How to make money from your electricals this January

23rd January 2023

Written by: Katie H

January can feel like a very long month, especially post-Christmas and waiting for that next pay cheque! Many of us are trying to better manage our finances – whether that’s looking for ways to save money, or finding new ways to make a bit of extra cash. 

Did you know the average UK household could make up to £620 by selling their unwanted electricals? Selling your old tech or electricals is not only great for your pocket, but also a great way to help the planet by giving old electricals a new lease of life. A win-win right? 🙂

Below are some ways that you can turn your old, unwanted electricals into cash

Get paid by a ‘pod’ or drop-off kiosk 

Have you seen kiosks and pods in some supermarkets around the UK? You can use these to drop your old phones or other tech items in exchange for cash. Here are a few we found:

MusicMagpie – Music Magpie’s‘ SMARTDrop’ Kiosks buy your old phone and are located in ASDA stores all across the UK. To sell your phone at a SMARTDrop Kiosk, head over to the MusicMagpie website, get a quote, and select ‘SMARTDrop Kiosk’ at the checkout. Then take your device to your nearest kiosk and you’ll get paid instantly! 

Spring – Spring’s ‘pods’ accept over 15,000 electricals, from phones to drones, and pay an average of £113.70 per device. Simply register your device on the Spring website to find out your tech’s worth, pop your item in the pod, and wait for your money! Spring pods are found in some Morrisons and some Co-op stores; they are also about to launch a new low-waste post service, where customers can request Pouches to be sent to their front door (or pick them up in-store) and send devices free of charge, from wherever they are.

Trade-in your tech for cash 

Companies will trade in your old phone or tech items in exchange for cash or money off your next purchase. This tech is then often refurbished for resale or responsibly recycled, saving precious materials from going to waste. Below are some examples:

Currys – Currys’ “Cash For Trash” offers at least £5 off your next purchase for any old tech items you recycle in store. Visit your local Currys’ store with any old, unwanted tech item (even if you didn’t buy it from Currys). You’ll then get a discount voucher to use for your next online or in-store purchase on orders over £25. Find your local Currys on our locator. 

Amazon – If you have an Amazon account, you can trade in your old device and receive an Amazon gift card. They accept a range of devices, from Kindles and tablets, to Echos and home security devices. To receive your gift card, simply tell Amazon about your device on their website to receive a quote, print the delivery label and post your device for free. A gift card will then be added to your account!

EE – EE allows you to trade in your old phone, tablet or watch (even if it’s not on EE network) in exchange for cash, EE credit or money off your next phone bill. You can do this online via their website where they’ll give you a quote for your device and send you a prepaid envelope; or you can hand in your device in store. They will either securely refurbish your item for resale or recycle it. 

O2 – You can recycle your phone for cash with O2, even if it’s damaged or you’re not on their network. Visit the O2 website to see how much your phone is worth; they’ll then pay into your bank account, send you a cheque, or – if you’re an O2 customer – give you money off your next phone bill. 

Vodafone – Get your trade-in quote online using their Trade-In tool on the MyVodafone app, then choose to be paid by bank transfer, credit or monthly saving. Vodafone resell 97% of phones and recycle the rest.

Loop – If you’re looking to buy a refurbished phone, Loop will give you a discount if you trade in your old phone. The trade-in tool is available on the product pages of their website, so click on it to start the process. A prepaid return kit will arrive in the post with your new purchase. Once you have sent your device back and it has been checked by the team you will receive your refund to your card. 

Use second-hand platforms to sell:

Some organisations help you sell your old phone or tech for you, without the hassle and risks of finding a buyer yourself. All you need to do is visit the website to find out the value of your device and then wait to receive your return kit to post your item back. Once your device has been checked you just need to wait for the money. Below are a few places that buy (and sell) second-hand phone:

Reboxed – Reboxed offers upfront and fixed prices for your old phone, meaning you get the full price quoted or your phone back free of charge. You can also buy refurbished phones on their platform; just use the code RECYCLE20 to get a £20 discount when you upgrade your tech (min spend £350). 

Mozillion – Mozillion guarantees your old phone will sell for more on Mozillion compared to trading it in, or they’ll give you the difference plus an extra £5. They also have a voucher code JUSTSELLIT available until the end of February – this gives you an extra £10 on top of sale price when you list and sell your phone on Mozillion.

Sell it yourself

eBay – eBay are running the #eBayreSELLution throughout January, where not only could you make money off your old electricals but be in with a chance of winning a £250 voucher. Either share an image of the item you’re selling to your Instagram Stories, linking to the listing; or use the share button in the eBay app to share your listing directly to your Stories. Make sure you tag @ebay_uk and add #eBayreSELLution to be in to win! 

These are just a few of the options available to make some extra money on your old, used electricals. Remember – never bin your electricals! If your item is not in a condition to sell, you may be able to repair or donate it. Otherwise you can always recycle unwanted electricals at your local tip or household waste recycling centre, and some councils will collect them from outside your home. Use our recycling locator to find your local recycling points.