How not to waste money on unnecessary things

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Have you ever bought a new device just because it has more features than its counterpart? This is the kind of grabbing a new gadget because it's new, not because you need it. Vivid commercials present the characteristics of a new product in a way that will surely impress potential buyers. But before you fall for the marketers' bait, stop and consider if you really need a new model.

You can find hundreds of different gadgets on store shelves, each of which promises to change our lives for the better. For example, smartphone manufacturers are adding more and more new features to their product. But not because users need them, but because competitors have such characteristics and it will be easier to sell the new product.

And we, the buyers, are falling for the bait. We make a purchase decision based on an unreasonable benefit. We buy new smartphones with powerful front-facing cameras, even if we never sit in video chats. We are buying a new MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt, although we do not have - and we do not plan to buy - in order to use this feature. We buy new cameras because the manufacturer slightly upgraded the previous model - but it's new, it should be better, right?

You need to think twice before getting involved in this marketing hysteria, and learn how to save money when you are tempted to buy a popular novelty.

Ask yourself, "Is my current apparatus good enough?"

Apple's latest iPad is a huge change from the previous two: the new Retina display is beautiful, and the redesigned GPU actually makes 3D gaming a pleasure. Most gadget bloggers wholeheartedly recommend purchasing this new product, whether you have an old iPad or not. Many pre-ordered immediately. Although, if you think about it, most users use their tablet occasionally to read articles or view their inbox on social networks. Are the iPad changes significant? Definitely. But if you barely use it, would it be a good investment? Unlikely.

Ask yourself if your gadget suits your needs and how the update will change its use for the better. There can be a lot of great things popping up around, but if you don't need new features right now, maybe it's not worth spending the money?

List the features you need

Reviews and datasheets are definitely needed to form an opinion about a gadget, but they shouldn't completely influence your buying decision. Of course, the reviews are very helpful, they provide an impressive list of new components and features - so make a list of those that you really need.

Write down which features meet your needs and think about how you will use the purchase.

For example, you are about to buy a new smartphone. Each review contains a list of the most important characteristics: processor, screen size, built-in and additional memory, camera resolution, size, weight, and so on. Go through all the characteristics and highlight those that matter to you. If you need a phone to make calls, check emails, and do some social networking, chances are a powerful processor doesn't play a big role. If you love taking pictures, then the quality of the pictures is an important characteristic, and it should be included in the list of necessary ones.

Take some time to clean up the huge list of stats and keep only the most important ones for you. So you can stop and not spend all your salary on a well-advertised device, but buy a cheaper model, but with all the necessary functions.

Think about how you will use your purchase

Another trap that we fall into after watching ads: we begin to convince ourselves that we will need these characteristics sometime later. We already talked about the fact that first you need to look at your gadget and decide whether it is worth paying for what you already have.

Trent Hamm of the following comments on this situation:

When a new product appears on the market, we are shown the ideal use case. It looks very impressive, but when you start going into details, the first impression literally falls apart. Can the new device really do what you need? Does he do anything new at all?

When you start evaluating purchases from this position, new things are unlikely to generate as much excitement. It turns out that their new characteristics are actually not that amazing and useful. Sure, you can think of a couple of exceptional situations where new features come in handy, but is it worth paying extra for this special occasion?

Hamm gives the example of a case when he was given an iPod Touch. He was ready to buy new apps, but then he suddenly realized that all he does with the iPod is listening to music (although the ads show the happiest people who watch videos and play games). But Trent already had a smartphone for this purpose. Moreover, there was enough space on it for music. So he put his iPod aside and went back to his old phone.

In short, updating is not such a big deal if you don't need the features offered. It is not worth spending your money on them, especially if there is a free or cheaper alternative.

Don't go crazy with new features and upgrades

We hope our tips will help you get rid of the bad habit of spending money on gadgets that don't meet your real needs. Don't get us wrong, keeping an eye on technology is fun. More powerful gadgets can be found in stores every month. But spending hard-earned money on them? Your wallet is more skeptical about all these reviews and so-called upgrades. Consider if they are of real value to you before you own a bunch of plastic.

How do you resist the advertising gimmicks of new gadget manufacturers? Share your saving secrets in the comments.