The very thought of
kitting out your home with the latest electronic devices can send shivers down
the spines of any gadget enthusiast. The thought of saving money while doing so
is all the more incentive to go gadget shopping. There are innovative ways to
buy gadgets for your home, without breaking the proverbial bank. Let’s explore
some of these ways, with different gadgets and appliances in mind.
Tips to save money on a new laptop:
Let’s face it, laptops,
office and home automation are
expensive and if you shave a bit off the price it would be a deal made in
heaven. You need to of course ask yourselves a few important questions before
purchasing your next boy’s toy.
Questions like,
●
Do I really
need a new laptop, or will upgrading the RAM on my old one suffice?
●
Does it matter
if it is the current generation or an older model?
●
Can I buy a
refurbished piece?
●
Should I
consider an extended warranty?
The answers of course will
determine the make, model and price of your purchase. For instance, buying a
laptop with a relevant configuration but a slightly older processor could save
you nearly 20 percent on your bill. Buying a refurbished model with a standard
12 month warranty would work out to nearly 45 percent cheaper.
You could also save money
if you choose to buy a workstation for home use, as they can be assembled a lot
cheaper using parts sourced from wholesalers.
Tips to save money when buying a new television:
A new flat screen plasma or
LED television is every sports nut’s dream come true. They are prohibitively
expensive though. So while shopping for a new LED set make sure you do the
following things in order to save on your purchase.
●
Research
online and compare specs of different models
●
Look for a
more energy efficient model
●
Buy during
major promotions
●
Look for red
flag sales offline
●
Buy
refurbished models, they’re as good as new but cost nearly 30% less
●
Bargain with
shop owners, ask for the best price
●
Buy at factory
outlets
Tips to save money when buying air conditioning:
With global warming making
the planet almost unbearably hot, air conditioning is no longer a luxury but
for most especially in the tropics, it has become a necessity. Air conditioners
come in different tonnages and with different energy star ratings. These make a
major difference in both the cost of acquisition of the machine, as well as the
cost in terms of energy bills. Do keep the following things in mind to save a
bundle on your cooling bills.
● Buy smart,
remember air conditioning with a higher energy star rating may be more
expensive in the short run but saves you a cool haul in energy bills in the
long run
● Keep in mind
the size of your home before buying an AC
● The lesser the
tonnage, the more stress on the compressor of the AC, buy an AC with slightly
higher tonnage to ensure optimum cooling and repair costs
Tips to save money when buying a music system:
Music systems are nearly
obsolete now that our laptops have in-built stereo speakers in them. But audiophiles
needn’t deprive themselves of the sweet sounds of music by keeping in mind
these simple steps to save on buying a music system.
● Choose a Hi-Fi
over an assembled piece if you aren’t too bothered with the sound quality
● Nowadays
amplifiers come built in with USB connections to facilitate music play off devices like mp3 players and pen drives, saving on the cost of a deck or CD
players
● Go in for a
recognised brand vis-a-vis generic, in-store brands, as they last longer
● Buy online, it
will work out to at least 20 percent cheaper than buying at a store
Following these simple
tips will ensure that your home is completely kitted out and it doesn’t cost
you the earth.
Russell Marquis is a technology enthusiast and blogger who loves
to review the latest products and make suggestions to readers on how to select the best possible gadgets for their
particular needs.
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