As household budgets become tighter due to the cost of living crisis, many non-essential purchases are set aside. Unfortunately, we can not always predict when things will break or stop working, so sometimes we have to bite the bullet and buy something outside the monthly budget.
For most of us, laptops are a necessity, whether you use them for work or play. Buying a new laptop costs a lot of time and consideration, so you really need to think about what specs and features you need and what you are willing to pay for.
As a Deals Writer, I have collected many tips and tricks to save money on many things, including streaming services, TVs, broadband and more. If you need a new laptop but do not want to spend too much, here are 6 ways to save money on new and old laptops, including maintenance advice and shopping tips.
1. Decide what you need from a laptop
Before you start shopping, it is important to decide what you want from a laptop. From features to specifications, size and design, always start by making a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves, as per your budget. First, see what you’ll be using it for. If you are going to use it for work, it is a good idea to choose a laptop that is designed for business, has a good battery life and is easy to take with you when doing a mix of office and work at a distance. If you want a new laptop for editing or designing, you may find it better to look for a 2-in-1 laptop or a tablet.
Then decide what features you want. Some key features to look for in a laptop are a good screen and resolution display, plenty of storage and ports, a quality keyboard and a long-lasting battery. Finally, size and style are also something to consider. In my opinion the color of a laptop does not matter so much but of course it is nice to own something that looks nice! Screen size is also important and so is the overall size of the laptop, especially if you want to travel with it.
Popular laptop brands include Apple, Microsoft, Acer, Lenovo, ASUS, HP and Dell. If you are not sure which laptop you want, we have enough guides to help you, including the best laptopsde best laptops under £ 500de best 2-in-1 laptopsde best Chromebooks and the best tablets,
(Image credit: Bram-naus / Unsplash)
2. Buy an older model
While some believe that ‘new is always better’, this is not necessarily the case. Newer laptops are typically more expensive if and when they are released, so by choosing the latest model, you will spend the most money. You do not always need the latest and greatest model, especially if you are trying to save money. By choosing last year’s generation or laptop over the newer one, you still get a high quality device that is well made and will do what you need it to do. ‘Older’ laptops are typically more affordable and cheaper than the latest models, and you can also find bigger deals and discounts on them, especially before or during the launch of the newer models.
Think refurbished or open-box laptops
Laptops are one of the most popular things to buy certified refurbished as open box. Certified Repair refers to products that have been professionally repaired and renewed by the manufacturer. Once a laptop is returned to be repaired, it is professionally cleaned, repaired, checked and restored to look and work when it is glowing. An upgraded laptop or laptop with open box is definitely worth considering, as they are still of good quality and cheaper than the original retail price. ebay is a really reliable site to buy refurbished laptops or you can look at the big name brands that will have their own refurbished sections. Read this guide why shopping certified refurbished can help you save money for more.
4. Find the best laptop deals
If you are looking for a new laptop, make sure you always look around to see if there are offers running on specific models. Know when and where to find the best laptop deals is incredibly helpful so you can find the lowest prices. Start with when you need to buy laptops, look for cheap deals when a new laptop is launched, as you will typically find the earlier models at bargain prices. This depends on the brand, so if you have a brand in mind, stay tuned with their releases. The seasonal sale is also a good time to shop for low prices such as Easter, Christmas and the Black Friday sale.
For where to shop, Amazon en Currys always have regular price drops on laptops, desktops and other computer accessories. It is also good to look at the official brand websites, inclusive dell, Lenovo en HP,
(Image credit: Christin Hume / Pexels)
5. Wait for the Prime Day 2022 sale
Speaking of sales, that was announced recently Amazon Prime Day 2022 begins in July. Prime Day is Amazon’s largest annual sale exclusively for Prime members. Almost everything on Amazon is on sale during the two-day event and laptops are some of the bestsellers at this time. If you are looking for a new laptop but do not need one right away, make sure you sign up for a Prime subscription, so when Prime Day comes, you can find a huge discount on a new device .
6. Take care of your current laptop
Lastly, if you really can not afford a new laptop, it is a good idea to take care of your current laptop so that it stays working for as long as possible. A new laptop should be the last resort, so make sure you take care of the laptop you already have by cleaning it, updating it regularly and looking at it professionally. For example, if a part of your laptop breaks, have it reviewed by a professional before replacing the whole thing. By repairing a laptop part, this will be significantly cheaper and can extend the life of your old device.
For more money-saving tips and tricks, here is how to save money on tvs, how to save on streaming services and the best ways to save money on broadband packages,