Target is making it easier for you to offload old phones and video games with a new trade-in program that we just read about (thanks for the tip, Barbara Weltman).

The good news: They take old iPhones, iPods, cell phones and video games—and give you up to $200, depending on the item and its condition.

The bad news: You can’t get cash. You only receive a store credit for… no, not K-Mart… no, not Ben & Jerry’s… that’s right—Target.

But this little bulletin raises an important point: What’s the best way to trade-in old electronics anyway?

Our pals over at Techlicious offer some guidance. They recommend getting an online estimate of what your item is worth at BuyMyTronics, Cexchange.com and Gazelle.com—and shopping around to find the best deal.

Leave a message. What’s your experience with trade-ins? Read More

It’s time to get your tech on! Whether you’re a blogger or just want a 2.0 upgrade for your career, join the Women Who Tech Telesummit:

September 15, 11 AM to 6PM Eastern

The conference is virtual—all you need is access to a phone line and the web so you can join hundreds of women who are participating from around the world.

Women Who Tech offers thought-provoking panels that cover the latest resources and tools for launching a successful startup, tools and apps to build your online community, Social Media ROI, and more.

Among the sessions:

• Launching Your Own Startup
• Creating a Culture of Collaboration and Innovation
• Female Ferocity
• ROI of Social Networking
• Speak Up: Pitching and Public Speaking Mojo
• Building the Ultimate User Experience
• Women and Open Source and Identity
• And more…

Panelists include a “who’s who” of women on the forefront of social change and technological progress, among them: Elisa Camahort Page, Co-Founder of BlogHer, Beth Kanter, Blogger and CEO of Zoetica, Shireen Mitchell of Digital Sistas, Rashmi Sinha, Co-Founder of SlideShare, Genevieve Bell of Intel, Liza Sabater of Culture Kitchen, Tara Hunt, Author of the Whuffie Factor, Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business, and Heather Harde, CEO of TechCrunch.

The entire TeleSummit is only $20 so you can attend as many sessions as you would like and ask our all-star panelists questions along the way. Access is extremely important to us at Women Who Tech. We have a few scholarships available to attend the TeleSummit for those who need a little extra help this year. Email us for more info.

Women Who Tech After Parties:

Come party with Women Who Tech and get your tech on following the TeleSummit on September 15th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in Washington, DC, New York City, and San Francisco Read More

When times are tough we tend to engage in a lot of fearful chatter.

We replay limiting beliefs such as, “I can’t ask for a raise now.” Or, “I can’t make a career shift in times like these.”

This fearful chatter is helping neither your peace of mind nor your bank account.

Fearful, limiting beliefs block your inner guide (or “~ing” as I call it) and prevent you from creating positive financial outcomes, blinding you to opportunities.

Try this three step process for releasing fear and add more ~ing to your finances.

Step One: Identify your limiting beliefs by listening to the fear-driven messages in your mind. What limits are you buying into: “I can’t get ahead”; “I’ll always be broke”; “There’s never enough”?

Step Two: Release the chatter. Kick off each day with the affirmation, “Today I choose to release my limiting beliefs and stay positive about my finances.” Then, if a self-sabotaging message pops up, recognize it for what it is. Let it go.

Step Three: Forgive. Our fearful mind loves to compare. When you perceive your finances as better than or worse than someone else’s, you’re creating a negative dynamic within the relationship—and in your earning capacity. So throw down an F bomb and forgive. Forgiveness will clear space to receive clarity and more ~ing.

What limiting belief can you release right now?

Gabrielle Bernstein is a motivational speaker and author of “Add More ~ing To Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness.” Read More

Amanda Steinberg is the founder of DailyWorth.

My friends send me the best presents on my birthday. Last year Heather sent me a hula hoop.

Sadly for them—they have ME in their lives.

Every year I resolve to be the best gift-giver (or at least send a CARD), but as the date approaches I start to spin.

What should I buy? How much can I really afford to spend? Oy – where did I write down their mailing address?

Then, I go into a coma. I wish this wasn’t how I am, but it is. I’m a walking backlog of gifts I’ve been meaning to give.

Now, in honor of the holiday weekend, I have resolved to overcome my inertia, do a labor of love, and send a few gifts. I’m going to check out Etsy (Etsians: give me some ideas), keep my eyes peeled for end-of-summer Farmer’s Market treats—and mail a few gifts.

It’s the kind of spending that pays big, warm, fuzzy dividends on all sides (and you can’t say that about the stock market).

If you missed a recent birthday, make someone’s day and send them a present, even if their birthday was last March.

Read More

This week, let’s work together on 5 small steps that will enable you to worry less and feel more in control—so that it takes less effort to manage your finances this fall.

Most people don’t know which financial documents to keep and which to toss—so they save it all, says professional organizer Lisa Zaslow, author of “Can I Just Shred It All?“.

Solution: A fast, flexible filing system based on keeping ONLY the documents you need, in big folders (which you can subdivide on an as-needed basis). For now, focus on broad categories—”and set up your 2011 files, while you’re at it,” suggests Zaslow.

Supplies: Two flat-bottomed, expandable hanging folders; manila file folders; labels; about one hour—and a good friend. “People get more done with a buddy,” she says. Put on a scary movie, pour some wine, then…

What to Keep
Stash the following papers in individual folders, labeled as follows:

	Personal tax items
	Business-related tax items
	Bank statements
	Credit card statements
	Retirement account statements
	Investment account records
	Insurance policies: life, health, home, car, etc.
	Home: mortgage and property tax docs; repair records
	Medical: bills, claims, FSA records, prescriptions
	Car: title, AAA membership, repair records
	Kid stuff: tuition receipts, permission slips, calendars

What to Shred
It’s OK to ditch the following, unless you need them for business tax purposes or to track your own expenses.

	Paystubs (Unless you plan to reconcile them with your W-2, there’s no need to keep them, Zaslow says.)
	Utility, heat, cable, phone bills
	Personal credit and charge card receipts
	Rent bills
	ATM, grocery, gas receipts

Set a date to declutter. What do you dread most?

Read More