You're wasting money on Tech.

Summary

In this video, the creator shares savvy tips to save money on tech, subscriptions, and services. From negotiating discounts with mobile providers and using family plans for streaming services to finding deals on tech like laptops and cameras, the video offers practical advice on reducing unnecessary expenses. The creator also highlights how to take advantage of gray market purchases, trade-ins, and seasonal sales to maximize savings. Additionally, the video covers cost-effective strategies for gaming, app usage, and even restaurant delivery services. Viewers are encouraged to be strategic and flexible in their spending to enjoy top-tier products for less.

Takeaways

• 😀 Many subscription services offer their best rates when you try to cancel, potentially saving you money if you push for discounts.
• 😀 You can often negotiate lower rates with your service providers by threatening to switch to a competitor, especially near the end of the month.
• 😀 External storage drives can save you a significant amount compared to upgrading internal storage in laptops, offering extra backup options.
• 😀 Sharing subscription services like Apple One or Nintendo Switch Online with family members can save you a lot of money and increase the services you get.
• 😀 Buying tech like cameras from gray market sites can save you up to 25%, though you may lose in-store warranty.
• 😀 Last year's flagship phone is often a better value than this year's mid-range models, offering more durability and better performance.
• 😀 You can save money on charging accessories by buying from third-party brands like Anker or UG Green, rather than the official phone brands.
• 😀 You can share digital games on platforms like Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox, saving money by not buying multiple copies of the same game.
• 😀 Streaming service bundles (e.g., Disney Plus with Hulu and Max) can help save money compared to purchasing each service individually.
• 😀 Subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus offer a cost-effective way to play games, with new titles added regularly, saving you from purchasing games individually.
• 😀 Checking for deals during Steam sales can help you score games at massive discounts, sometimes up to 90% off.
• 😀 Before purchasing tech online, verify the legitimacy of the brand and check for the best prices across multiple platforms like Amazon and Hagglesen.
• 😀 Trading in your old devices, especially with Apple, can provide you with credit towards new purchases, often for more value than selling them individually.
• 😀 Directly ordering from restaurants instead of using delivery apps like Uber Eats or Deliveroo can save you money on meal costs and delivery fees.
• 😀 Vampire devices, or electronics that consume power even when off, can be unplugged to save energy and reduce costs, with savings of up to $50 a year.
• 😀 Using mobile apps instead of browsers can reduce mobile data usage, helping you stay within your data limits and avoid overage fees.
• 😀 Setting up data limits on your mobile device can prevent you from accidentally exceeding your plan and incurring extra charges from your carrier.
• 😀 Using a VPN like Surf Shark can help you access region-locked content, like streaming shows, at a fraction of the cost, while offering additional privacy benefits.

Q & A

How can you get better rates on subscription services?

Many subscription services will offer their best rates when you try to cancel. For example, trying to cancel a Now TV subscription can result in a 50% discount after a few attempts. You can leverage this strategy to save money by threatening to leave.

What is a 'customer save' and how can it help with service providers?

A 'customer save' is a discount offered by service providers when you threaten to leave for a competitor. For instance, when changing mobile contracts, asking for a PAC code often triggers a discount. This tactic is especially effective near the end of the month when sales reps need to meet their targets.

Is it worth upgrading internal storage on a laptop, or is external storage a better alternative?

Instead of upgrading internal storage, using external storage like portable drives can be a more cost-effective solution. For instance, buying two 4TB external drives for a fraction of the cost of upgrading to an 8TB internal drive can save hundreds of dollars.

How can you save money on Apple One subscriptions?

You can save money by sharing the Apple One Premier plan with up to five family members. The Premier plan includes more services, like Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+, and offers a significant savings of $163 per year when shared among six people.

How does Nintendo Switch’s family plan offer savings?

The Nintendo Switch Online family plan costs $35 for up to eight people, which is much cheaper than paying for an individual membership ($20). This allows you to split the cost with friends or family, even if you're not living together.

What is the advantage of buying cameras from gray market sites?

Buying from gray market sites like Panama or E Infiniti can save you up to 25% on cameras. These sites take advantage of lower sales tax and competitive pricing in Asian countries, though you might not get an in-store warranty.

Should you buy the latest camera model or a few years old model?

In the camera market, newer models often have minimal improvements over older versions. For instance, buying a few-year-old model like the Sony A7 III for $1,300 instead of the A74 for $2,000 can save you $700 while offering almost the same image quality.

How can you extend the life of your TV instead of replacing it?

If your TV is slow but still has good picture quality, purchasing an Apple TV 4K box can significantly improve its performance. The Apple TV essentially upgrades the TV's processing power, providing a better user experience without the need to buy a new TV.

Why should you avoid buying fast charging bricks from phone brands?

Phone brands often charge a premium for fast charging bricks. By choosing third-party brands like Anker or UG Green, you can get a more powerful charger for the same price or even a more affordable one for the same power, saving you money.

How can you share digital games across different consoles?

Major gaming consoles like Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox allow you to share digital games with friends. Nintendo's virtual game card feature lets you share digital games by swapping the game between consoles. Similarly, PlayStation and Xbox offer ways to share games through their console-sharing features.