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How to Save Money on Your Gadgets
For the last several years, one of the biggest, and ultimately most expensive, items on many students’ back-to-school lists have been electronic gadgets and devices. Nowadays, smartphones, laptops and tablets aren’t as much a luxury as they are a necessity. However, parents don’t need to break the bank to provide their children with items, as long as they know where to find the best prices on the highest quality products.
How to Save Money on Electronic Devices
Buying a new smartphone or laptop may sound like fun for most, but doing the legwork to find the best deal is a chore. Besides worrying about overspending, you want to make sure what you purchase will last for a while before becoming outdated.
While the bad news is that no matter what you’re going to have to spend money to get the device or gadget what you want, the good news is that there are several ways to save some cash in the process:
- Do your homework: Knowing the best time to buy a product is only half the battle. You also need to do some research on finding the right device for your students’ needs. This chart from Life Hacker outlines the best time of year to purchase nearly anything including electronic devices. For instance, February is the best time to purchase cell phones and televisions, while October and November are good months to buy other electronics. If you are deciding between buying online vs. in-store, make sure you compare prices at both places while taking into consideration shipping costs and return policies.
- New vs. used/refurbished: Having a new laptop or tablet to start the school year off sounds great, but this is one area you can save some money. Purchasing a refurbished or used device is becoming more common with many online retailers such as Newegg or Best Buy. Pre-owned or refurbished tablets can come with about a 50 percent savings.
- Trade-ins: Retailers such as Amazon offer consumers the option of trading in their outdated electronics for gift cards. You can then use the money to purchase another device off the website. The original device need not be purchased on Amazon either
Saving Money on Smartphones
Buying a smartphone for your student doesn’t mean you need to spend a ton of money. Thanks to mobile carriers like T-Mobile, there are no-contract plans available that include unlimited talk, text and data at an affordable price. The mobile carrier even allows customers to access more than a dozen music streaming services, such as Pandora and iHeartRadio, without counting against your data plan – which is great for teens who love music. The carrier also offers robust smartphones for a great price, like LG’s Optimus L90 smartphone that’s available for $99.60 full retail and $0 up front with a two-year contract.
If you’re still doing your back-to-school shopping and need to purchase a smartphone or computing device, keep these tips in mind. Doing your research ahead of time, buying a used or refurbished device, or taking part in a trade-in program are all great ways to save on electronic devices.
Jennifer Thayer is a technology writer from Southern California who loves finding ways technology can make life easier. She enjoys sharing her tips and tricks with readers. Follow her on Twitter.