New technology is great for something, but it’s not always easy on the wallet. From pricey computers and smartphones to top-of-the-line TVs and games consoles, there are a lot of places where you might find yourself spending your hard-earned cash on things that will just be out of date in a few months’ time.
In economic terms, when i’masoftwareco. invests in new technology innovations, but don’t despair — we’ve put together this list of tried and tested ways to keep up with the latest tech without breaking the bank.
8 tips to get new technology on a budget:
1. Remember that value can be relative
While you might be able to get something a little less sophisticated than the current apple of your eye for a price, remember that you might have to compromise on things like quality and longevity.
For example, you can pick up an old smartphone, like a Nokia Lumia 800 , for around £70 — and it’s even possible to get one with Windows Phone 7 on it. But the Nokia 800 is an older model; Microsoft has already rolled out its successor in the form of the Nokia Lumia 925 (and there are rumors of an even better one on the horizon). So while the Lumia 800 is easy on the wallet and has some cool features, it’s not going to be around for a long time — and you can bet that it won’t get the kind of updates that most Windows Phones will.
2. Use something you already have
If you’ve just bought a new smartphone but need to upgrade your data plan, there’s an easy way around it — just use your old phone as an Android handset (you can send text messages using Google Voice, and they’ll still come through on your new handset). It’s as easy as that. If you’re dealing with a contract, it might be worth looking at free SIM deals , where you can get access to the internet from your old phone. You can even get a free phone if the handset you want is on EE, Vodafone or Orange’s network.
3. Your friends and family might want to cozy up for some fun
If you really can’t wait to get your hands on the latest tech, ask your friends and family if anyone is upgrading their current smartphone — or better still, ask if they would be willing to sell theirs cheap. If you have friends and family who also have smartphones, think about taking them along to trade with — they can use their old phones as hotspots for your new one, giving it extra juice.
4. You can find new technology on the cheap
The people at P2P trading platform USwitch want to make sure that everyone gets to use the latest tech, so they’re already on the case — you can pick up a brand new iPhone 5C for under £250 .
5. It’s all about where you look for your new gadgets
If you’re after a second-hand mobile phone, UK-based site Gumtree has a fair few flagship handsets for sale for under £100 (like this Galaxy S3 ). If you’re after something a little more sophisticated, eBay has everything from MacBooks to iPods. There’s even an auction site just for phones .
6. Buy a used SIM-free phone
If you want to get the most out of your new mobile, you should think about getting a contract-free phone — it means that you can downgrade when you want to. EBay and Amazon are some of the best places to get one , with prices starting from as little as £100 for older models like a Nokia Lumia 800 or Samsung Galaxy S2 . Even a brand new iPhone 5C is available for less than £300. If you do buy one, make sure it’s got at least 32GB of memory on board.
7. Google has a pretty sweet deal
If you’re the proud owner of a Nexus 7 or Nexus 4, you’d be happy to know that Google is offering 100GB of storage for just £10 — that’s ten times more than the standard offer and enough to store all of your photos, videos and music. Plus you get access to all the other extras, like the Play Store , Gmail and Google+.
8. Don’t forget about options on your smartphone
It’s easy enough to get older technology onto your smartphone — most phones now have an adapter that’ll let you use micro-USB cables for charging. If you forget to buy a cable, use the one that came with your phone if it’s not too old. If you need something more compact, get a micro-USB to regular USB adapter , and plug it into your computer.
Conclusion:
There’s no reason not to get yourself a new device — as long as you get it for free.
New technology is great for something, but it’s not always easy on the wallet. From pricey computers and smartphones to top-of-the-line TVs and games consoles, there are a lot of places where you might find yourself spending your hard-earned cash on things that will just be out of date in a few months’ time.
