Comments on: Cash That Just Gathers Dust: A Technique For Paring Down Your Media Collection http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: ChrisD http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-825255 ChrisD Sun, 06 Dec 2009 10:13:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-825255 I think one problem with digital music is a) the legal situation and b) the file format. In the UK ripping your own music to your own computer is technically illegal. My understanding is that your right to own the music resides in the physical CD, which you need to keep (like a vampires’ box of earth that at least you don’t have to carry around). Maybe it’s a silly reason to keep hold of stuff, but given a proposed law that would make it legal to cease your laptop at an airport and search it for illegal music (!!!) I have decided to keep the physical CDs.
Secondly what if your hard drive crashes? Make sure you keep back ups. What if there is a new file format (mp4s?) that takes up more space (which is getting ever cheaper) that stores more info. You might want to rerip your CDs. And given that apple tunes songs can only be kept on 5 computers and relies on an online list, that keeps a record of what you own and what computers you have approved… I’d rather stick to CDs which I can lend and copy to as many computers as I want.

]]> By: 44dad http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-491949 44dad Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:18:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-491949 Great advice – I noticed several DVDs and CDs on my shelf this week that are so dusty you can’t read the label. Even if I only get a few bucks for them – it’s more money to achieve my financial goals and less crap taking up space on my shelf !
I need to listen to more music. I actually have the “greatest album ever recorded” in mp3 format and I have never sat down to listen to it ! I am going to treat myself this weekend.
Thanks for the tips.
444 Dad

]]> By: James Grabowski http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-417625 James Grabowski Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:41:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-417625 I strongly suggest using Amazon to sell unwanted media. I had one extra large brown paper paint dropcloth that I use to wrap the box like a christmas present, secure all edges with packing tape, and use the USPS media mail. I have sold about 20 items in the last 11 days for a profit of $250. Even ten year old textbooks are selling at close to the original purchase price due to the inflated prices of new textbooks over the years. I linked my payments to an online savings account (ING), and am enjoying the extra space on my book shelves!

]]> By: Liz http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-199207 Liz Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:42:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-199207 Trent,
Whenever you feel the urge to buy a CD, consult the All-Music Guide first (www.allmusic.com). This media database – which also has movie and games databases, too, by the way – is probably the most thorough music reference source out there. I have used it for years, both online and in print, and I’ve built my fairly sizeable music collection simply by using the info on that database. It’s immensely helpful in allowing you to focus on the best choice of recording for a particular artist, whether it’s a main album or a compilation.

I got an iPod for Christmas and I put my entire CD music collection on it. But I do have a few cassettes and a boatlaod of vinyl, so lately my game has been to borrow those from the library and put those on my iPod as well. Saves me from having to buy them over again! Eventually, I may get rid of my CD collection altogether – haven’t thought about how yet – but for now, that’s what I’m doing.

]]> By: Ed http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-24485 Ed Thu, 10 May 2007 19:12:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-24485 CDs and DVDs are one of the worst selling items on eBay (or local sites like craigslist). So, it makes more sense to STOP BUYING THEM. I try to only buy CDs or DVDs that I know I will listen to or watch time and time again. Not to mention…where do you store thousands of DVDs and CDs? I have more problems with storage space than with saving money.
I have finally decided that I don’t need another whatever it is because I’ll have to find some place to put it.

]]> By: Sam http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-23958 Sam Tue, 08 May 2007 22:43:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-23958 Being a poor college student, I have decided to digitize my entire media library. I’m in the procees of selling my CD’s and will move on to the DVD’s after I finish ripping them all to my external HD. I’m also interested in how you sold your CD’s. I’ve sold a few to friends and have put the rest on craigslist, but the going has been slow. I’m dreading putting them up individually on eBay and most CD stores around here will only give me in-store credit (not helpful when trying to reduce spending on media).

]]> By: Andrew Ferguson http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-1507 Andrew Ferguson Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:43:44 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-1507 I’m just in the process of doing the same type of media cull to myself and I was hoping you could give me some advice.

Where did you sell these items? eBay? Craigslist? Local used cd/dvd store? Pawn shop?

I’m looking at selling probably 50 dvds and about 200 cds (albeit without jewel cases 99% of the time) and differences of even fifty cents on each can add up (to the tune of $125, with the above numbers).

Thanks!

]]> By: bjk http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-704 bjk Wed, 06 Dec 2006 04:16:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-704 Better yet, get a library card and enjoy free reign on a never ending bounty of media. I took out 16 CD’s tonight, brought them home, and am burning them as I type. I’m starting to gather quite a large and unique ‘library’ of mp3′s. The same works for DVD’s , it’s just difficult to find the latest & greatest.

]]> By: Lazy Man and Money http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-673 Lazy Man and Money Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:50:23 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-673 Instead of selling you could use something like PeerFlix to trade them for yet more movies. If some are tough sellers, perhaps trading will save you money by eliminating future movie and music purchases.

]]> By: Moneywalks http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-644 Moneywalks Tue, 05 Dec 2006 05:50:58 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-644 I know what you mean. I must have spent over 2g on dvds alone.

]]> By: CyberCelt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-624 CyberCelt Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:35:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/04/cash-that-just-gathers-dust-a-technique-for-paring-down-your-media-collection/#comment-624 Hi! Just roaming around the blogosphere and saw you had moved.

I hate to admit it, but I still have vinyl albums and cassette tapes. I listen to the tapes, but not the albums. I keep thinking I will donate them to the Smithsonian one day.

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