video games Archives

How Amazon, Target and Walmart will pay you for old stuff

Several online platforms help sell your old stuff. Tap or click for a few options that are better than Craigslist.

But most people aren’t aware that their favorite retailers can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Many offer superior trade-in value for your stuff. Chances are, you’ll be able to get rid of your clutter without venturing further than your local shopping center.

Best Buy, Walmart and even Amazon will pay you for everything from baby carriages to old TVs or gaming consoles. Keep reading to find out how.

How to trade in old stuff at your favorite retailers

This tip mainly applies to electronics, video games and other reusable household goods. Check out each retailer below.

How to trade in on Amazon

Amazon’s trade-in program lets you transform old Kindles, Bluetooth speakers and even things like headphones into money in your pocket. Be sure to keep your stuff in excellent condition. The more pristine it is, the more you stand to earn.

You can get an Amazon gift card and save up to 25% on a new qualifying Amazon device.

How to trade in at Best Buy

Best Buy’s trade-in program includes any category you’ll find in-store, excluding large appliances, as far as we can tell. You’ll find an itemized portal on Best Buy’s trade-in page. Click into the thumbnail matching what you want to sell and follow the instructions.

Trade in car seats at Target

Target’s car seat trade-in allows you to upgrade to a newer model. Twice a year, you can bring an old, expired or damaged car seat to Target and recycle it to redeem a coupon on your Target app or Target.com/circle for 20% off one car seat, one stroller or select baby gear.

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We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Turn off this TV setting ASAP

With most tech gadgets, you get what you pay for. That means cool features and high-quality visuals are often limited to expensive devices. However, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a five-star experience when it comes to TVs.

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Internet providers push the priciest plans and do their best to convince you to spend more money. News flash: You may be overpaying. Calculate how much internet you need or use the quick guidelines below:

10 Mbps: Great if you only have a few devices connected to your Wi-Fi and use your network to visit websites and get email.
25 Mbps: Perfect if you watch lots of videos and download big files.
100 Mbps: Online gamers and streamers, this one’s for you.
500 Mbps or higher: Ideal for simultaneous streaming, online gaming and downloads on many devices. You need the speed.

How to earn $25 million a year on eBay

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Linda Lightman started by selling her kids’ video games on eBay in the ’90s. Today, she operates a 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse with a dedicated team, all thanks to her eBay success. Plus, updates on Apple’s AI developments and tax credits for EVs.

🎮 Twitch and YouTube are booming: Gamers spend more hours per week watching other people play video games than playing themselves. This year’s League of Legends World Championship esports event peaked at nearly 7 million viewers. Hey, parents — your kids can turn playing video games into a real job after all.

What was the first video game ever played in space? Was it … A.) Pong, B.) Super Mario Bros., C.) Tetris or D.) Space Invaders?

Find the answer here! →

5 hours a week

Minimum time spent gaming to make your brain perform like it’s 13.7 years younger. A study found people who played video games regularly had better cognitive abilities, like memory and problem-solving. Here’s your great excuse to pick up an Xbox or PS5 console.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

How you can help Ukraine and save almost $7,000 on video games at once

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, charities worldwide have sprung into action. Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. would send “tens of thousands of tons” of medical supplies, food and water to soldiers and civilians. Tap or click here for the best ways to donate to Ukrainian people and forces.

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How to calibrate your PC monitor to get the best picture possible

Home computers have come a long way since the early days. Processors are much faster and storage size is incredibly large in comparison.

They have also come way down in price. You can now pick up a powerful desktop or laptop computer for a fraction of the cost that you would have paid for a lesser machine in the mid-1990s.

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🎮 Wargaming with the pros: This is interesting. Militaries around the world are playing a video wargame called Command: Professional Edition to simulate battlefield scenarios. It lets them test strategies and explore hypotheticals like nuclear warfare (paywall link). The kicker? It was originally made for gamers; its creators had no military background.

Heads-up, gamers: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 just dropped, and it’s time to own some noobs! This time, the game takes place in the ‘90s and launches with 16 multiplayer maps, plus the return of round-based zombies (just in time for Halloween). There’s also a new “omnimovement” mechanic, so you can expect faster combat. Get it on PS5 and Xbox.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

43% drop

In trolls taking over “Call of Duty” voice chats, thanks to AI. The software, ToxMod, listens for and reports bad behavior. The snitch bot is definitely working; there’s been a 67% reduction in repeat offenders.

Control freak: The U.S. military is using video game-style controllers to operate some of its most advanced systems, including anti-ship missiles, laser weapons and unmanned vehicles. It turns out many young soldiers are pros at using them after growing up playing on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Plus, tactile feedback beats touchscreens, delivering better precision in high-stakes situations. Smart!

3 hours a day

The sweet spot for gamers. Studies show playing video games for under three hours a day correlates with better mental health and less stress. Over three hours? Those benefits went — poof — goodbye.

🛌 True story I have to share: A friend was having trouble with his teen son playing video games too much. He decided to take the door off the kid’s bedroom. When his son came home and asked what was going on, he told him, “Son, we’ve updated the privacy policy in our home.” Classic.

190.6 million people

Play video games at least one hour per week in the U.S. The majorities of Gen Alpha (79%), Gen Z (76%) and millennials (65%) game. Roughly 53% of Gen X games, while 47% of baby boomers play, too. Do you? I don’t.

Top eBay seller makes $25M a year — here's how

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Want to start your own eBay side biz? Don’t miss this! Linda Lightman started selling her sons’ video games on eBay in the ’90s. Fast forward to today, and she owns a 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse where she employs a small army of people.

$250/hr freelance job, video game addiction & Apple’s batterygate payouts

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Plus, Logan Visser was playing video games for 16 hours a day. He talked with me about how he broke the cycle. Also, Google is adding eSignature tools to Docs and Drive. Food delivery at airport gates, apps that share location data and 5 steps to sell your old phone.

10 best Nintendo Switch tips, tricks and accessories

Nintendo Switch is one of the most iconic handheld video games ever produced. Even though it was only released in 2017, it’s right up there with the Game Boy’s various iterations and the DS.

It’s a versatile, powerful machine, in both its regular and Lite iterations, and it’s going strong even in light of new next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft — and not just with kids. Tap or click here to see the best video games for people over 55.

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Adobe Flash is officially dead - Here's how to remove it from your computer

Adobe’s Flash Player has been a staple of web development for decades, somewhat integral to websites running smoothly. But over the last few years, companies like Google and Microsoft have moved away from Flash.

Google said in 2017 that it would no longer support the technology in its Chrome browser, and Microsoft’s Edge browser removed Flash functionality. That’s why some of your favorite websites and video games will be changing how they function or go away forever. Tap or click here for details on the end of one viral game.

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