Covid has certainly taken a toll on our finances. Many individuals find themselves either out of work or struggling to find sufficient hours. We’re managing on less while facing increased demands. Unfortunately, bills haven’t disappeared just because jobs have. Now may not be the ideal moment to invest in a new car or even a new smartphone.
However, there’s always the option of purchasing preowned items. This route can save you a significant amount compared to buying new. Plus, with used items, you don’t have the same level of commitment. It’s a smart choice for those temporary needs, allowing you to upgrade to something new once the current situation improves.
That said, buying preowned belongings is still a financial decision. Often, you might find that repairing what you already own can be more cost-effective than purchasing something used. You’re familiar with the history of your own belongings and what repairs they might need. When buying from others, you can’t always be sure of their condition. While some items may be beyond repair and need replacing, consider these alternatives before making a purchase:
Sometimes, the only real problem with an item is that it looks old and busted. When that happens, we tend to have a weaker emotional connection to it. A car that has a cracked windshield and a huge dent in the side from that grocery cart looks bad. At some point, you become embarrassed to be seen in it.
Do yourself a favor and find the best collision repair California has to offer and make it look like new again. Once it does, you will fall in love with it all over again, remembering why you chose it in the first place. When you love your car, you treat it better. And when you treat it better, it lasts longer. Begin that virtuous cycle by seeing what a good body shop can do for you.
It Could Just Be the Battery
These days, computing devices are sealed and cannot be opened by consumers. Take a good look at your iPhone. Can you find a seam, a screw, or anything that would imply easy access? Long gone are the days when you could just pop open a compartment and replace the aging battery for yourself.
Don’t despair. That iPhone can still be serviced by Apple professionals. They can replace the battery under warranty for a lot less money than you would expect. Smartphone batteries lose the ability to take a charge after a while. And that can feel like your phone is no good. But a battery replacement at an authorized service provider can give that phone another 2 years of life.
Far too many people load up the credit card or use a personal loan to replace items that don’t need to be replaced. Apple just released 4 new iPhones. However, there is a pandemic going on and the phone you have right now can get you through to better times with the least bit of maintenance. Check and see if a new battery would make it feel like a new phone.
Assign Them a Different Function
Sometimes, replacing your belongings with something newer can’t be avoided. That doesn’t mean you have to throw out the old if it is still functional. You just need to give it a second life as something else.
You can always pass the device down to a younger family member who does not have the same needs as you do. A computer with half its capacity is still amazing to a 10 year old. You can also use those old phones and tablets as dedicated security cameras. Even if the battery is dead, the camera is still good. Leave it plugged in all the time and you have an instant baby monitor.
Sometimes, the best of all options is to just bite the bullet and buy something new. The pandemic shouldn’t stop you from living your life. But it is a bad time to make new purchases that are unnecessary. So before you shop till you drop, try making what you have look like new. Try a new battery. And try repurposing an old item and give it a new life.