How to save money when shopping for tech

How to save money when shopping for tech

Most of us wouldn’t be able to run our lives nearly as effectively without the use of technology. From smartphones that keep us in touch and help us to make notes, plan schedules and even monitor who’s calling at our homes to computers and laptops that enable us to earn a living, there’s a real need for technology in everyday life.

Of course, tech devices are by no means cheap and it can be a struggle to find the money to replace them when there’s a need to do so. The good news is, there are several things you can do to save money when shopping for tech as you’ll see below:

Try fixing it instead

If you’re in the market for a new piece of technology, you may find that it’s cheaper to try fixing it first instead. It won’t always be possible, but there are lots of issues, like internet problems on your MacBook or a computer that won’t boot that you can fix yourself at home, and many more troubles such as cracked screens and jammed buttons that you can have a professional fix for you. If it’s cheaper to fix than buy new, do that and you could save a lot of money.

Buy online

It’s not always the case, so do check before you buy, but it’s often cheaper to buy electrical goods online than it is in person from a bricks & mortar outlet. This is because the companies selling phones and laptops, etc., won’t have to factor in the costs of running a shop so they can afford to offer you much lower prices overall.

Consider a refurbished device

Refurbished devices are always cheaper than brand new tech, and often it’s hard to tell the difference between the two. Refurbished devices have usually been sent back to the manufacturer due to a fault. The fault is then repaired by the experts and the device is resold at a discount, many even come with warranties, so it’s pretty silly to buy new if you have the option to buy refurbished instead. No one but you will know!

Know what you need

You can save money by buying tech that meets your specifications without unnecessarily exceeding them. So, whenever you need to buy a new device, work out what functions and features you need and spend some time finding a device that offers them without offering lots of fancy extras. By doing so, you’ll almost certainly be able to save money.

Trade-in your existing tech

Even if your existing phone or tablet is no longer working, you can almost certainly make a little money by trading it in for a lower price on a new device. If it’s in good working order, then you may get more money by selling it on to someone else via Facebook Marketplace, eBay or similar.

When it comes to saving money on tech, there are lots of things you can do to make it happen, so never spend more than necessary!

[disclosure*]

Price Points: Mesh wi-fi routers

Mesh wi-fi routers

Our old Welsh cottage is long & low and has very thick stone walls. This, added to the lack of fibre broadband in our rural setting, means that our internet connectivity leaves much to be desired.

As we work from home and run a predominantly internet-based business, connection speed & strength are extremely important. Sometimes, the sluggishness experienced when uploading, downloading and streaming can mean that tasks take twice as long as they should. We’ve been looking at available solutions; boosters, range extenders and mesh wi-fi routers.

BT is our current land-line and broadband provider, so their bundle seems like the best option for us. They even offer a selector tool to see which of their products would be most suitable.

However, we also have an Amazon Alexa set up; a little Echo Dot that works with our Sonos smart speaker system. As it’s produced by Amazon, the eero would slot straight into that seamlessly.

If you’re more of a Google smart home household, the Nest is an obvious and very attractive choice.

  1. BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3: £74.99, John Lewis

    Get rid of those wi-fi dead spots and stay connected to the strongest signal as you move around your home. Even with multiple devices connected you won’t lose speed. So stream, watch, share and download anywhere at home. Easy to set up straight out of the box. Our intelligent app will show you where to put the discs for the best connection.

  2. Google Nest wifi router: £149.00, Argos

    Nest Wifi is a scalable system that creates a mesh network, which helps deliver a consistently strong, reliable signal. Mesh Wi‑Fi can help provide more coverage than a traditional router by using multiple Wi‑Fi points together to create a connected system that gives you a strong signal throughout your home. Nest Wifi is a scalable system that gives both whole-home coverage and a consistently strong signal. Each Nest Wifi point is also a smart speaker with the Google Assistant. One Nest Wifi router with one Wifi point is strong enough to handle up to 200 connected devices and fast enough to stream multiple 4K videos at a time.

  3. Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender: £179.00, Amazon

    Tri-band speeds: the eero Pro mesh Wi-Fi router connects to your existing modem to bring up to 160 sq.m of fast, reliable Wi-Fi to your home. Works with your internet service provider: eero Pro connects with your modem to bring your existing internet connection to every corner of your home. Set up in minutes: the eero app walks you through setup and allows you to manage and control your network from anywhere. Gets better over time: automatic updates keep your network safe and secure. TrueMesh technology: eero Pro intelligently routes traffic to avoid congestion, buffering and loss of connection. Phones, computers, smart TVs, security cameras and everything else just works with eero. Since eero Pro works with Alexa and more, it’s the best choice for smart homes.

shop mesh wi-fi routers

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
£179.00
Google Nest wifi router
Google Nest wifi router
£149.00
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
£74.99
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
£179.00
Google Nest wifi router
Google Nest wifi router
£149.00
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
£74.99
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
£179.00
Google Nest wifi router
Google Nest wifi router
£149.00
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
£74.99
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
£179.00
Google Nest wifi router
Google Nest wifi router
£149.00
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
£74.99
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
Amazon eero Pro mesh wi-fi router/extender
£179.00
Google Nest wifi router
Google Nest wifi router
£149.00
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
BT Mini Whole Home wi-fi, pack of 3
£74.99

5 new technologies aiming to save the planet

5 new technologies aiming to save the planet | H is for Home

Planet earth is seeing one of its most critical times. From forest fires to ocean acidification and soaring temperatures to air pollution, global peril is rising at an alarming rate. To address these complex environmental trends, several researchers and ecologists around the world are now working together to find new and innovative ways to make the planet more sustainable. In the last few years, there’s been significant growth in the use and deployment of technology to transform the shape of the planet.

Many UK companies are using innovative business models and the latest technologies to enhance financial and environmental sustainability. Firms are attempting to use unique products and services intended to minimise environmental effects. Some of the unique technologies that businesses can use in hope to save the planet include:

Tesla solar roof tilescredit

Solar roof tiles

Recently the chief executive of Tesla, Elon Musk, announced the launch of solar roof tiles. Distinct from existing solar panels, these solar glass tiles look similar to typical roof tiles and come in a wide range of shapes and colours. Elon Musk claims that these solar tiles not only look great but also are efficient enough to generate electricity. These tiles have enhanced insulation and are more affordable than regular roofing tiles.

Vertical farming lettuce

Vertical farming

With the increase in population, there is an increase in the demand for houses and other recreational buildings. The growing number of buildings has led to a scarcity of space for most densely-populated regions. To cope with this problem, ecologists have come up with vertical farming, commonly known as indoor farming. As this type of farming can be done in any building, it doesn’t need tractors to plough the land. Thus, there’s a reduction in fuel consumption and release of air pollutants. Additionally, vertical farming eradicates agricultural run-off, decreases the use of pesticides and water, and allows the production of crops throughout the year.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Seeing the vast applications of AI, businesses around the world are using the latest AI technologies to trace and manage their carbon emissions. Heavy industries in the UK contribute up to a quarter of the country’s carbon footprint. To manage their carbon output, several heavy industries have introduced the latest low-emission technologies. Additionally, some UK industries have invested in robots and automation to make repetitive manufacturing processes more efficient. Furthermore, factories have also introduced smart software, which uses algorithms to switch off the least essential or non-essential machines when there’s a limited supply of renewable energy.

Hybrid cars recharging

Hybrid cars

Recently, there’s been an increase in the number of vehicles internationally. This increase in the number of motors has led to an increase in the consumption of fuel, which further leads to the release of harmful pollutants in the air. With the help of technology, many automobile manufacturers have introduced cars which run on electricity or bio-fuels. Also termed ‘green cars’, these hybrid cars consume less fuel to cover a similar distance compared to a regular car.

Mountain of plastic waste

Plastic energy

One of the most revolutionary sustainable technologies in the UK to prevent plastic pollution is the one introduced by Plastic Energy. The company claims to recycle the un-recyclable by transforming non-recyclable, end-of-life plastic waste into fresh feedstock to produce clean recycled plastic items or alternative low-carbon fuels. With the help of a patented chemical recycling process known as Thermal Anaerobic Conversion, the company converts contaminated, multi-layered and non-recyclable plastic items, such as plastic bags and plastic milk bottles. While the company is accustomed to fitting local requirements, it has simultaneously started working with local and international partners to expand its technology and prevent plastic pollution at an international level.

[disclosure*]