Comments on: E-Waste: Where Do Your Old Gadgets Go? http://frugallygreen.org/ewaste-where-do-your-old-gadgets-go/ Saving Earth one dollar at a time Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:56:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Readers to the Rescue: Time for a New Computer » Frugally Green http://frugallygreen.org/ewaste-where-do-your-old-gadgets-go/#comment-266 Readers to the Rescue: Time for a New Computer » Frugally Green Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:09:59 +0000 http://frugallygreen.org/?p=10#comment-266 [...] off the bat, this seems like the least expensive and most environmentally friendly option.  I’ve exhausted my own repair knowledge, so I’d have to take it to a professional and [...] [...] off the bat, this seems like the least expensive and most environmentally friendly option.  I’ve exhausted my own repair knowledge, so I’d have to take it to a professional and [...]

]]> By: admin http://frugallygreen.org/ewaste-where-do-your-old-gadgets-go/#comment-4 admin Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:40:56 +0000 http://frugallygreen.org/?p=10#comment-4 <strong>@ Chris - </strong>Great point about maintenance and upgrading. I feel like my 6-year-old computer is starting to slow down and I will eventually have to replace it when the software I need to run can't be supported by it anymore, but I think I have a few more years of minor hardware upgrades before I reach that point. It's definitely time to defragment the HD! Joe Dirt always says it best, doesn't he? @ Chris – Great point about maintenance and upgrading. I feel like my 6-year-old computer is starting to slow down and I will eventually have to replace it when the software I need to run can’t be supported by it anymore, but I think I have a few more years of minor hardware upgrades before I reach that point. It’s definitely time to defragment the HD! Joe Dirt always says it best, doesn’t he?

]]> By: Chris http://frugallygreen.org/ewaste-where-do-your-old-gadgets-go/#comment-3 Chris Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:13:28 +0000 http://frugallygreen.org/?p=10#comment-3 Very insightful entry… this is definitely an area I need to work on. Unfortunately, I’m a closet Techie… so every time I run across the newest, greatest, never been seen before gadget, I’m always fighting the urge to punch in my credit card info & have it overnighted to me. That being said, something that’s helped me fight this urge is to upgrade the components of my computer/phone/etc. (instead of replacing the gadget in its entirety). That way I get the “feeling” of a new gadget, and I get the upgraded performance I need. You can find used components on ebay & craigslist just like you mentioned. Once you’ve maxed out the performance of your equipment, just put it on Craigslist. You won’t make a fortune… but you will be practicing the “frugally green” concept. One of my best buddies has managed to break even $$ wise on his home PC by doing this (and is only on his second computer in 9 years). Another thing worth mentioning is maintenance. Let’s use my parents as an example (FYI – they’re the sweetest people in the world). As soon as their computer starts to “slow down” it’s time for a replacement… when, in actuality, all it needs is to be reformatted. Set up a routine, keep your gadget clean & you’ll get a lot more life out of it. “Keep on keepin’ on. Life’s a garden, dig it, make it work for you.” -Joe Dirt Very insightful entry… this is definitely an area I need to work on. Unfortunately, I’m a closet Techie… so every time I run across the newest, greatest, never been seen before gadget, I’m always fighting the urge to punch in my credit card info & have it overnighted to me. That being said, something that’s helped me fight this urge is to upgrade the components of my computer/phone/etc. (instead of replacing the gadget in its entirety). That way I get the “feeling” of a new gadget, and I get the upgraded performance I need.

You can find used components on ebay & craigslist just like you mentioned. Once you’ve maxed out the performance of your equipment, just put it on Craigslist. You won’t make a fortune… but you will be practicing the “frugally green” concept. One of my best buddies has managed to break even $$ wise on his home PC by doing this (and is only on his second computer in 9 years).

Another thing worth mentioning is maintenance. Let’s use my parents as an example (FYI – they’re the sweetest people in the world). As soon as their computer starts to “slow down” it’s time for a replacement… when, in actuality, all it needs is to be reformatted. Set up a routine, keep your gadget clean & you’ll get a lot more life out of it.

“Keep on keepin’ on. Life’s a garden, dig it, make it work for you.”
-Joe Dirt

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