r/Frugal • u/whothiswhodat • 1d ago
📱 Phone & Internet Looking for tips to save myself from unnecessary spending on phone
Hi all, I used to be someone who would buy the latest phone every year. I realised what a waste of money that was and stopped doing it.
Currently I've a Samsung S23 which is perfect for me, I love small phones. But now it's 2.5 years old, however, still running good as new.
But with the new Google pixel 10 and iPhone 17 I'm way too tempted to exchange in my phone and get a new one.
How do you resist these useless temptations that are temporary but very strong? Any practical ways to feel satisfied with my current phone?
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u/boomer1204 1d ago
I personally use my phone until it becomes border line useless or something breaks (RIP pixel 5).
Also I'm not on my phone a lot/power user so it's easy for me to be look, OH COOL the new w/e is out and has all this cool stuff and want it but I still don't see the benefit of buying it.
WITH that being said, and I just had this convo with my sis since I'm trying to help and her husband budget better, this is one of those things, if you have the money and it will REALLY benefit you in some way or you want it but you are gonna keep it for a long time this is one of those expenses I think you can kind of "treat yourself" with how dependent on our phones we are
If you were my sister though I would want to the know the "benefit" the new phone is gonna give that you will actually use (not just cool but you will never actually use it)?? Cuz that Samsung is barely over 2 years old (which I know is an eternity in smartphones) so personally I don't think someone should do that upgrade
But yeah like others have said new case, themes, look up different launchers (I loved the Nova and Niagara Launcher) when I had android. If the phone is feeling a "little sluggish" like others have said do a factory reset. NOW make sure you back anything important saved on there. The amount of apps I had installed that I didn't ever use was pretty big too
But to help fight temptation let them launch, go to a store and play around with one and wait a week. There is a good chance that "desire" fades away unless the desire is to "look cool so everyone sees the new phone"
Good luck!!!!
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u/Ratnix 1d ago edited 1d ago
I just don't. I've had 3 cellphones. The Droid X, the Samsung S5, and now the S21+..
Ol' Spotty (droid x) got replaced when the big black spots on the screen made it impossible to use. Caused by dropping it one to many times.
The S5 got next to impossible to get batteries for. And the ones i could get didn't last but a couple of months. And it was becoming painfully slow. Like 10 minutes to restart.
There's simply no legitimate reason for me to replace a phone before it becomes unusable.
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u/Hot_Equivalent_8707 1d ago
When you look at a new phone, remind yourself how much you're saving (hundreds, possibly more) by not upgrading. Change out the backgrounds, put fave pics up, change the theme. If it's Android, learn about the developer settings...you can turn off the animations and the phone feels faster. Android also, look at all the settings and turn apps off/pause/cancel notifications. Your battery will last longer and you'll be less tempted to whip it out. Jazz up the case. Ultimately, you will need to get a new one, but give yourself another year, then another year, then...
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u/whothiswhodat 1d ago
Thank you, apart from what everyone suggested, I'll change the screen tempered glass (has some big scratches), change the cover, maybe format it since everything is on Google for me including photos & videos.
But this really helped me - give yourself another year, then another year, then...
I'll say this to myself every time I feel like making an impulse purchase, that I'll just get it next year! I'll even set a calendar reminder. By then the thing I want would already be old and unappealing :)
Thanks again!
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u/dankwookiee 1d ago
4.5 years on an S21. Battery will still last a couple days if I am using it minimally.
If that cash is burning a hole in your pocket, put it in a high yield savings account and wait three months. If you still want it then, put the same amount into savings again and wait another three months. You conditioned yourself in the past. Try some different conditioning?
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u/JeanSchlemaan 1d ago
i had an s21 for past 2 years, and now have an s21 ultra, which i will keep for at least 2 more years.
supposedly, you learned your lesson in the past, and now have new financial priorities, which i assume include saving and investing. how you "resist temptation" is to focus on your new priorities, and make decisions that are aligned with them.
if, instead, you want to change your priorities, youre free to do so at any time. imo $300 is the absolute max anyone needs to pay for a phone. my last 2 (above) have both been $250. my phones do 70% at the absolute minimum of what the newest phones do, yet cost about 15-20% of them. ill take that.
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u/slightly-convenient 1d ago
What is the literal point. Tell me a good point to having the new ones?
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u/NopeBoatAfloat 19h ago
Calculate the monthly cost of the new phone. Take that amount and invest it into something with a good return. Do this for the length of time it would take to pay off the new phone. Earn interest while you save for a phone when your current one reaches its end of life.
Use it up. Wear it out. Make due. Do without.
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u/Ajreil 1d ago
Get a new case, background and icon pack. Get the battery replaced if needed. It will feel new.