Owning Gadgets on a Low Budget – What Are Your Options?
We all love gadgets, which is why people are prepared to queue up for hours to make sure they are the proud owner of the latest iPhone. Unfortunately, popular gadgets such as tablets, smartphones and smart TVs are expensive if you want the next generation models. So what are your options if you can’t live a life without gadgets, but have no spare cash?
Buy Second-hand
New is nice, but it isn’t always practical if you don’t have much money to spend. Buying second-hand is fine as long as you know what you are getting. Some people sell their gadgets very quickly, because they can’t bear to have last year’s model. So if you’re lucky, you could end up with a bargain.
Use Cast-offs from Friends and Family
When we upgrade to a new smartphone, our old one usually ends up being thrown in a drawer and forgotten about. If one of your friends or family is upgrading, ask them if you can have their old smartphone. You will need to pay for a SIM to get connected, but these are available very cheaply if you shop around.
Shop in the Sales
There are always bargains to be had if you are willing to wait until the sales before you buy a tablet, smartphone or similar. Prices are slashed by up to 70% on Black Friday or in the January Sales, online and in the stores, so keep checking to see what the latest bargains are and grab yourself a killer deal.
Look for Voucher Deals
Voucher deals are another way to find the latest gadgets at a discounted price, but you have to be vigilant. Sign up for voucher websites and be active on forums where members post the latest deals. If you are lucky, you could get lucky.
Be Winning to Buy Older Models
It’s nice to have the latest model Apple or Android smartphone, but there is very little difference between them and the previous models. So think about it: do you want to pay a fortune for a new model or secure an older (but just as functional) model for a fraction of the price? This is especially true with smartphones, with retailers selling off older models at discounted prices when a new one is released.
Look for Freebies
Sometimes it is possible to grab a free gadget when you sign up for something else. For example, if you decide to buy a new smartphone on a contract deal, the cell phone network provider might offer you a tablet computer in lieu of cashback. These deals don’t happen very often, but if you shop around, you may be lucky enough to spot one.
Families on a very low income can take advantage of a government funded scheme that provides free cell phones. This is designed to help those in need have a cell phone so they can apply for jobs and connect with family and friends. For more information, check out the FreeGovernmentCellPhone.Net website.
I like your ideas and try to employ some of them already. It’s not that I can’t afford to buy the items, it’s that like everything else I buy, I ask myself…what is it worth to me? On some things, I just don’t need to have the ‘newest’ model and pay for the hype. Thanks for the new ideas.