15 Apr

Loving Apple is Getting Expensive

Apple is a great brand. They were the first to put out a music player (the iPod) that really hit the mainstream. The iPhone was the first smartphone to offer the amazing touchscreen, apps and rotating display that people are starting to expect from their cell phones today. And Macs are arguably the best computers on the market. But there’s a problem with the fact that Apple is so great. The problem is that they just keep making great stuff and it can become very easy to spend too much money on things that you might not need just because Apple is making them.

Apple’s Newest Products

Apple has gone crazy lately with releases and announcements about new products. The iPad is the big new product that everyone is talking about. Cheaper than a laptop but more expensive than an iPhone, this little tablet offers you the chance to view videos and enjoy gaming anytime right at your fingertips. The iPad was barely released in the United States when Apple made some big announcements about huge changes to the iPhone 4 OS. The new OS for the iPhone offers major changes that iPhone fans are going to want to have. And then there’s the brand new Macbook from Apple that followed immediately on the heels of the OS announcement.

There’s nothing wrong with Apple trying to put out the latest and hottest new technology. There’s nothing wrong with the company releasing item after item in order to dominate a market that is finally starting to experience some real competition. But it can be way too easy to get wrapped up in the hype surrounding these frequent new releases. Today you want an expensive iPad. Tomorrow you’re thinking maybe you need to upgrade to the new Macbook. And then this summer you might want to get a brand new iPhone so that you can take advantage of all of the features of the new OS. None of these things are cheap and they add up quickly.

Products Become Outdated before their Price Declines

The biggest problem for consumers with these constant rapid releases is that you never have a chance to purchase Apple products at a low cost. With many other types of technology, the price point goes down after the initial hype. For example, when DVD players first came out they were prohibitively expensive but now they’re available at a low cost for everyone. Likewise, 3D televisions are likely to be released at a high price but to drop quickly as competition enters the market. In contrast, Apple products change so much from one version to the other that you don’t want to pay for the outdated product.

A great example is the iPhone 2 OS. It’s a great phone. However, it can’t be upgraded to the full OS 4 version when that’s released. This means that you can go ahead and pay a lower price for someone’s used iPhone 2 OS but you won’t have the things that you want. By the time that OS 4 starts to drop in price, OS 5 will be released. This makes it difficult to ever get a bargain on older Apple products that makes it worth getting the older product.

Apps are Adding Up

Another big issue that we have to pay attention to as frugal consumers is the cost of apps and downloads. It’s really easy to access Apple apps. They’re increasingly popular these days for not only the iPhone but also for the new iPad. Although there are many free apps, there are also a lot of apps that you pay money for. The price can seem low but when you spend a little bit here and a little bit there and you’re constantly downloading new apps, that cost adds up. Plus not all apps are cheap. In fact, some are quite expensive. If you were to purchase the 5 most expensive iPad apps right now, you’d spend over £1100 ($1750).

How to Love Apple but Stay Frugal

It’s possible to be a true Apple fan without spending a fortune. Here are some tips:

• Know which Apple products are worth their cost. Buying a Mac computer can actually be a frugal decision in comparison to buying a cheap PC since they last longer and retain their resale value over time.
• Take the time to think about what you are buying. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the latest Apple hype that you feel like you absolutely have to have the hottest new products. You don’t. Make smart consumer choices and only buy the Apple products that are truly right for you.
• Get the products early. Since the price point doesn’t go down very much on Apple products over time, it’s worth it to get the ones that you want at the early stages of release. This allows you to use them for the maximum amount of time before they become outdated.
• Limit your apps purchases. Set a budget and track your spending to make sure that you are not wasting more money than you want to be spending for iPhone and iPad apps.
• Resell your Apple products. Although most people want the latest new Apple products, there are people out there who will be willing to buy your used products. Resell what you’re no longer using before you get a new Apple product to help offset your Apple spending.
• Find ways to save money buying Apple products. Look for discount codes and deals to reduce the cost of your Apple products.
• Keep an open mind about alternative products. Apple fans are die-hard fans who often wholeheartedly believe that there are no other brands that can compete with Apple’s products. While that may be true about some products, it’s not always true. Be open to doing comparisons with other brands just to make sure that you’re getting the best value for your money when you buy from Apple.

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