Some game retailers like GameStop will buy games for more recent video consoles like Wii and Xbox 360, according to Chris Kohler, Wired.com's Game Life editor. But he said in many cases, they won't take back games for older consoles.

Amazon.com's Video Games Trade-In store allows users to trade in old games for an online gift card to the site.

Make sure you are not sitting on a gold mine, Kohler said. Games from 20 years ago are collectibles, and classic game lovers will pay a high price for them on eBay.

GreenDisk also takes all electronic media, including diskettes, zip disks, CDs, VHS, cassette tapes and game cartridges.

EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Robertson suggests selling the equipment to Play It Again Sports, a sporting goods store that buys, sells and trades used equipment.

There are two in South Florida: 12181 Taft St., Pembroke Pines, and 11426 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs.

An alternative is to list equipment on Craigslist. You can try to sell it on eBay if shipping is not going to be a problem, she said. If you want to give it away, try The Freecycle Network (www.freecycle.org).

FURNITURE

You can try selling the item on eBay or Craigslist, Norris said. The downside is you have to post it, photograph it and arrange for people to come see it.

She recommends donating furniture to charitable organizations that help people set up households, such as shelters.

If the furniture is beyond repair or poses a health hazard, such as mold or cushions filled with dust mites, consider other disposal options, she said.

JEWELRY

Be careful about sending your jewelry to a place you saw on television or the Internet, said Harry Glinberg, a jeweler from Wauwatosa, Wis., who holds top diplomas from the Gemological Institute of America.

Many of them will not pay you what the jewelry is worth. He recommends getting two or three quotes from jewelers that have a graduate gemologist on staff.

If you believe the piece is an antique, take it to an antiques store and get an appraisal, said Anne-Marie O'Neill, deputy editor of Real Simple.

MAGAZINES

Don't keep more than three issues of magazines, Ecker said. If it's March and you still haven't read the December issue, you're probably not going to, because the April issue is coming, she said.

If there's an article or recipe you want to save, tear it out of the magazine and file it away, Ecker said.

Magazines that are collectibles are good candidates for eBay, Collier said. But often, the vintage ads are worth more. She recommends cutting out the ads, framing them and putting them up for sale.

Some hospitals take magazines, preferably issues that are not older than three months. You can also check with your local library. Recycle magazines that are old and have no real value.

SHOES

Try eBay for high-end designer shoes that are in good condition, Collier said.

If you want to recycle, Nike accepts athletic shoes of any brand with the exception of shoes containing metal, such as cleats or spikes. The shoes are ground up and used to make sports surfaces (www.nikereuseashoe.com).

There are also several charitable organizations, such as Samaritan's Feet (www.samaritansfeet.org) and Soles4Souls (www.soles4souls.org) that collect shoes and donate them to those in need.

Don't try to sell or donate shoes that are badly in need of a shoe surgeon, such as one with a missing sole or a seam that is busted because of your big toe, Ecker said. Better to toss, she said.

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