Did you know there is an AA size battery, and sometimes a AAA battery, inside disposable cameras that is used to power the camera flash?
When you take these cameras in to be developed just let the clerk know that you would like to have the battery inside back. Almost every one of us have some sort of electronics that we could use the rest of the life of that battery for and be saving some money by doing it.
And, whether or not you use disposable cameras, it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask the person doing the film developing if they have any batteries from other people's cameras or if they would mind starting to take them out and save them for you. Hey, it doesn't even have to be your favorite film developing store. Just visit a few and ask if they are willing to keep them for you and just be sure to pick them up every week or two.
It never hurts, nor does it cost anything to ask. :)
It really makes a lot of good sense! Those disposable cameras sure don't use those batteries all up, they must have plenty of good use for them, and they sure don't need to be thrown away, so how many of them have been thrown away for all of those years I now wonder?
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Tip: Remove Batteries From Disposable Cameras (09/30/2009)
My father taught me this frugal tip: The batteries in a disposable camera are reusable! Before you get the film/disposable camera developed take out the batteries which are normally AA which normally work in remote controls.
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Tip: Remove Batteries From Disposable Cameras
Archived on 09/30/2009
My father taught me this frugal tip: The batteries in a disposable camera are reusable! Before you get the film/disposable camera developed take out the batteries which are normally AA which normally work in remote controls.
Source: My father
By GingerLilyMay from Bedford Hills, NY
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RE: Remove Batteries From Disposable Cameras
I never knew this, this is a great tip. (01/02/2008)
I would appreciate knowing HOW to do this. Sounds great if it is not dangerous in any way. Where are the batteries in one of those? How do you open it without damaging the film to be developed? Thanks. (01/03/2008)
This is not a good idea. It says right on the camera that they are not to be opened! My husband is an assistant mgr. for one of the major drugstore chains and as such he sometimes has to cover in their photo dept. I can't tell you the number of times that he has had people tell him that they tried to open the camera and got a nasty electric shock. Please don't try to open them. Also, you should never use "used" batteries in any other item. (01/03/2008)
Hello again - - - I am adding on to my above post. Not only can you get a shock, but you can also burn your hand. My hubby had to deal with a customer who did just that. The cameras are only supposed to be opened by someone in a photo dept. who knows what they are doing. The only reason they are to be opened is to remove the film, once again by someone who knows what they are doing. (01/03/2008)
I might suggest if you really want your used batteries, just ask the photo-lab for them when you take in the camera. The photo lab just collects them all in a bin and sends them back to Kodak or Fugi who in turn probably test them and recycle them or dispose of them. They would be yours just for the asking. (01/03/2008)