For the truly frugal, staying away from high-tech devices can be one great way to save a lot of money. Think of the thousands you can save in a year by cutting out cell phones, DVDs, MP3 players, flat-screen televisions, cable television, computers, and more?
But doing without these things is not always practical. Cell phones can help you keep in touch with your family and be reachable in an emergency, for example. And buying a flat-screen television or keeping up cable may just be something your family really wants, or a practical way to avoid more expensive forms of entertainment, such as movies out in the theater.
So how can you go high tech for a low cost? Here are some tips.
When you are in the market for a new and expensive device, think about going for a refurbished model. These are devices that for one reason or another were sent back to the manufacturer. They may have had something wrong with them, or they may just have been victims of buyers remorse. Either way, the devices are throughly checked and repaired if necessary. They can’t be sold as new, so you can get a big discount on them, and they usually come with full warranties. The laptop I use to write to you is a refurbished machine. I’ve had it for four years now without a single problem.
Another way to get that high-tech device is to pay close attention to when new models become available. Do your research and then call around. Recently, Sony upgraded their flat-screen television, selling off the remains of the previous model. That television that once cost $2,500 was reduced to just $1,500 in August.
Buy just enough for your needs when looking at high-tech devices. If you are in the market for a cell phone for example, look at the ones that allow you to pay as you go. You may be able to get a cell phone plan that fits your needs for $8.35 a month instead of $50.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
Overmyminutes.com: Keep Track of Your Cell Phone Usage
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