If you are on a tight budget like me, then getting the absolute best bargain for your dollar is extremely important when purchasing expensive and necessary technological stuff. Most people probably spend more money on technology than on anything except for basic living expenses, mortgages, and cars. Aside from the usual sales and clearance specials at brick and mortar stores, here are a few things that I rely on to help me cut costs on must have tech purchases.

1. Ensure That You Buy only What You Need, Not What Is on Sale: this is my number one rule. I am by no means a cheapskate, but buying only what I need has allowed me to avoid buyer’s remorse and wasting funds on unnecessary trinkets that get toss aside quickly. If you are not certain that you will be using product A for a lengthy period of time, then do not purchase it, even if it is inexpensive –eventually, a lot of cheap items add up to a hefty sum of squandered money. Sometimes you feel like you are saving money by purchasing products that are heavily discounted, but the reality is that getting something just because it is on sale is unwise since you have limited use for the merchandise.

2. Previously Enjoyed: I can understand the disinclination towards buying used stuff, but in many cases, I recommend pre-owned over new. For example, with software, you do not have to worry about warranties, the condition of the product, or the legitimacy of the sale since physical software seldom gets stolen and then resold. I actually struggle to see the upside of buying new software if a much cheaper used copy is available. The only reservation that I would have is with the key/serial number because if the original owner is untrustworthy and has kept the program on his/her computer, then the key that has been sold to you might not be valid. If it is a Windows key that is being used, then yours will definitely be invalid, but even in this case, you have the rights to the key because you own the physical Microsoft hologram tag.

3. Craigslist: one of the best places for used merchandise is widely known: Craigslist. By dealing locally, you avoid many scams but also meet too many low-ballers, unscrupulous sellers/buyers, and sometimes just unpleasant people. If you are willing to endure some of the trials though, Craigslist can be a savings mine ready for your taking. Right now, Windows 7 Home Premium is approximately $130 CDN. In my area, I see half a dozen Craigslist ads between the prices of $75 to $90, and most of them are still new and sealed in original boxes.

Craigslist can also be a treasure trove for used hardware. Buying second hand equipment that is unlikely to fail is smart. For example, RAM is quite reliable. If a module passes tests, then it is probably not going to break down during normal use. For items like these, I always buy used if the savings are significant enough. I personally avoid pre-owned computers (and particularly displays) that are out of warranty, so I try to look for products that are under 10-months-old, unless it is a Mac under AppleCare. The potential for being duped into buying stolen property is scarily high in terms of laptops, but you can take some measures to be safer: meet the sellers at their homes; obtain their contact information; ask for an original invoice or at least an informal and signed receipt from them; for Macs, you can check Apple Serial Numbers to ascertain if the computer has been reported stolen, and although Apple’s Warranty Coverage Database will not tell you if your Mac is stolen, it will at least provide general information.

Then there are gift cards and store credit from big stores like Best Buy and Futureshop. Some folks end up returning gifts or merchandise without a receipt and receive store credit/gift cards, which make their way onto Craigslist for up to 20% or more off, depending on the seller and the amount on the card.

If you are patient, you will encounter the deal that is right for you. The best part about this process is that you do not have to deal with shipping or taxes, and you can always walk away from a transaction if you are uncomfortable.

4. eBay: this suggestion seems obvious enough, but people tend to scour eBay for the wrong things. I usually do not bother with heavy packages due to the freight costs, so I skip over most desktops, monitors, TVs, amplifiers, etc.. eBay can be a tremendous reservoir for software though because selection is normally much wider than on local Craigslist boards. However, when you factor in shipping costs, buying a single game, CD, LP, or program might not even be worth the bother. One incredible savings opportunity on eBay is the purchase of AppleCare, which extends the standard one-year warranty of Macs to three-years. The MSRP of MacBook AppleCare enrollment is $249 USD –there is a “Top-rated seller” who has “Buy Now” listings of the same product for $114.60, without the need for shipping since AppleCare is simply a serial number that you enter online. For the MacBook Pro, Apple sells its extended warranty for $349, while the aforementioned eBay merchant has his/her’s at $154.99; this amounts to more than 55% off.

Freeware: if even used copies of Photoshop and Office are too pricey for you, there are a plethora of freeware applications out there that are compatible with both. Although many of the apps will not approach the originals’ design and functionality, some do work very well. If you cannot afford to upgrade your older computer and wish to run a free operating system, there is Linux. My favorite distribution of it is Ubuntu, which is sometimes updated more frequently than Windows and operates smoothly on most PCs made within the last five years. Apart from Windows games, there are very few things that Ubuntu cannot do.

These are just some of the tactics that I have used to maximum the returns of my investment into technology. I have not even mentioned online coupons, bulk software packs, and knowing when to buy/sell. The more informed you are about the latest technology, the better equipped you will be to know when to anticipate the imminent release of new products. If you plan on upgrading, you should sell just before a product’s life-cycle is near its end and buy when supply overtakes demand. Impulsive buyers will gladly be selling to you soon enough.