Hack 46 · Quick-Hit Side Hustles
Sell Used Tech, Books, and Gadgets
Trade-in and resale services buy old phones, tablets, laptops, and books, usually with a quoted price and a prepaid shipping label. It is the least effortful cash on this list because the service handles pricing and postage. Clearing out accumulated devices commonly returns $100 to $500.
How to do it
- Gather devices and media you no longer use.
- Get quotes from more than one trade-in service before committing.
- Wipe your data thoroughly, then ship with the prepaid label.
What it typically saves
Typically $100 to $500 from a single clear-out.
Questions people ask
Do trade-in services pay fairly?
They pay less than a private sale but require far less effort. Compare a couple of quotes, because prices for the same device vary widely.
What if my device is damaged?
Declare it honestly. Services re-quote on arrival, and an inaccurate description just means a lower revised offer and wasted time.
How do I make sure my data is gone?
Sign out of accounts, disable device locks, and do a full factory reset. Skipping the account sign-out is what makes devices unusable for the buyer.
Go deeper
This is the short version. The full walkthrough lives in Earn More Now, book 3 of The Everyday Money Upgrade — where this hack comes with which service pays most for which device, the data-wiping checklist, and when a private sale is worth the extra effort.
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