Sure, the latest gadgets and games may cost a pretty penny, but there are easy ways to save serious money when shopping for them. Sometimes the answer is timing. Or if you can leverage apps and sites that can sniff out deals. Just wait Consumer electronics and videogames see a big drop in price over time, so unless you need to be the first on your block with the latest and greatest, pick up a 1- or 2-year-old alternative to save a ton. You may remember how many thousands a big-screen 4K Smart TV cost just a few years ago. More: We get letters — yes, you can save money cutting the cord! More: Save time, save money: Run your small business from your smartphone 2. You can do so by trading it into retailers who will accept it, either for a straight cash exchange, or as a store credit, or both. You can also wait for special events throughout the year to take advantage of more aggressive trade-in deals. This Wednesday is National Video Games Day, and GameStop says it will give gamers a lot more back for games, consoles, accessories, smartphones and other gear. Gazelle is another good site to buy and sell phones, tablets, MacBooks and other gear. For those looking to sell, Gazelle pays you cash for gadgets you no longer use, even if damaged. If you prefer to buy local and with cash and avoid shipping charges altogether , try visiting classifieds sites via an app or browser, such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Letgo. Use apps, look for discount codes Both the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices are packed with apps tied to shopping deals. For retail shopping, the Flipp app delivers local store ads to your phone, tablet or computer — rather than you having to make a mess of your kitchen and hands by going through the paper circulars and coupons you get each week. Better yet, you can use the search window to find something specific you want. More: Another Netflix price hike? Here are the reasons it could try again More: Cord cutters can now pick from 200 services, but mostly want the top four 5. Therefore, a book lover who owns a Kindle or Kobo should download electronic books ebooks as you can save some money. Same goes for video games, which can be bought or rented digitally, for less, compared to buying it on disc. In other words, not going with the hottest brand can often save you money, and in many cases, still offer decent performance. This includes word processors, spreadsheet makers, presentation creators, photo retouching and so on. E-mail him at askmarcsaltzman gmail.
