With the holidays just around the corner, many of us are looking for perfect Christmas gift ideas for our family and friends. There are plenty of options to choose from, but one of the most popular for adults and children alike is usually some sort of gadget, whether it be a tablet, phone, computer, or games console. However, this is one of the most expensive options too. To help you cut the costs this Christmas, here are six ways to save cash on your gadgets.

1. Always Do Your Research

When it comes time to buy new tech, there is a lot that needs to be considered. To avoid buying something much more expensive than you need, you should do plenty of research on the gadgets you have to choose from and figure out which one suits your needs best. You should also shop around different stores and sites to ensure that you get the best deal.

[Photo courtesy of Garrett Morrow/pexels.com]

2. Try To Snag Discounts

Even after you’ve found a great deal, there are still plenty of ways to shave off some extra cash. You could look through voucher sites to see if you can find a coupon or use a discount you already have, like an employee perk or student card. If you don’t have a discount yourself, ask to use someone else’s. Just make sure that it’s not the person you’re buying the gadget for.

3. Don’t Fear Used Items

With con artists and fraudsters aplenty, it’s no wonder that so many people are worried about buying used tech. However, as long as you buy from the manufacturer, or a reputable site, like the Amazon Warehouse deals, you have nothing to fear. This can cut costs massively, especially if you intend to buy a gadget that’s already been on the market a while.

4. Avoid Paying For Names

Despite what many people assume, expensive doesn’t always mean quality. In fact, sometimes you just pay for a name or label, even though the product itself is exactly the same as cheaper alternatives out there. This is especially true for smaller pieces of tech and accessories, like headphones and chargers. As long as the reviews are the same, go for the cheaper option.

5. Skip The Extended Warranty

Every time you buy a piece of tech, regardless of what it is, you’re always asked if you want to purchase the extended warranty. Many people do this in a bid to be safe, but, unless you’re a particularly clumsy person, it’s rarely necessary. Instead, check to see if your credit card offers some sort of protection or create your own extended warranty fund.

6. Choose The Right Time

Prices of gadgets can fluctuate massively throughout the year, so you should be patient and choose the right time to buy your tech. Wait for holiday sales and use price tracking tools to ensure that you get the best deal that you can. Of course, this may not be possible for this Christmas, but you can bear it in mind for next year.

Today’s technology can be expensive, but, with the tips above, you can make big savings.

Christmas is less than three months away and by now you should have started with your Christmas shopping. If you still have to buy a few more gift items or if you haven’t even started with your Christmas shopping, there is still plenty of time for you to do so. You just have to keep in mind a few important things if you want to avoid overspending or buying items which you don’t actually need.

Here are some practical tips on how you can become a responsible shopper this holiday season:

Create a budget

 It is important that you determine how much money you can allot for shopping. The Christmas bonus that you will be receiving from work may give you the urge to spend more than what is necessary which is why you have to be very conscious of how you spend every cent.  List the items that you need to buy and bring that list with you when you shop. Refrain from buying ‘small’ and seemingly ‘inexpensive’ items, such as a tube of lipstick which you don’t actually need, because these ‘small’ purchases can take up a huge part of your shopping budget without you even realizing it.

Pay in cash

When you use your credit card, it is easy for you to just purchase items without thinking about whether or not you actually need them. But if you use cash, you can immediately see how much you have spent.

Be creative and resourceful

Although it may be easy to get swayed by the latest trends, you must be able to determine if they fit your budget and more importantly, if you actually need them. If, for instance, you need to buy an outfit for a Christmas party that you need to attend, you can still look stylish even if you aren’t wearing designer clothes. Know which clothing stores offer stylish but affordable clothes. You must also know how to mix and match different clothing items so that you can create a whole new look every time even if you have only bought a handful of new clothes and accessories. You can still express your own fashion sense even if you don’t buy the most expensive clothing items.

Compare prices. You may be pressed for time but still, you need to think about your every purchase. You cannot just grab the first thing that you see from the store. There is a risk that you will end up with an overpriced item if you don’t pay attention to what you’re buying. If you don’t have the time to visit multiple retail shops, you can look into various online stores first. Most major retailers now have their own online stores and they basically offer the same items (and the same price). You can look into their online stores first so that you have an idea of how much their products cost.

Know where to get the best deals

Competition can be stiff for retailers especially during the holiday season which is why they come up with different schemes on how to attract the attention of shoppers. Take advantage of the different discounts and other special offers that your favorite retailer offers. If you are more of an online shopper, sign up for newsletters from your favorite online stores so that you will know when they will offer huge discounts on their more popular products.

Being a wise shopper is important if you want your Christmas shopping experience to be a fun and enjoyable one.  And you don’t have to spend more than what you can actually afford on gifts just to be able to spread cheer during this holiday season.

Starting to think about Christmas before the kids have gone back to school seems a little excessive. However, with all the hype around Christmas growing year-on-year you must begin preparing for the event months in advance to avoid missing out on presents and making sure you do not get caught up in a last minute rush; which can detract from the enjoyment around the festive season. Here are some of the tasks to get ticked off the agenda early doors to ensure that you can enjoy a relaxed Christmas with family and friends:

Picking up stocking-fillers

Sometimes the most expensive gifts can be the largest disappointments; whereas stocking fillers can truly make someone’s Christmas when you least expect it. These are the little gifts that become must haves and a great way to elevate your gifts standard. However, finding the perfect one can be difficult, so why not start the search for gifts for him for Christmas 2013 early and when you are on a regular shop don’t rule out finding the perfect small gift that can be a surprising hit. Better still, it can help spread the cost of Christmas over a longer period and ease those pound stretching purse-strings and even stop you overspending during the hiked up prices times.

[Image not Mine]

Organizing the family and events

Living in such a small world these days with flights to every corner of the world available means families are more likely to be more spread around than previously. One of the best things about Christmas is having family around, so if you have estranged family members dotted around it is vital to organize the festive season properly and get everyone in one place early, so that they don’t get left out of the loop or with a pricey journey. Moreover, with work events, the earlier you get it booked the better venue you can guarantee and give colleagues plenty of advance notice.

Sorting your finances

Christmas plays havoc with every household budget as kids and even grown-ups push the boat out during the festive season. Presents, food and drink as well as trips out can all add up to vast amounts, so starting to put money away a few months in advance can really help to keep you in the black as the festive season really gears up. Every little bit that you can save will be valuable when the bills start piling up.

Beginning to get everything in order for Christmas early can really help, but if you love the madness of the last minute dash then sit back and wait for the chaos to commence.