The cloud gives us plenty of opportunity to be more cost efficient with our tech expenses. Unfortunately, the affordable prices to buy storage space and any other cloud-based services is not followed by the prices of gadgets that we use to access the cloud. The thing is, the cloud is there, and it keeps getting better with age (e.g. more powerful and comprehensive services for the same price tags); this is not the case with gadgets; whether you like it or not, they will decline in value over time.
Recently, the cost of tech gadgets has begun to rise in many parts of the world. The materials needed to make new mobile phones, tablets and laptops have gone up, as has the cost of shipping and labour. As a result, if you need to replace your smartphone you can easily end up having to spend $600 or $750 to have to do so.
The fact that money is tight for a lot of our readers has prompted us to write this short post about getting more out of your old phones, laptops, e-readers and smartphones. There is a lot that you can do with them, so our aim here is only to give you ideas, and inspire you to pause before throwing away your old tech gadgets.
Re-use them
There are many ways to re-purpose your older laptops, e-readers, PCs and smartphones. For example, you can easily turn an old tablet into a recipe book for the kitchen, or use one as a dedicated e-reader. Even old MP3 players can be given a new lease of life, as music repositories.
Give them to others
Perhaps one of the best ways to get more out of your technology is to pass it onto somebody else. Giving your old phone to one of the kids can be a good idea, but they tend to want the latest gadgets too. As a result, giving it to an elderly relative is usually a better idea.
If you do decide to give your older tech gadgets away, remember to de-personalise them. You do not want your old letters, photos and other personal information to be read by other people.
This is important even if you are giving items to people you really trust like friends and relatives. After all, you do not know what they will do with those gadgets when they have finished with them. You have no idea whether they will give them as gifts, to people you do not know. If you are not careful, your private information could end up in the hands of a complete stranger.
You can learn how to clear your gadgets of sensitive data, here.
Get broken technology repaired
The fact that the cost of a new smartphone is so high means that it is now cost effective to have a broken one repaired rather than buy a new one. It does not matter where you are in the world repairing your old tech gadgets is now a practical option. Whether you are looking for iphone repair in Miami or Cambridge, in the UK, you can find a firm to do the work. Most modern repair companies now offer their services via the mail. Doing so allows them to serve the entire country rather than just residents in the town or city in which they are based.
Trade it in or sell it
Another great option is to sell your old technology on. If you are lucky, you will be able to trade in your old laptop, or smartphone, when you buy the latest model.
Takeaway
So, there you have it – four ways to make the most of your tech gadgets. The choice is yours, but one thing for sure, make sure that you don’t keep your tech stashed in your closet or storage room, as it adds no value to you or anyone else.
