Phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, and other gadgets all come with boxes that many keep on hand for years "just in case". Here are four questions to ask yourself when deciding what to keep and what to toss.


Household weblog Apartment Therapy postulates that we must ask ourselves four questions for each of our tech boxes:

Do you plan to re-sell the item? If so having the original box will usually sell for a higher price. Will you be moving soon? Some items like big-screen TVs are much easier to move when you have the original box. How much space does the box take up? If you're in a tiny apartment even if you're planning on moving a few years it might not be worth holding onto that 52" TV box. Can you repurpose the box? Many gadget boxes are made of higher quality than normal cardboard and can be made into other items.


If the box doesn't meet any of these criteria feel free to recycle it!

When to Toss Your Tech Boxes | Apartment Therapy