“I paid $14 bucks for it and I bet all I could get for the empties is 25 cents”
Not sure where you live but a quarter for 12 cans is only $0.0208 per can! Usually states pay a nickel a can or sometimes a dime. That’s a $0.60 or $1.20 return on your investment. So cheer up! :)
If you don’t have return then you take your cans to the metal recycling. If you get 2 cents per can, you’re doing great.