Have you ever considered making a huge purchase for your home, only to realize that you’re getting into something incredibly expensive? One of the most common home technology investments we make is a home cinema setup. This usually consists of a large TV, some good speakers, a system to play everything, and also some subscriptions. This doesn’t sound like much, but for many families, buying so many goods at once is incredibly expensive.

There’s also a lot of research that goes into it because the last thing you want is to buy something that doesn’t work, has issues or just isn’t worth your money. It’s only normal to want to get every penny’s worth for the money we pay, so what can you do to save money on these big tech purchases?

In this post, we’re going to talk about some of the best ways to save on any large technology purchases or commitments for your family home.

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Do plenty of research before you decide on something

To start, make sure you do plenty of research before you buy anything! There are loads of fake reviews going around on websites such as Amazon these days, and there are even some YouTubers that don’t disclose that they’re being paid to advertise a product. These types of reviews can throw you off and it can often tempt you to buy a product just because it’s popular or talked about a lot. Try and avoid this as much as possible and look at proper reviews from people you trust, or consider trying the product before you buy it.

Make sure you understand exactly what you’re buying

It’s common for us to just go on Amazon or eBay, find a product at a decent price, then just buy it instantly. Unfortunately, this can often lead to disappointment because we might buy the wrong version of a product, we might get the wrong size, or it might not have a feature that we wanted. Make sure you read the product descriptions exactly to ensure you know what you’re buying.

Have you considered buying refurbished or used?

One of the best ways to save money is to consider buying refurbished or used goods. This might seem questionable because someone else has already used it, but that often means that it’s in good condition as long as the seller is being truthful or describes it accurately.

Always look at the release date of the product

As a small tip, make sure you look at when the product or model that you plan to buy was originally released. If it was 4-5 years ago, you might be able to find a more up-to-date version or a new one might be coming soon. Alternatively, you may be looking for an older version that has a specific feature that you’re looking for. If so, checking the original release date (and also the model number) is a good idea.

Check if the item has gone on sale before

There are loads of price check websites that will show if an item has gone on sale before. If it has, you may want to wait a little while to see if it goes on sale again before you buy it for a more expensive price. However, if the sale was recent, then you may be out of luck!

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If you’re getting something installed, make absolutely sure that it’s done by a professional

There are some technology commitments such as cable TV and Wi-Fi that need to be installed by a professional. If you try to let someone install it who hasn’t got experience or isn’t certified, then you may end up with a poorly-installed product. It’s going to cost you extra money to get it fixed and the service you end up with is going to be worse compared to a professional installation. This is one place where you don’t want to be too cheap!

Looking after your tech at home

While it’s not a tip to save money on new purchases, looking after your tech can certainly help you save money on repairs. Looking after devices, buying protective equipment, and keeping them safe is going to save you a lot of money in the future. These days, repairing something like a smartphone screen isn’t just difficult, but it’s also expensive and is usually handled by the manufacturer these days, especially if you want first-party components.

Take warranty seriously if you’re buying something expensive

Buying something expensive? Always take the warranty seriously. Don’t ignore it, don’t overlook it, and don’t forget to sign up for warranty if it asks. This will save you a lot of money if you notice something is wrong with your product. Some manufacturer warranties even extend to a lifetime depending on the product, so make sure you read the small print and understand what you can do with the warranty.

Should you fix something or replace it instead?

It’s often difficult to choose between fixing or replacing a product. It generally depends on the age of the product and also how difficult it’ll be to repair it. In general, if the repair is simple enough that you can do it yourself, you should consider that. However, if it involves expensive spare parts or could put you in danger (such as messing with electronic components) then we highly recommend you either seek a professional or just replace it. If you’re lucky, it might still be in warranty!

Avoiding cheap technology purchases

And the last way to save money on big technology purchases is to avoid buying cheap things. Be it a cheap smartphone, a cheap TV from an unknown website, or even fake aftermarket components, avoid going to the lowest-priced item. These cheaper products usually don’t last very long and are designed to be replaced entirely. It differs from more expensive products which are designed to last much longer and can be repaired if something breaks or if there’s a fault.