Stop ignoring that old phone in your drawer – here’s what to do with it – Growing Family

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We’ve all got one; tucked in a kitchen drawer, shoved to the back of a bedside table, or rattling around at the bottom of a bag. The old phone that’s been replaced but never quite dealt with. Life with a family moves fast, and somehow sorting out old tech always ends up at the bottom of the to-do list.

But here’s the thing: that forgotten device is probably worth more than you think, in both money and usefulness. So before it gets buried under another year’s worth of odds and ends, here are some genuinely great ways to give it a new lease of life.

1. Sell it and put the money to good use

The most obvious option, and often the most rewarding, is to sell your old phone. Even models that are a couple of years old can fetch a surprisingly decent sum. That money could go towards something the whole family enjoys: a day out, new garden kit, or the holiday fund.

If you’ve got a Samsung sitting in a drawer, don’t underestimate its value. There are dedicated buyback services that make it quick and simple to sell my Samsung phone without the faff of marketplace listings or waiting for buyers to show up. You simply get a quote, send it off, and the cash lands in your account.

It’s not just Samsung owners who can benefit. Wherever you are with your handset, it’s worth taking five minutes to sell my mobile through a reputable comparison site to see what it’s actually worth. You might be pleasantly surprised.

2. Turn it into a dedicated kids’ device

If your children are always asking to borrow your phone to watch videos or play games, an old handset can be the perfect solution. Wipe it back to factory settings, set up parental controls, load it with age-appropriate apps and offline content, and you’ve got a dedicated kids’ device without handing over your actual phone.

This is especially handy for long car journeys, waiting rooms, or those rainy afternoons when the garden isn’t an option and everyone needs five minutes of peace.

3. Make it a nature camera for little ones

We’re big fans of getting children outdoors and connecting with nature, and an old smartphone can become a brilliant tool for just that. Hand it over as a dedicated nature camera for your child to use on walks, in the garden, or during bug hunts.

Older phones still take perfectly decent photos and videos, and kids will love having their own “camera” to document the things they find. It could be caterpillars on the cabbage patch, a spider’s web after rain, or the first sunflower to bloom. You could even start a little nature journal using the photos they take.

4. Use it as a dedicated audiobook or podcast player

Do you listen to audiobooks or podcasts while doing the school run, cooking dinner, or pottering in the garden? An old phone makes a great dedicated player. Load it up with your favourites, connect it to a Bluetooth speaker, and leave it in the kitchen or greenhouse without worrying about missing calls or draining your main phone’s battery.

It keeps things simple and means you’re not constantly switching between apps on your everyday device.

5. Set it up as a smart home controller

If you use smart plugs, lights, or a home security camera, an old phone can live permanently on the kitchen counter or windowsill as a home hub. No need to unlock your main phone every time you want to check who’s at the door or switch off the living room lamp; it’s all there at a glance.

6. Donate it

If your old phone is in decent working order, but selling it feels like more effort than it’s worth, consider donating it. Charities like Shelter, Age UK, and various domestic abuse organisations accept working phones to pass on to people who need them. It’s a lovely way to give something useful a second life while helping someone else at the same time.

7. Recycle it responsibly

If the phone is genuinely past its best – cracked screen, struggling battery, barely turning on – then responsible recycling is the way to go. Most phone networks and many large retailers have drop-off points, and there are dedicated e-waste recycling services too. Electronic waste contains materials that shouldn’t end up in landfill, so even a broken phone deserves a proper send-off.

A little effort goes a long way

It only takes a few minutes to decide what to do with an old phone, but the payoff – whether that’s extra cash, a happy child with their own camera, or a clearer conscience – is well worth it. Next time you’re having a sort-out, why not put the old phone at the top of the list rather than the bottom?