Nearly everyone has been hit by the rise in the cost of living, and your household bills may feel a little more stretched than they were a couple of years ago. Families all over the UK are looking at ways to cut their costs, from paying less for family cars to cutting down on grocery spend. Finding ways to save money on your essential expenses can free up money to offset rising bills, and even give you a little extra to put away for a rainy day.
Your phone, while not necessarily considered ‘essential,’ can be another big outgoing, especially if you want one of the latest devices. Years ago, it seemed impossible to save money on a new phone, but is that still the case? Take a look at some of the ways you can save money on a new phone.
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Shop around for deals
After years of rising mobile contract prices, things are finally looking like they’re coming down. From better data deals to lower monthly rates, it is possible to find some savings compared to what you’re paying now. Compare different mobile phone deals to help you find something that’s within your budget – you’ll often find that the best deals aren’t with the networks, but with other providers who can give you a cheaper rate for both the phone and your contract.
Keep your phone and contract separate
While choosing your phone and your contract at the same time is easier, it might make sense to separate your phone and your contract to help you save money. Buying your phone directly from the manufacturer, like Apple, for example, could mean you pay less overall than you would for a 24 or 36-month contract. You can then choose a SIM-only deal, which is likely to offer you better value than a phone and monthly tariff combined.
With little difference between new releases these days, you can afford to keep your phone for longer and bring your monthly costs right down once the phone is paid off.
Trade in your old phone
Trading in your old phone can help you save money on your new one. While many manufacturers and networks will let you do this directly, it’s worth shopping around to find the deal that gives you the most money for your phone. Sell your mobile and save hundreds on your new one, making it much more affordable. If you have any other old phones hiding in a drawer, take a look at what they’re worth – you could save some extra pennies for Christmas and other treats!
Don’t always go for the latest model
The newest phone models will always be the most expensive, but do you always need to have the latest model to stay up to date? Choosing a different model can mean you still get an upgrade and access to great features, but can save money compared to buying the latest model.
These days it feels impossible to live without a phone, but that doesn’t mean it has to cost you a small fortune! Free up some room in your monthly budget by looking at ways to keep your mobile phone costs down.
