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!

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Win a £50 gift voucher from Driftwood Designs

This month, our giveaway is going local! Driftwood Designs is an independent art & homewares shop based in Aberystwyth, on the West Wales coast; a 10-mile car ride from where we live.

It’s from their new premises on Pier Street in the centre of town that childhood friends – artist, Lizzie and business brain, Becky – run their successful company.

The shop is stocked with products such as original artwork, ceramics and textiles to stationery, wrapping paper & greeting cards.

As well as their bricks & mortar space, Driftwood Designs has an extensive online shop for people who can’t visit in person.

These are just a few of the many gorgeous designs available that Lizzie has created.

I think my favourite is probably this mackerel artwork below that can be found on cards, badges, textiles, clocks and limited-edition & fine art prints.

For your chance to win the £50 voucher, comment below telling us which of Lizzie’s designs are your favourite – head over to the Driftwood Designs website to decide on your choice(s).

£50 gift voucher from Driftwood Designs

Price Points: Supermarket delivery alternatives

Have you been self-isolating due to Covid-19? Have you been trying to order your groceries, toiletries and other household goods online? Have you been running into difficulties – not only getting a delivery slot – but being stuck in a virtual queue of tens of thousands of shoppers who are ahead of you?

You’ve probably been on the websites of the big players; Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and the like; understandably, they’re struggling with the recent demand. However, have you tried any supermarket delivery alternatives?

I’ve found these three companies below… and have even spotted some rolls of toilet paper in stock!

Don’t go out unnecessarily, wash your hands regularly, take care of yourselves and look out for your family & your community. x

Approved Food

We specialise in surplus and short-dated stock, food that is either near or just passed its ‘best before’ date – allowing us to pass on huge savings to our customers.
We have over 2000 products including – Big Brands, Cupboard Fillers, Ex Supermarket & Department store products across a wide range of Food, Drinks, Household & Toiletries, Gifts plus much more.. all at huge discounts. Our regular customers typically save around £60 on their monthly shop compared to high street prices. That’s over a whopping £700 per year you too could be saving. Our stock is constantly updating so we’ll always have something new for you – all at incredibly low prices. We do not sell anything past its USE BY date. Quick & Easy online ordering – delivered direct to your door.

Good Club

Good Club is an online grocery store focused on delivering healthy, organic and sustainable food and household items to people’s homes for up to 40% cheaper.
Our mission is to make good, healthy food more accessible by reducing the costs while making living a more sustainable lifestyle easier and more convenient.
By joining Good Club as a member, you’ll have access to over 2,000 of the best sustainable brands, with the average regular customer saving on average £900 per year.

We Deliver Local

We Deliver Local provides our customers with a service where they can get fresh local produce delivered straight to their front door, offering the ease of supermarket shopping and at the same time helping local business in the community. Fresh grocery deliveries and organic food from farm shops and local businesses.

Cheaper ways to freshen up your home

We all try to avoid decorating or doing anything to the home for as long as we can. Your home is going to be your pride and joy, especially if you’ve managed to put in a lot of work to it. But the fact that you’ve had to put a lot of work into it will be one of the reasons why you’re not so keen on making any changes to it, especially any time soon.

It’s coming up to Christmas day, and then the new year celebrations. What that means is money will be flying out of your account quicker than it’s going in, and you’ll no doubt feel like you can’t spend on anything that isn’t festive. But that’s OK, there’s plenty of time in the new year to get started on the changes that you want to make. For now, you can just think about what those future changes might be.

From the smallest of adjustments to the biggest, there are tons of ways that you can do it so much cheaper than you’ve most likely been used to doing. So, if you carry on reading, we’ll be able to show you some of the transformations we think you should be making, and how they can freshen your home up for less.

Go to charity shops

Charity shops are seriously underestimated, and for those of you who already love them, you’ll know how much they have to offer. When you think of charity shops, you most likely think of really old second-hand items that aren’t going to enhance your home. But it’s quite the opposite. People donate anything and everything to the shops. Items can come from people who are moving country or down-sizing or folks who simply want to declutter and clear out some items in their home.

Either way, charity shops are places where you can get some serious bargains, and the more you look, the more you’ll discover that there can be quality products being sold for a reasonable price. You could bag yourself some new artwork for your walls or you could find some new kitchen furniture that would allow you to get rid of the table that you hate so much. Whatever your needs, they’ll probably be met in an outing to the high street charity shops!

A simple deep clean

Sometimes a simple deep clean is all that’s needed to make your home feel fresh again. A deep clean is not something that we do often, simply because a normal clean is hard enough. When you’re trying to run a household, go to work and make a living, and have a decent social life, there’s hardly any time for a deep clean. But beneath all of the surfaces that you like to avoid, will be nooks and crannies that are dying out for a deep clean.

All you need to be able to do is dedicate a weekend to this, doing a couple of hours each day, and you’ll have your home spick & span in no time. A good tip for cleaning those grimy windows, mirrors and glass doors is to use vinegar water. It’s a simple solution made up of exactly what it says – vinegar and water. It’ll save you a pretty penny not having to buy fancy cleaning products, when all you need is some home-made potions.

A switch up of bedrooms

The bedroom is one of two rooms where you no doubt spend most of your time. It’s the room you crave the most when you’re sitting at work looking out at the miserable weather, remembering how hard it was to leave your bed that the morning. However, sometimes our bedrooms are not as comfy an inviting as they could be, and an outdated bedroom can really make it feel that way. Simple décor changes can make all the difference.

Our first tip is to look at colour trends and see which one you’d most like to pursue. It goes without saying that at the moment, grey colour schemes are ones for which everyone’s going crazy. With grey, you can really mix a range of contemporary colours in to give contrast. You could go for duck egg blue or blush pink is a really nice match if you’re updating a feminine room.

Again, there are ways of making this little switch up to your bedrooms cheaper, such as by finding Contract Bedroom Furniture. Searching for a bargain for the bedroom at this time of year is far easier than you might think. If you wait until Boxing Day, you may be able to save yourself a fortune.

Give upcycling a go

Upcycling is not something that everyone gives a go. It can be intimidating, but it should be seen as a bit of fun, rather than some big project that has to go right. Upcycling can be done on practically any piece of furniture, and there are plenty of helpful videos online that can talk you through it. All you need is a few tools, sandpaper, paint and whatever else you think you’ll need to get creative.