7 Best Money-Saving Tips On Tech Appliances For Gamers
With the right gear, gaming can become an escape — a way to explore a new world. Some gamers even take it as a career and make some cool cash. For such people, gear includes several must-haves that go above and beyond standard consoles, monitors, and controllers.
From getting quality gaming PCs to headsets, gaming chairs, and keyboards, getting a hold of the hottest gaming gadgets in the market can be expensive. A 2022 survey indicates that the average American gamer spends about $76 monthly on gaming. Typical expenditure includes gaming equipment, internet services, in-app purchases, and new games.
If you’re a natural gaming gadget lover, here are seven hacks you can try to minimize your expenses:
1. Buy Carton Damaged Units
Also known as factory 2nds, carton damaged refers to goods whose packaging has been damaged in transit or due to mishandling. It might also have been purchased, opened, and returned before use. Perhaps the buyer or recipient opted not to keep it.
There’s only one incentive to buy carton-damaged gear instead of new: to save money. Since these items are not brand new in the box, stores offer top brands to customers at significant discounts. For example, this LG commercial IPS panel LED monitor is on sale as a Carton Damaged for only $6,795. That’s a considerable discount compared to its original $17,999 price tag for the brand new. You get the same top brand and excellent features at a fraction of the actual price –just by compromising on the carton’s condition.
2. Wait for a Price Drop
The trick to never paying the total price for video games is patience and cunning. According to a report, video games tend to fall in price just a few weeks after release. Waiting for a few weeks could allow you to take advantage of the first price drop of up to 6%.
The longer the wait, the more significant the drop in price, with most price cuts $20 to $50, though $50 discounts have occurred. So unless you want bragging rights as the first person to get the latest releases, wait for two to six months after release to save lots of money. This hack also applies to game consoles, as the vast majority see their first price drop within the first or second year of launch.
3. Take Advantage of Sales Seasons
Have you exhausted every single dollar in your budget so far? Popular sales seasons, such as Black Friday or Tech Week, often come with huge discounts on electronics and other gaming equipment. Deals offered by stores during this period are typically an opportunity to get expensive or in-demand things.
You may save even more money by combining deals and coupons. When making an online purchase, look up the store’s name together with the “coupon code” first.
To help give customers a respite, several brands offer promotional codes.
4. Trade in Your Old Gadgets
Trading in your old technology entails sending or selling your old stuffs in exchange for a new one. This is another way to recycle that pile of video games you last played a long time ago and save money.
Some gaming stores will take it, either for cash or store credit, or both. If you want to buy a new version or upgrade, you can obtain a better bargain by accepting a voucher rather than real cash.
Another alternative is to take advantage of more specific trade-in deals by watching out for events throughout the year. For example, on National Video Game Day, several gaming stores give gamers money back for consoles, accessories, games, smartphones, and other equipment.
5. Consider Free-to-Play Games
While it’s great to save costs buying video games, it’s even better not to spend anything. When you think about free-to-play, what comes to mind is likely mobile games and watching advertising for coins. The good news is that several popular console games, including AAA titles, are accessible for free.
Installing and playing these games is free, but optional in-game purchases for upgrades and customizations exist.
6. Check Out Online Market Places
Online marketplaces such as eBay sell “previously owned” things and brand-new items from people or businesses looking to dispose of their inventory. You don’t even have to bid on things if you don’t enjoy auctions, as some allow you to buy them outright. Check the seller’s reputation rating before making a purchase.
If you prefer to buy locally and with cash, use an app or browser to search classified sites like Letgo and Craigslist. Remember that you’ll need to meet the vendor in person, so go somewhere safe and public.
7. Consider Game Streaming Subscription Services
If you don’t care about owning games, subscription services like Xbox and PlayStation give access to massive libraries of games.
How regularly you play games will determine whether you want to purchase a membership. A membership can help you save money that you might otherwise spend on other activities if you frequently visit a gaming library or play a particular multiplayer game. But if you don’t often play, a free game or one you could buy outright is the best option if you don’t play very often.
In Conclusion
You can transform good gaming experiences into spectacular ones with the right accessories, technology, and top titles. However, depending on how eager you are to obtain the most cutting-edge technologies and breathtaking experiences, gaming can range from an inexpensive to a costly hobby. But video games, like many other hobbies, can fit into any budget if done wisely. You can make your favorite hobby pain-free by implementing the cost-saving tips in this article.
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