7 Ways to Save Money When Buying a Cell Phone

This post is sponsored by SellCell. All opinions are my own.

Smartphones are a big part of everyday life for most of us. It’s hard to even remember what life was like before Apple changed the industry with the release of the first iPhone.

Although today’s smartphones are impressive, they can also be quite costly. But fortunately, there are some things you can do to save money when you’re buying a cell phone.

This article presents several tips and options that you can use to spend less and keep more money in your pocket.

1. Avoid Buying the Latest Devices

The easiest way to save a huge amount of money on a smartphone is to avoid buying the latest model as soon as it is released. Whenever new models are released, models from the previous generation become available at much lower prices.

While the previous generation of phones will not have all of the same bells and whistles, they are still more than capable of getting the job done, and you can get them at a major discount.

Technology changes so quickly that your brand new smartphone won’t be cutting edge for very long. If you’re constantly upgrading whenever new models are released, you’re certainly paying a premium to have access to the latest technology.

2. Sell Your Old Phone

What do you do with your old phone after you upgrade to a new model? Do you have old phones sitting around and not being used?

Your old phone may still have a lot of value, and if you sell it or trade it in, it can help to offset part of the cost of the new phone.

SellCell is a website that makes it easy to sell your old phone for cash in 4 steps:

• Find your device
• Choose the best deal
• Ship your device
• Get your cash

Through SellCell you can sell phones made by Apple, Samsung, LG, Google, HTC, Nokia, Sony, ZTE, Blackberry, and many more. (And in addition to phones, you can also sell iPads and other tablets, video game consoles, laptops, cameras, smartwatches, and other devices.)

To sell your phone, simply search for the brand and model and click to see the deals available.

SellCell will show you offers from several different websites and companies, which saves you time and allows you to find the best offer.

When you go through SellCell to sell your phone, you’ll be protected by their best price guarantee. If you find a higher price for your phone within 24 hours of selling, SellCell will pay you double the difference.

Learn more about SellCell here.

3. Don’t Pay for Features That You Don’t Need

It’s easy to get distracted by all of the features of the latest phones, but don’t allow that to sway your decision. To truth is, you probably won’t use most of those features anyway. Consider the features and functionality that you really need (and that you will actually use), and try to find and affordable phone that will meet your needs.

The first two smartphones that I purchased were the latest, greatest Android models. I got caught up in the new features that other phones weren’t offering yet. But after several years of owning those phones, I realized that I really only used the basic features and I was over-paying to get features that I didn’t need.

My last three smartphones have all been older models without all of the fancy features. I’ve saved loads of money each time, and I’ve never missed the features that I don’t have with those phones.

4. Consider Purchasing an Unlocked Phone

An unlocked phone is not restricted to a certain carrier or contract, so you can use it with your choice of carriers (provided it is compatible). If you get your phone through a carrier, it may only work on that carrier’s network, which means you would need to get a new phone if you switch carriers.

Unlocked phones give you greater freedom and flexibility, so you can change carriers if and when you decide to. You can buy unlocked phones that allow you to use them with your choice of carrier, but you should check with the carrier to be sure that the phone is compatible before purchasing.

5. Shop for Phones Online

Where do you go when you decide it’s time for a new phone? If you’re like most people, you head to the Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, or T-Mobile store to see what is available. However you can usually find better deals by doing some comparison shopping online, and there are several different websites that you can use.

Amazon tends to have some of the best prices on smartphones, so that is a great place to start. Walmart, BestBuy, and Jet can also be good places to check.

6. Consider Purchasing a Used or Refurbished Phone

If you are willing to buy a used or refurbished phone, you can save a lot of money. Obviously, used phones will typically be from a previous generation of smartphones, but you can often buy refurbished models of the latest smartphones. Going with a used phone that is from a previous generation will give you the maximum savings.

Gazelle is a good place to check if you are looking for a used phone.

7. Compare Offers from Different Carriers

Each carrier will have different phones and prices that are available. If you are open to using a different carrier and not bound by a contract, shop around and see what offers are available. Of course, promos and sales are common, so you may be able to find a really great deal that will give you the phone you want at a good price. You can check the websites of carriers to quickly see what is available.

When it comes to buying a smartphone, you don’t have to go broke in order to get the functionality that you need. Follow these tips to find a reasonably-priced phone that will meet your needs.

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