to take a tax deduction.
But before you get rid of your technotrash, there are a couple of things to take care of. Back up your devices on an external hard drive or on a cloud storage system so that you won’t lose photos, music, or your important documents. Next, delete all programs and information you don’t want others to see. While charities often wipe your devices, it is better to be safe than sorry.
CASH IN
Apple MacBook
Where: Gazelle.com
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Type: All generations
Condition: Working or broken
Value: $150 to $800
Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S series
Where: eBay.com
Type: Generation 6 or later
Condition: Working (damages okay)
Value: $100 to $200
Kindle e-readers, tablets, Bluetooth speakers
Where: Amazon Trade-In
Type: All generations
Condition: Working (damages okay)
Value: Gift card equal to appraised value plus 25% off purchase of similar item
iPods, MP3 players
Where: ecoATM kiosk (at Walmart and other retailers)
Type: All generations
Condition: Working (damages okay)
Value: $5 to $20
DONATE
Old laptops, desktops
Where: Computers With Causes (www.computerswithcauses.org)
Who you’ll help: Schools in low-income communities
How to donate: Request shipping reimbursement on donation form
Keyboards, scanners, printers
Where: Dell Reconnect (partners with Goodwill)
Who you’ll help: People who have disabilities or are unemployed
How to donate: Drop off at Goodwill locations
Cell phones and older smartphones
Where: Medic Mobile (www.medicmobile.org/phone-donations)
Who you’ll help: Donated phones are recycled to fund health care programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America
How to donate: Print free shipping label online
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Why Thoughtful AI Adoption Is the Future of Investment Decision-Making
Taking a proactive approach to AI in investing can lead to more responsible and positive outcomes.
By Dr. Clemen Chiang Published
-
Five FAQs About 529 College Savings Plans
Thanks to recent policy changes, families have more options for what to do with money sitting in tax-advantaged 529 accounts.
By Mallika Mitra Published
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024 and 2025
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Last updated
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
-
How to Figure Out How Much Life Insurance You Need
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Last updated
-
Amazon Big Deal Days Is Coming! We’ve Got All the Details
Amazon Prime To kick off the holiday season with a bang, Amazon Big Deal Days runs Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
By Kaitlin Pitsker Published
-
Five Ways to Shop for a Low Mortgage Rate
Becoming a Homeowner Mortgage rates are high this year, but you can still find an affordable loan with these tips.
By Daniel Bortz Last updated
-
Retirees, It's Not Too Late to Buy Life Insurance
life insurance Improvements in underwriting have made it easier to qualify for life insurance, which can be a useful estate-planning tool.
By David Rodeck Published