Thanks to how expensive digital technology can be, we tend to think more of saving money on tech than of saving money by using tech. The advantages of this second route can be just as profound, however, netting you significant savings throughout the year. Don’t worry if you’re not the biggest tech-head either, as these approaches all feature shallow learning curves, so you can jump right in without getting lost
VPNs to Find Pricing Differences
When you buy something online, you’re often paying a different price depending on the area you live in. Retailers or providers may adjust prices based on how much they think people in a given area will pay.
By using a VPN, you can fake your location, which can profoundly change how much you pay. Free browser add-ons are a great way to do this, where you can quickly flick between locations and refresh pages to see different prices. From flights to Airbnbs to computer software, simply Google where it’s cheapest in the world to buy, set your VPN to that location, and see what you can find
Source: Pixabay
Re-examine Subscription Plans
Subscription plans are an area that we tend to let acummulate without even realising it. We see each as just a minor payment each month, while forgetting to see the full picture. We also overlook or don’t even notice how many streaming services increase the cost of their plans, as Netflix has done over the last few years. Considering that unused subscriptions are costing UK consumers around £700 million a year, these costs have clearly gotten out of hand.
The simplest approach here is to keep track of your subscription costs in a database document like an Excel sheet. Track the cost of each service, track how much you use it, and then calculate what it costs over a year. You might also want to check your internet plan, as prices tend to fall significantly over time, but providers won’t automatically switch you to a cheaper plan. Strange how you’ll automatically get switched to more expensive streaming plans then, isn’t it?
Keeping On Top of Promotions
Our final piece of advice is to keep an eye on websites which track promotions for your favourite services and activities. If you’re a fan of iGaming, for example, following a casino bonus can help you track special features like deposit matches and free spins. Some services will regularly rotate in new promotions, so if you add these to your start-up list in a browser, you can check them every morning to avoid missing out.
Source: Pixabay
There’s a lot to save in many areas using tech solutions; it’s just a matter of learning the basics and staying diligent. Even if you’re only saving £40 a month, that adds up to nearly £500 a year, which is enough to buy something special come holiday season. The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll see rewards, so if even one of the above ideas sounds good, consider checking it out.
