As many as 85% of Americans own a cell phone according to research conducted by the Pew Research Center, and while many are completely satisfied with their entry-level Samsung’s or Motorola’s, the desire for the latest in smartphone technology is fast increasing among the nation. If the mere thought of the latest Sony Xperia or Samsung Galaxy handset leaves you feeling rather giddy with excitement, chances are you are in desperate need of a smartphone fix, which might end up breaking the bank. The following guidelines are, however, designed to have you sport the latest cellphones and gadgets without having to spend a fortune on them, leaving you without any funds for rent, clothes and even food.
Get it on contract
One way to prevent your new phone from becoming a financial sinkhole is to get it on contract. If you had to buy an iPhone 8 Plus cash, you will pay in the neighborhood of $800, whereas a T-Mobile iPhone 8 Plus 256GB plan with unlimited data and national calls will set you back approximately $90 a month. While such a contract will accumulate to around $2160 over a two-year period, it is significantly easier to budget for a smaller monthly expense than save towards a large expense. You can end up saving even more money if you trade in your old phone when taking out a contract with some carriers (including T-Mobile), offering as much as $300 discount to customers who trade in their iPhone 6 or newer model. The discount is spread out over the remainder of your installment month and can end up saving you as much as $12.50 a month.
Sell your gadgets and use the cash to buy a new phone
If you have your heart set on the new Huawei P20 Pro, you will need to obtain the funding for it. Although taking out a personal loan may be an option, you might not qualify which leaves you with only one thing to do – sell your old tech and use the money to buy your dream phone. You can opt to advertise your gadgets in the classifieds section of your local newspaper or even spread the word among your friends and family members. If you are, however, desperate to make a quick sale, you can also list it on popular sales sites including Craigslist and eBay. Another platform that is becoming very popular among tech fundies is Glyde, which matches sellers up with potential buyers. Glyde publicly prides themselves on their ability to get the best price for your phone, tablet or gaming device, and may even end up finding a great deal on your new phone for you.
If you have your heart set on a shiny new state-of-the-art smartphone but don’t have the cash for an outright purchase, the guidelines above may come in very handy in helping you realize your dream. If all else fails you can also try entering competitions or apply to test a phone in exchange for a review. If you really want a new-release, top-of-the-range phone, you will do whatever you can to fund the purchase without it leaving you in a dire financial situation.
