There may be moments when there is no question about it, you need the latest technological upgrade. And by need, we don’t mean “I must have it now, it looks so cool”, but you may need to purchase a suite of editing software in order to finance your new business or side hustle. Depending on the cost of your equipment, things can get expensive pretty quickly, and that’s why it is so important to keep an eye on your financial options from the start, before spending spirals completely out of control and you’re left with a mountain of debt.
Examine a Personal Loan
If you truly need new technology and your credit cards won’t cover the cost of purchase, you may want to look at taking out a personal loan. This should be done with caution and research, of course, but in many cases, you can get a loan at a reasonable interest rate. There may also be times that you can consolidate your existing debt by taking out a personal loan that enables you to get a lower interest rate. This, in turn, can allow you to save thousands of dollars in wasted interest payments over the life of a loan, thus enabling you to not only get your debt under control now, but afford more things – like the tech you need – down the road after you’ve had a chance to save up. Best of all you can find loan options online that fit your needs, without having to leave the house.
Buy Used
Usually, when you want the latest technology, that also means that you want to purchase the technology new. Unfortunately, if your finances are limited, that may not be an option. Instead, you may want to examine purchasing equipment used. In many cases, you can get equipment that is still completely and totally usable. There are many options to buy used technology. EBay, of course, is an old standard, and can often offer a variety of buyer protections to ensure that you really get what you pay for. Best Buy and other major electronics stores also have refurbished tech options. Amazon has a selection of used options as well. You can also always try smaller, lesser-known websites. This includes Swappa and Gazelle.
Take Better Stock of Purchasing Options
Let’s say you’ve done your necessary research and found what equipment you want, but what you can’t find is a reasonable price. Don’t worry, as there may be better options out there. If you are stuck on a price, make sure to dig around deeper. Google Shopping will enable you to type in an item and sort it by price. Amazon offers the same feature, and both of these websites will allow you to sort by price, helping you to find the cheapest price available for the tech you need. There are other great websites to buy tech on the cheap as well. Examples include TechBargains, SlickDeals, and Newegg. These websites will enable you to find the technology you need at reasonable prices. They may also help you find alternative products that are less expensive, but no less effective.
