Cheap Ways To Own Gadgets
I love gadgets, just as much as the next 21st Century person, but I’m also a frugal person (or I try to be), for that reason I don’t spend much, if at all on gadgets. Right now, I have the iPhone 4, Galaxy Tablet, and I need one more phone, so I’ve been looking for HTC One deals hoping to find a reasonably priced phone. Over the last 10 years, I’ve owned a total of 6 phones, I have never outrightly bought a phone or a gadget, save for the Nokia E63 about 4 years back. Today I’ll share a few tips on how to cheaply own gadgets.
First, it’s important that we face the facts. Technology is evolving every day, and gadgets have an even shorter depreciation period. For example, the first iPad was released in 2010. Today, a scant two years later, it’s not worth it’s weight in metal in the market, I predict that in less than a year, another tablet will be released that will render the iPad 3 junk. In this post, I share tips on how to own gadgets, without breaking the bank.
1. Take Advantage Of Contracts: Some mobile operators even in Kenya have postpaid contracts, which on sign up you get a phone, provided you spend a stipulated minimum every month for the period of the contract. For example, I got my iPhone from Orange on a 24 month contract with a stipulated monthly spend of Kshs 5,000. This may seem like an exorbitant amount (spending Kshs 120,000 to own a phone in 2 years), but my average spend on phone services is Kshs 5,000 a month, most of which is covered by my employer. This means I’ll end up paying at most Kshs 24,000 for my iPhone 4. A while back, Safaricom and Zain were offering free phones to postpaid customers, that’s how I got to own two of my phones
2. Patience Pays: This is linked to the point above. You cannot have all the gadgets you want now, and still be financially prudent, unless you have an endless supply of cash. I’ve found that it sometimes helps to patiently save for what you want to have.
I’m eyeing the MacBook Air, and while I may have a way to pay for it now, I’d probably have to sacrifice my financial goals to own the gadget. It makes more sense to give up certain luxuries (Java hot chocolate 🙂 ) for about 6 months to buy it. Ultimately, it won’t have cost me anything because I’d have spent the money on doodads anyway.
3. Consider Older Editions: Technology is vain. In 2010 when the first iPad was released, it was all the range. The technology world went crazy, and on the first dayit sold 300,000 units and 80 million units on the first month. Today, the first iPad feels like stone age, a scant 2 years later, replaced by the second and third editions which aren’t perfect either. Tech companies exist to feed our vanity. Functionally, I doubt the iPad 2 is that much different from the iPad 3, yet right now it costs half as much. In the spirit of frugality, consider always being a step behind in technology. For example, when I got the iPhone 4 at Kshs 5,000, Orange had the more recent iPhone 4S at Kshs 12,000 a month, more than double the price. From my research, the only difference between the two models was Siri, the digital personal assistant. Sure the later model had better speeds, a better camera etc, but functionally, there’s nothing the iPhone 4S could do that the I phone 4 didn’t. When making a gadget decision, carefully consider what you need day to day (functionality), over what is just hype.
4. Sell Your Existing Gadgets And Buy Used Gadgets: Gadgets depreciate very fast, like mentioned, the iPad 2 is now worth half of what it was worth in January this year. If you would like to upgrade, it makes sense to dispose of what you have before spending on another one, even if it’s at half the price you bought it for. Secondly, you may want to scour sites like eBay for deals on used gadgets, but always look out for defects.
5. Contentment is Key: Tech companies will continue to innovate, and at faster rates. There will always be a gadget that’s shinier, faster, swankier than what you have, coming out in the next month. Owning stuff cannot be a lasting source of happiness. If you have gadgets that work for you (functionality), then consider letting the bandwagon pass you by. Find your joy in things that last; relationships, love etc.
