Staying Behind To Get Ahead
New things are great but they will cost you. Companies charge a premium for what is new because the demand is high. This means that you can save a fortune by simply being patient.
This will take a little adjustment if you are a new tech person, but you will quickly adjust and enjoy some wonderful savings. Think of it this way. You still get the new things, you just have to wait a few extra months. Let’s take a look at some of the savings you can realize.
Phones
This is an area where you can save big because phones just keep getting more and more expensive. An iPhone can now cost you over a 1000 dollars if you want the newest and the best.
Sure, you want the best, but you must realize that this new phone will be dwarfed in just 6 months by the new model. There is always a new model coming around the corner, tech companies need to keep you spending.
When that new model comes out, that 1000 dollar phone might now only cost you 600 dollars or maybe even less. Save 400 dollars, just for being patient. You still get new technology, you just have to wait a few months to realize the savings.
If you want to really ramp up your savings, consider keeping your phone as long as possible. My iPhone is 3 years old, far past the point when most people would have replaced it. It still does everything that I need it to do like search the internet, receive email and text. Why replace it if it is working?
Video Games
This goes for both systems and the actual games themselves.
When a new game system comes out, for the first 6 to 9 months, it sells at a premium. After that point, the price starts to drop, usually as a result of a competitor releasing a new model. If you are a Playstation person, do not buy one when the new model comes out. Save an easy 100 to 150 dollars or more by waiting a short 6 month period until the next X Box appears
Games go down in value just as quickly. A new title will sell for $60 in the first half year of it’s life and then starts dropping in price rapidly. You can get the same title for half the cost if you simply wait 6 to 9 months to get it.
If you are the type of person who just has to have the new titles and buys a lot of games, consider a membership service like Gamefly. For a monthly cost, you can choose from an extensive list of titles. If you are buying a new game every month, you will probably save money by going to a service like this.
Cars
Never buy a current model car, it is as simple as that. This is not to say that you have to buy a used car though. You just have to buy your new car at the right time.
If you want a new car, simply wait for the next year model to come out. At that time, dealerships need to clear their old inventory. They will be heavily discounting models and at the same time, factory rebates will ramp up.
This is especially true when a model upgrade comes out. If a vehicle has been redesigned, it will be in high demand. This will make it even harder for a dealer to move previous year models. This means deeper dealer cuts and more attractive rebates.
Movies
You can save in two ways by being a step behind on movies.
If you like going to the theater, that new movie is going to cost you around $10 per ticket. See the last new release from a few months ago at the discount theater instead and score tickets for around $3 a piece. For a family of four, that is almost a $30 savings .If you go to the movies every weekend, that is over $100 a month.
Not a theater person but still enjoy a good movie? You probably know how much a new release title costs then, about $25. You have already waited three months after its theatrical release, so why not just wait a few months more. In another three months, that movie will be around $10 or might even be free on your streaming service.
Wrapping Up
Staying a model behind is a great way to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year. 400 dollars on a smart phone, 100 dollars on movie tickets, 150 dollars on a video game system and even thousands of dollars on a new car. These are real savings and they all involve stopping one craving, immediate gratification.
The need for immediate gratification is what gets so many people in trouble. Learn to control this and you can save with ease.