5 practical ways to rationalize your device bill

Khalfan eagerly waits for every new version of his favorite smartphone, ensuring that it reaches his hands before any of his friends or cousins have it. His sister, Houda, is the opposite – she uses her phone until it’s really old and needs to be upgraded. Research shows that 40.4% of people upgrade their smartphone every two to three years. About 3 in 4 people upgrade their phones because of battery life shortening over time.

Our devices – whether televisions, tabs, phones, or watches – can add to costs. Here are some tips to ensure that your devices stay within your budget.

1. Is it broken?

our new phone may drop and end up with a broken screen. A one-year-old laptop may be damaged if you used it in the desert. Accidents are a good reason to upgrade to your next device. But…
Can you fix it? It’s worthwhile to be aware of authorized service centers and check the cost of repair. The device may be fixable at a fraction of the cost of a new one.

2. Is the new launch hype or real?

Tech companies launch new devices more often than they have real technological innovation. Sure, if your old television doesn’t connect to the internet, you will see a significant change if you upgrade. But…
Check the reviews: A breakthrough innovation or design can add to convenience. If not, it might be better to ignore the urge to shop.

3. Time yourself:

A rule of thumb is to set a best-before date for your devices. After having destroyed a couple of laptops, Houda now has a calendar for her laptop. She plans for it to last five years or more. But…
Treat it like new: Know what parts of your device tend to wear out sooner than others. Invest in a keyboard protector or look up best practice in battery maintenance. This will keep your devices humming.

4. How many devices?

Khalfan realized his devices were making him inefficient – he had a screen to take notes, another to listen to music, one to read books, a second phone, a laptop, and so on. So…
Practice digital minimalism. Instead of buying a new device for reading or counting steps, see if an app can help achieve the same results.

5. Too cool for school:

New, cool innovations like foldable devices, or those that can work deep in the ocean, or run AI-powered features may not yet be truly useful to you. So…
Test the basics first: A good camera and display, battery life, and the latest in connectivity – like 5G – may be more important.

Here is a 7-step plan to create a spending budget.

Have your say…

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