While most of us struggle to get the expensive products we need to thrive, some of us are likely to spend just to keep up with friends. While this is a natural human impulse, it’s also a dangerous way to live. However, if you need to finance a laptop even though you can barely afford it, you have some options.
Here are five ways to find a way to live large with the kinds of gadgets you need and a few that you simply want.
1. Cut The Fat
If you want to ensure that you’re able to afford the exciting things you want to invest in, you need to watch your spending carefully.
When you’re already broke but working hard as you can, it’s hard to cut out those little things that make you feel good. You’ll have to remind yourself of how good it’ll feel to have that cool gadget you’re looking for.
One of the tricks you can use is to start spending your money on everything via cash instead of cards. It’s easy to get out of hand with your spending when you rely on plastic. Use cash all day every day and even consider keeping a jar in your bedroom where you deposit $5 every day.
You’ll have $1,000 before you know it, with enough money for all the cool gadgets you want.
2. Seek a Finance Plan
You’re not the first person to ever want to get a cool gadget without the money to do it. If you seek out a finance plan, you can get what you’re looking for ASAP while you pay it off slowly.
However, you need to be aware of the penalties you might face if you don’t pay it off on time or under the right circumstances. If you violate the terms of your financing agreement, you might end up underwater quickly. Another problem is that you could be paying much more for your gadgets in the end if you’re saddled with a high-interest rate.
If you don’t have a lot of money, you might struggle to get a loan from a typical financial institution or a bank. However, lots of companies who sell products offer financing options that can help you to get the products and gadgets you want. Look over their terms before you invest so that you’re able to avoid overspending at the end of the day.
3. Sleep on Features
If you’re thinking that you want to buy a specific product or a piece of technology that has a lot of features, you should check out the options you have.
There are often stripped down versions of these products that don’t cost as much while offering you many of the things that you’re looking for.
Ask around to people you know who’ve bought these kinds of gadgets before you. There are often lots of products that have features people think they need but really don’t use that often.
If you’re about to buy a product or gadget and feel like you should pay more for a higher resolution or a type of port that other products don’t have, think carefully. There are features that are necessary to prepare for the future and then some features that are going to be quickly deprecated.
4. Think About Refurbished Gadgets
One of the most clever, if underutilized, ways to save money on gadgets and electronics is to buy refurbished products. There are lots of individual electronics companies and third-party sellers that offer discounted items that have been factory refurbished or repaired.
While you might think of refurbished products as the type of product that’s defective or lacking in some way, that’s not the case.
Much to the surprise of many buyers, it turns out that refurbished products are often rigorously tested and put through the wringer. They can be much more dependable than products that are found in stores because every element was double checked before it was released.
On top of that, you’ll be able to save up to 50% off of the sticker price while having an item with a robust warranty.
5. Is It an Investment or an Expenditure?
Before you pursue a new set of gadgets or electronics to play around with, you need to think about whether this is a true investment or not. If you’re going to be using this gadget in your small business, it’s actually going to be a tax-deductible device. This means that you’ll be able to calculate a discount of some of the price in your head as you’re purchasing.
If you’re not going to be using this for more than just a way to relax, be honest with yourself. There’s nothing to be ashamed about in this regard, but knowing that you’re using this item for pleasure and not for work needs to be part of the way you consider it.
However with some buy now, pay later setups, you can get what you’re looking for without worrying too much about cost.
There are Several Ways To Finance a Laptop
When you’re trying to afford things that you want, even when you don’t need them, you might feel like you should avoid the expenditure altogether. However, in this deeply interconnected era, you need some gadgets just to get by. Choosing to finance a laptop isn’t a bad idea to keep your productivity up.
If you’re worried about money because of a divorce, check out our guide for steps to take to save some money before the process begins.
