Recover From the Holidays by Selling Unwanted Gifts Now

After the holiday season, many Americans need to pay off some extra bills. This could include anything from an overspent gift budget to travel costs for spending time with family. If you find yourself in this position, have you considered the value that your own holiday gifts might provide to help pay off those bills? If you're not sure how this could work, consider these four ways to find cash in your gift pile.

1. Sell Unwanted Gifts

Just about everyone receives at least a few gifts that they just don't want or need. It could be something from a coworker or your boss or something given by a relative who just doesn't know your style very well. Whatever the reason for an unwanted gift, some can be returned easily (usually only if they came with a receipt) while others can't.

If you don't know where to return something unneeded, a pawn shop is your best bet. If the item would otherwise be languishing in your garage serving no purpose, any value you can get for it - especially for a new, unopened item - is worth the effort.

2. Sell Unneeded Gift Cards

What about those unwanted gift cards? Gift cards are increasingly popular for gift-givers who just don't know what to get a person. But, once again, the gift doesn't always match the receiver's personality or shopping style.

Since the money was already paid out, you may feel compelled to try to spend it even if you don't want what's available. And then you have even more unnecessary stuff in your home. A better solution is to pawn the gift card and redeem that value toward something that actually is important to you.

Not all pawn shops will buy gift cards, but those that will pay you a percentage of the verifiable value in return. Again, if a gift card will go unused otherwise, any money or credit you get can help your own finances.

3. Sell Duplicate Items

Did you get an upgraded or newer version of something you already own? Then take in your old version and get some money for it!

This is a particularly good way to get money for those who got an upgraded cellphone, a new tablet, a better computer, or new models of power tools for the holidays. Recent models are still in demand, so you can get a good price for them. Put that money toward your bills or pay off the upgraded toys you might have bought yourself too.

4. Get Inspired to Take More to the Pawn Shop

The actual gifts you received aren't the only source of potential cash hiding in your home. If you do plan to take your old iPhone to the pawn shop for money, look around for other things to go with it. Have you been holding onto old tech you upgraded earlier in the year? What about sports equipment your kids have outgrown? Don't need all your outdoor tools anymore? Still keeping Grandma's outdated jewelry?

Having a good reason to make a trip to the pawn shop and knowing you'll come home with cash is a great incentive to build on your momentum. You might even make it a family project, allowing each person to reap the rewards of what they decide to sell. This sets an excellent example for your kids too.

Can your finances benefit from an infusion of money from selling items? Try this easy method to get rid of unwanted gifts, avoid duplicate items in the house, and inspire more purging. Start by talking with the pawn experts at 2 J's Pawn & Gun today. Together, we can start off your 2020 in a smart, positive way.