Happy New Year!!!  Whew! We made it to another year. Twenty-sixteen is going to be great. I just know it!

Speaking of great, I bet that like me, you got some great gifts last Christmas, didn’t you?  Maybe you got a cool, new tablet or THE smartphone you’ve wanted since even before it came out – that you used during your New Year’s party?

Well, in this age of “All Things Internet,” it’s a given that either you or someone you know have received that cool tech gift that everyone wanted.  Whether it’s the newest iPhone iteration, the most expensive Beats headphones, the latest PlayStation console, or a Special Edition Set of Star Wars movies, you must remember to tell the gift receiver (and yourself, too) to do this important step after unwrapping the box of joy it came in…

***Save the box and all the other stuff that came with it!***

Let me repeat: take out the cool tech gift, then DO NOT throw away the box and all its contents within!

Get the manual to see the list of contents that the box was supposed to come with.  (Sometimes, the list of contents are written outside the box, on the bottom, or the side.)  What usually comes in the box?  Here’s a basic list:

• instruction manual
• registration card
• USB cable
• charging cable (if different from usb cable)
• charger (if separate from cable)
• the little plastic baggies each things are wrapped in
• foam or cardboard holder

Why should you save all this “extra” stuff?

Two words: RESALE VALUE

Even if, right now, you don’t plan to sell any cool tech gifts that you’ve received (or given to your children/loved one), remember that plans change.  More importantly, nowadays, tech gifts get upgraded every year (some even quarterly)!

Next Christmas, people will want the newest version of what you have now.

BUT, there will still be people who will settle for last year’s model to save a buck.  That’s where you come in!

CASE IN POINT:

This WAS my HP Stream 7 Windows (Signature Edition) Tablet.  I listed this for sale on eBay during the online peak buying season – Black Friday through Cyber Monday.  It sold it on midnight of Cyber Monday.

Yes, this was last year’s model – Microsoft has since come out with the Stream 8 tablet.

BUT, as you can see, I’ve kept it in excellent condition – not just the tablet itself, but all the accessories, manuals, little baggies, and even the box!  Then I included the cover as a “Bonus” item.

Even after shipping fees, I still had some profit from the sale.

At the very least, your goal should be to recoup more than 50% of it’s original price.

This habit of selling last year’s model during Thanksgiving week won’t supplement your income.  However, you can always make a few bucks to add to your budget for Christmas shopping that time of year!

Unless you’re a collector, there’s really no point in keeping last year’s model IF you plan to get the newest version of your device.

So, do the practical and smart move – sell it.

Get a head start with a guaranteed, great sale by keeping those accessories, boxes, manuals, cables, and whatnots in good looking order.  Save them and put them in the closet where they won’t get soiled, squished, or lost.

You won’t regret it.  I promise.

In the meantime, enjoy your cool, new tech gift!  (just be careful with it)