Got an old Mac lying around gathering dust – or perhaps a couple? While we tend to upgrade our computers and laptops every few years, that means there are a whole lot of lonely, out of work, semi-obsolete machines lying about. Apple products, at least the older contingent, are well known for being workhorses, machines that don’t need to be replaced as often as these new flimsy things that have planned obsolescence built in.
If you have an older Mac that you’re not currently using, or you’re about to upgrade but looking for a purpose for your old machine, then we’ve got a list of ways to make money with your old Mac. Let’s check them out.
Upgrade your parts to bring it back to a productivity beast
Thinking of upgrading since your Mac feels sluggish? Hey, do you really need to? New, high-end Macs are expensive products and you may not need to make that purchase. Instead, it might be possible to kit out your old machine with some new components that will have it purring along with current standards.
Oldie but Goodie
If you use your old Mac for work like design or programming currently, take it to a trusted parts and repair store with your complaints and see if they are able to put in new parts. Do you throw out a whole carton of eggs just because one has gone off? Of course not.
Sell it on an online marketplace
If you just want your old Mac out of your life, then it’s easy enough to put on an online marketplace like eBay or Gumtree. Collectors will purchase them either for the whole machine or for parts, so make sure to include all the correct specs.
Before putting it up for sale (if you aren’t offering it as an auction) check the price of similar machines to see the current market rate. Set your selling price at around the same to maximize your profits.
Put it to work mining crypto (slowly)
Mining crypto takes serious machine power (that your old Mac definitely doesn’t have), right? Well, not necessarily. You can put your old machine/s to work mining newer or less popular coins. You might now make very much, but then again, it might pay off, especially if you have a few machines running. You can take a look at this article to see how to do it.
If you are going to be mining crypto, it is also important to look at the effect of running your machine on your electricity bill. You don’t want it to have negative monetary effects! If you have solar, you’re probably all good in this regard.
Play some casinos
Consider yourself a bit of a poker champ? Perhaps you could make some money in the world of online casinos. The house always wins? Pffft, perhaps overall, but you might be able to make yourself a winner, too, if you have a knack for certain games and know when to get out.
There are also some casinos that offer free slots offers – where you can win real money and get payouts in the end if you follow their conditions. There are many free sites that offer these no deposit free spins bonuses, a simple and effective way to test out casino games at no risk. You can even win real money without losing a cent of your own cash.
These casinos are usually available via the browser, but some are available as apps for download. If your old Mac is struggling, only run the one browser tab (or the one application) with nothing else open.
Make it art and sell it!
Here’s a bit of a nifty idea if you are feeling creative. How about turning your old Mac into a work of art? We can just imagine an iMac as a fish tank (check out this video to see it in action!), breaking off parts to add to your machine man costume to sell on Etsy, or even lugging it around to different places for some hilarious Instagram pics that could easily end up getting you some sponsored posts in the future.
Become a writer
The great thing about a Mac (or PC for that matter) of any age is that they will have a Word Processor available to use. If you have ever dreamt of being a writer, now is your time to make it happen. With a blank slate in front of you, you can let your thoughts flow freely across the (digital) page. Pick a topic and have your way with it.
Okay, but how can that make you money? Well, the thing about writing is that the more you practice it, the better you become at it. Before long, you may be submitting pieces to blogs you follow that can pay you for your services! There are also plenty of businesses out there looking for marketing material writers or writers for their online blog. Once you start practicing, you’ll find the words coming together naturally – hello new income stream.