Smart Money: 7 ways to grab a tech bargain

Fire your provider (or at least scare them)

When it’s time to renew, ask to be put through to the cancellations department rather than renewals. They have more power to cut prices or throw in extra stuff for free, and because it’s their job to keep you on, they’ll be more likely to negotiate a deal to change your mind. Do this even if you have no intention of leaving. Make a note of the deals they offer to new customers, and use that as ammunition.

Cover your back

Most warranties you get offered in shops aren’t worth the paper they’re typed on. Shop around at compareextendedwarranties.co.uk – some contents insurance policies allow you to add cover for specific items, so if you’ve got a gadget you want to protect against damage, such as a camera, you can often get it listed without adding too much to your premium.

Don’t replace, Sell smart

If you know a new iPhone or Galaxy is just around the corner, don’t wait for it to be announced before you flog your old one. If you wait, you’ll be one of thousands trying to raise funds for the new model and you’ll get less for your old one, especially if you’re selling to a trade-in programme such as O2 Recycle or Vodafone Trade In.

When you know a new model is on the horizon (new iPhones are usually announced in September and go on sale a few weeks later), flog your phone for as much as possible. You’ll get the best price on eBay: our research shows an average eBay price of over £300 for a Galaxy S6, versus £200ish at trade-in sites.

You’ll have to resort to a burner for a week or so while you wait for the new one to be available, but it’ll be worth it for all the bunce you’ll save. Just don’t forget to wipe the old phone before you send it off. Nobody wants all those selfies. Not even Instagram.

Don’t replace, upgrade

Here at Stuff we know the satisfaction that can be bought by treating yourself to some new tech. But when money’s tight, you can extend the lifespan of your existing kit and get a taste of that gadget joy by simply improving something.

Coveting a new camera? Add a new lens to your photographic arsenal instead. Tempted to replace your PC? Add some more RAM for £30 or a new graphics card for around £100 and you’ll get another year’s gaming.

Get an Invisible Hand

Price comparison sites are hardly new but InvisibleHand makes the whole business more streamlined. It works with Firefox, Chrome and Safari, and will alert you if a product you’re looking at is cheaper elsewhere (although it doesn’t take postage into account). It also works with flights, hotels and rental cars. It’s worth cross-referencing what you find with Google Shopping too.

Hitch a ride on The Camelizer

If a deal looks too good to be true, it often is. Install The Camelizer in Chrome or Firefox and, when you’re on an Amazon product page, you can summon up a load of stats on how its price has fluctuated over its lifetime. If there’s a particular amount you’re willing to pay, you can create alerts so you’ll get an email when it hits that price.

Feel the burn with HotUKDeals

HotUKDeals.com is like walking into a huge marketplace where everyone is shouting in your face in an attempt to sell you their wares. There are thousands of user-submitted offers from all over the internet, but its Chrome and Firefox extensions will show you the 39 most recent deals, so you can jump on anything good as soon as possible.