Buying a Laptop: 10 Money Saving Tips to Know

With so many people studying at home in 2020, there’s been a major increase in laptop sales this year.

Are you thinking about buying a laptop for yourself or someone in your family? Do you want to know how to save money on a laptop without sacrificing quality?

Laptop purchases have gone up in 2020. There are still plenty of money-saving tips you can try if you’re looking to buy a laptop, though. Listed below are 10 of the best ones to keep in mind:

1. Make a List of Priorities

It’s easy to get seduced by big brand names or assume that the most expensive laptop will always be the better one. That’s definitely not the case, though.

To avoid letting a salesperson talk you into something that is outside of your budget, make a priority list. This will help you to stay focused and ensure you get a laptop that does everything you need it to do.

Before you start shopping, think about why you need a laptop and what you’ll be doing with it. For example, if you do a lot of traveling, a laptop with long battery life is important. If you need a laptop to edit videos or photos, you might need to spend more money on a laptop with a highly rated graphics card.

2. Consider Refurbished Options

Lots of people assume that a refurbished laptop is a lower-quality laptop. That’s often not true, though.

A refurbished computer is one that’s been returned to the store in exchange for a refund. As you know, people don’t always return things (including laptops) because they’re broken. They might have decided they needed a laptop with different features, or perhaps they got a laptop as a gift and didn’t need the one they bought for themselves.

When you’re buying a refurbished laptop, you can save a lot of money (10-20 percent in many cases) and rest assured that it’s still of good quality. Laptop manufacturers put their computers through rigorous testing processes before they get sent to the stores.

Refurbished laptops come with warranties, too. This means that, if something does go wrong, you can get it repaired or replaced right away.

3. Check Out an Older Model

You don’t always need to buy the latest and greatest model, regardless of what the commercials or salespeople try to tell you.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop, consider buying an older model. Older models often have the same core features and benefits as the newer options. They’re also a lot more affordable.

Looking for the very best deal? Don’t forget that you can save even more money on an older model if you buy it after a new model is released.

Because everyone is flocking to the newest model, older models will often be discounted. This allows you to keep more money in your bank account and still get a great laptop for work or school.

4. Do Your Own Upgrades

Are you tech-savvy? Do you have a friend or family member who is tech-savvy? If so, consider buying an older laptop or one with less RAM (the hardware that functions as your computer’s memory).

You can save a lot of money when you choose a laptop with less RAM. Once you’ve bought one at a discount, you can then upgrade the RAM yourself. This is a fairly easy process, and it gives you more power without having to spend a fortune.

The only thing to keep in mind before doing this is the fact that not all laptops’ RAM can be upgraded. Some have a fixed memory, which means you can’t upgrade them. Make sure this isn’t the case with your laptop before you buy it (especially if you’re also buying one that’s on sale and can’t be returned).

5. Shop the Sales

Shopping at the right time is essential if you’re on a strict budget. If you’re interested in saving money on a laptop, be sure to wait for sales whenever you can.

If you’re shopping for a laptop for your child or for your own schoolwork, try to wait until the back-to-school season (August-September) arrives. At this time, there are usually lots of sales online and at electronics stores.

Lots of sales also take place between April and November, too. The Christmas season, as well as the months immediately following it, is the time when prices are going to go up.

You might still be able to find a good deal here and there if you shop during this time. For the best prices, though, you’re better off waiting until laptops go on sale.

6. Ask About Price-Matching

Keep in mind that many stores will match the prices of their competitors. This includes online competitors like Amazon.

Before you head to the store to pick out a laptop, do some research online to see what other retailers are asking for the same laptop. Then, take that information with you to your store of choice (be sure to ask about their price-matching policy before you go, too).

If you take the time to research and compare prices first, you can use your research to your advantage. It will help you to negotiate with the salesperson and get a better price. You also don’t have to worry about having to drive to another store that’s out of your way or wait for an online order to show up on your doorstep.

7. Look for Coupon Codes

If you’re shopping online for a laptop, don’t forget to look for coupon codes before checking out. There are lots of discount codes available online. You just have to do some digging to find them.

Consider using a browser extension like Honey or Rakuten when you’re shopping online, too. These extensions make it easy for you to learn about all the potential discount codes that might work for your purchase. It applies them one after another for you, too, so you don’t have to worry about typing them in and making mistakes.

As an added bonus, browser extensions can also offer cashback on certain purchases. Even if there’s not a coupon code available, you might still be able to get some money back in your bank account after buying a laptop from an online retailer.

8. Skip the Accessories

It might be tempting to invest in a bunch of accessories for your laptop.

Things like a new mouse or trackpad, or an external keyboard or hard drive, are definitely nice to have. They’re usually not essential, though. If you need to avoid spending extra money, stick to the basics.

Remember, you can always upgrade and buy new accessories later. For now, limit yourself to a new laptop only, no matter how persuasive the salesperson is.

9. Avoid Extra Features

Don’t let yourself be talked into buying a laptop with features you don’t need, either. That’s why you made the priority list right from the beginning.

Keep your eyes on the prize and remember that extra features aren’t always better. In fact, they can even be irritating in some cases.

For example, if you hate cleaning your screen on a regular basis, a laptop that comes with a touchscreen isn’t a good option, even though lots of people like this feature. It’ll always be covered in fingerprints, and you’ll have to waste time cleaning it in between uses!

10. Skip the Extended Warranty

It’s easy to assume that an extended warranty is a good idea. In reality, though, it’s often an unnecessary expense.

Every laptop should come with at least a one-year warranty that’s included in the listed price. If a salesperson is trying to convince to you purchase something beyond, that, it’s probably not necessary.

Remember, sometimes, an extended warranty can be more expensive than the cost of fixing the laptop if something goes wrong. Save your money, take good care of your new laptop, and you’ll likely be just fine.

Try These Money-Saving Tips Today

As you can see, there are lots of money-saving tips that will help you to avoid breaking the bank with a laptop purchase.

If you’ve been wondering how to buy a laptop on a budget, keep these tips in mind. Whether you need a laptop for your child’s schoolwork or your own projects, these tips will help.

Do you need extra assistance with buying a laptop or upgrading the one you have? If so, check out some of the other laptop and computer buying guides on our site today.