While all debts are fun when you are acquiring, once you are set about retiring them they suddenly lose all of their entertaining traits. Jokes and Ogden Nash quotes aside, there is only one way to return the money you own – austerity. For some people this means giving up on luxuries they can no longer afford, for the rest, however, it relies on learning how to utilize the resources you have on disposal, but which are currently out of use. One of the ways to do so is to learn how to save and even earn money through the use of old (or damaged) appliances. Here are few tips.
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1. Not so Damaged Appliances
When you enter a tech store willing to purchase an item, even if you are not an expert, you are bound to examine the item you intend to buy. The only thing you can see with your bare, layman eye is if there are any dents or scratches at the surface of the appliance. This is why any item that gets visibly damaged won’t get displayed in the store. In fact, it wouldn’t be completely rare to see these items returned to the manufacturer and then completely scrapped for materials. Still, if you are lucky, you could inquire about purchasing these damaged appliances for only a fraction of their original price.
2. Last Year Model
A similar thing happens to the old tech. Just to make one thing clear, we are not talking about items from 5-10 years ago, but about last year models. Their price usually falls exponentially because of one simple fact. You see, when buying an item that is fresh on the market you are paying additionally for the idea of exclusivity. After all, you have the latest piece of tech in your household, which is definitely something to brag about.
These ideas, however, are something that a budget-oriented person needs to put out of their mind for good. What you need to do is revolutionize your attitude and embrace the idea of minimalism. Going with the last year model (not to mention devices that were made 2-3 years ago) can make a serious difference in your budget, usually for the expense of barely noticeable performance discrepancy.
3. Broken or Broken-Broken
One of the most vital questions you need to ask yourself once an appliance break is – is it beyond the point of no repair. If not, trying to fix it might be the best solution ahead of you. You see, sometimes the price of the repair will be too steep, but keep in mind that if successful, it can save you from having to buy a new one. Furthermore, even if you don’t intend on using it again, repairing it gives you an opportunity to sell it to someone for a small profit. All you need to do is check what the prices of repair are and compare them to the price on eBay and similar platforms.
Keep in mind that this should be done locally, so if you are from NSW, you need to browse for appliance repair companies from Sydney area and use local prices for comparison. The cost of long-distance shipment or a long drive can on their own consume any profit you may try to achieve this way.
4. Consider Trade-Ins
Seeing how even the most ruinous of the appliances may have at least some salvageable parts, local dealers may be interested in a trade-in. Sure, this might not save you as much as you would like, but keep in mind that you would otherwise just discard the old appliance without saving a single dollar. This way, it will feel as if you are making money out of thin air, while you are merely redeeming a tiny fraction of your prior purchase. Do this enough times and you will soon start seeing the difference.
5. Donate
In the very end, even when you can’t get a dime for an old appliance, throwing it away usually isn’t the best solution. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so if you can’t profit from it, why not use it to make someone else’s day. There are various reputable organizations to which you can donate an old tech-piece. We are talking about charities such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries or even Habitat for Humanity Restores. The choice is yours and you know it’s the right thing to do.
In Conclusion
You see, there are so many people out there who mistakenly believe that a new technology cancels out an old one. Sure, an old appliance maybe doesn’t have the ability to outperform its much newer counterparts, but it can still give your budget a nudge in a positive direction. Sometimes innovating yourself means turning towards the old instead of new.
