Going High Tech for a Low Costby Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 17 Sep 2008 02:01 PM
But doing without these things is not always practical. Cell phones can help you keep in touch with your family and be reachable in an emergency, for example. And buying a flat-screen television or keeping up cable may just be something your family really wants, or a practical way to avoid more expensive forms of entertainment, such as movies out in the theater. So how can you go high tech for a low cost? Here are some tips. When you are in the market for a new and expensive device, think about going for a refurbished model. These are devices that for one reason or another were sent back to the manufacturer. They may have had something wrong with them, or they may just have been victims of buyers remorse. Either way, the devices are throughly checked and repaired if necessary. They can't be sold as new, so you can get a big discount on them, and they usually come with full warranties. The laptop I use to write to you is a refurbished machine. I've had it for four years now without a single problem. Another way to get that high-tech device is to pay close attention to when new models become available. Do your research and then call around. Recently, Sony upgraded their flat-screen television, selling off the remains of the previous model. That television that once cost $2,500 was reduced to just $1,500 in August. Buy just enough for your needs when looking at high-tech devices. If you are in the market for a cell phone for example, look at the ones that allow you to pay as you go. You may be able to get a cell phone plan that fits your needs for $8.35 a month instead of $50. Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans. Overmyminutes.com: Keep Track of Your Cell Phone Usage
Just look to the right of this blog and find the subscription center (it looks just like this picture, although you'll have to find the "real" one just above the category listing ). Click on "Subscribe via Email". You'll be instantly subscribed and the email address that you registered at Families.com with will receive an instant notification whenever we post a new Frugal Living Blog! Don't miss a thing - subscribe now! Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantfrugal tags User Comments Tashi (1013) 17 Sep 2008 06:08 PMAfter getting a Blackberry phone last November, I'll never get another brand again. I know it's not frugal in the least. But it has been the best phone I've ever had, and has been a great tool for me and my needs. I got a super deal on it the day after Thanksgiving (a good time to scope out deals!, plus, it was a b-day treat from me to me). Other than that, I'm just an average chick, not a brand or high-tech snob. Sometimes investing in an item is indeed worth it for numerous reasons. But like Mary Ann said, it's best not to get more bells and whistles than you'll ever need. StBridgit (322) 18 Sep 2008 08:40 AMI agree with you entirely on cell phones. I used to have a cell phone with a monthly plan, but frankly I never used the high tech features of the phone, and I never came close to using my monthly allotment of minutes. I cancelled the plan and bought a pay as you go phone. It has a camera, which I actually occasionally use, and I have enough minutes when I need them. And it only costs me about $6 per month, as opposed to the $40 per month I was paying.  Mary Ann Romans (26886) 18 Sep 2008 11:00 AMStBridgit, what brand is it? I'm researching them at the moment to decide if one of them is right for us. StBridgit (322) 18 Sep 2008 02:03 PMA Kyocera phone, no idea what model! It is through Virgin Mobile. Discuss this article
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