So you’ve snagged a sweet deal on the newest tablet or phone and saved a lot of money. But what will you do with your old tech, which you just bought a year ago? Instead of dumping them in the bin and tinkering with your new toys, heed our advice and try these 7 things.

1. TV, Anyone?

A tablet can serve as the perfect second display or monitor for entertainment, work and babysitting purposes. All you’ll need is a stand, the right cable charger and a good location. Dig into the list of available apps in the App Store or Play Store. Download and install YouTube Kids, for example, or any video platform depending on what you need.

Use that static device to look up and follow recipes when you cook, to watch Netflix after a long, hard day or to give your kids something to watch.

2. Baby Monitor or CCTV

You may need two spare phones and/or tablets to work this one, but the upside is that you won’t have to shell out extra cash to get it working. Home security is always a must-have, but setting up a CCTV system or a nanny cam can prove to be expensive. However, you can use what you already have with some apps and a bit of know-how.

3. eBook Reader

A tablet’s huge screen is somewhat similar to a real book. If you, a loved one or a family member loves to read books, magazines or comics, then this is a no-brainer. To eliminate distraction, you may want to install a kid-safety app that locks everything down to just the ebook reader app, e.g., a Kindle or something similar. Then, load up the files and hand them out for some good old-fashioned entertainment.

4. Sell It

Photo by Jonah Pettrich on Unsplash

When you throw a working tech down the bin, you’re throwing money away and polluting the earth as well. It only takes a couple of days to get much-needed cash out of selling your device. Thankfully, there are a lot of online marketplaces and people who will be willing to exchange money for used tablets and phones.

Snap a clear photo of your gadget and any existing accessory, e.g., the box, charger and earphones so interested parties will have something to look at. Then, create an account on Craigslist or Amazon and list your item up for sale. Don’t have the time to do all that? You can turn your old phone and tablet over to online recyclers in exchange for cash. Visit the site, fill up an appraisal form and get money after they receive the goods.

5. Donate for a Good Cause

You may have a few dozen items, e.g., monitors, tablets and TVs, and you wouldn’t need another. When the time comes that you get a new phone or tablet, consider donating to a charitable institution. As long as it can do the things you need it to do every day, then it’s still usable. Organizations need all the help they can get, and that means tablets, computers and even video game consoles for an orphanage or hospital, for instance.

Hospitals, libraries, animal shelters and churches take printers, fax machines, computers and old laptops to do clerical work. They can use an old tablet to read stories to children or show them educational content.

6. Recycle It

Anything is better than just dumping your device in the bin. Contribute to the greater good by making the world safe for the future generation by means of recycling. Almost all major urban districts will have its own local recycling centre. Google it up and begin collecting old stuff, such as keyboards, mice, CRT monitors, cell phones, mp3 players, satnav components, etc.

The recyclers will re-use your gadget or take it apart and gather the metals and components that could still be used. If the brand has a recycling programme, even better. Hand it over and you can get in-store credits towards a new purchase.

7. Keep as Backup

Sometimes it’s better to hold on to a gadget, say a tablet or a phone just so you can have a backup when something serious happens to your main phone. It makes sense to keep your old phone with you, especially if you keep losing things. The luxury of having a backup can serve you well during emergencies and when your main phone or tablet’s battery has just run out.

Invest in a protective case and remember to charge it up once a week so you can get it working when contingencies come. Being prepared can give you an edge, and with an old-tech, you get that edge for free. By giving your phone and tablet to those who need it, you’re giving your tech a new lease on life and extending its usability. Don’t forget to wipe all the data by performing a factory reset or restoring to defaults so your personal information stays safe.