Smart Ways To Save Money When Buying A New TV

Televisions are, without a doubt, a popular source of entertainment in many American homes. According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), there are currently 285 million televisions in use in American households. If you are purchasing a new television anytime soon, there is a lot to consider concerning features and pricing. Therefore, like any other major purchase, it is crucial to find the best ways to save money, so you don’t break the bank. Here are some of the best ways to save money when buying a new television.

Shop at the right time

Timing often makes a huge difference in saving money on several major purchases, including televisions. This is because retailers price their products differently based on season and demand, and televisions are no exception. Consequently, if you are considering spending several hundred dollars on a brand-new television right now, it might be wise to hold off until a better time. Many retail stores offer huge discounts on televisions during special occasions like Super Bowl week to encourage more consumers to upgrade to a new TV just in time for the big game. School graduation week, Christmas, and the beginning of the NFL season are also great times to buy a television for less. You can also wait till Black Friday to purchase a television because nearly every major retailer will give a discount on electronics during this period. According to experts, the best way to take advantage of these sales is to research presale prices a few weeks before they start. Retailers can be cunning, so be sure that you are getting a good deal before you make the purchase.

Visit discount code and voucher sites

Many websites partner with retailers and other businesses to bring consumers helpful voucher codes and deals. Experts agree that these sites are a must-visit for shoppers looking to save money on purchases. Discount sites such as Net Voucher Codes typically offer various discount voucher codes that all shoppers can use. However, you can sign up to join their platforms to enjoy even more savings since extra special discounts are reserved for members. What’s more, these sites offer great deals in other categories besides electronics, so you can save money on almost every purchase you will ever make moving forward.

Be careful with extended warranties

An extended warranty is a safety plan you can buy to cover any faults and damages to purchased products. Typically, you will find these warranty plans for cars, home warranties, and consumer electronics like computers, smartphones, and television sets. These extended warranties might seem like a wonderful investment at first glance. After all, they protect against possible damage and regret down the line. However, many experts believe that extended warranties for electronics are almost always never worth it. Therefore, don’t overestimate the chances of your television failing because it is highly unlikely that it will. Besides, there are several cheaper and better alternatives to expensive extended warranties even if your television fails. 

For instance, your TV may have a manufacturer warranty that protects it against defects. New televisions usually have manufacturer warranty coverage for one year from the time of purchase, so you can always leverage this if something goes wrong with your TV. Similarly, the store you purchase from likely has flexible return policies that cover product defects and malfunctions. If you are lucky enough, your store will even let you return the TV for no real reason as long as it isn’t damaged. As such, you can rely on store return policies in case something goes wrong instead of outrightly purchasing an extended warranty that may never come in handy.

Consider older models

Like many other tech products, televisions improve every year when new models are released. Indeed, today’s televisions come with sharper picture quality, larger screens of various curvatures, and higher definition resolutions than models from a few years ago. If you are a true couch potato or a technophile, seeing these latest models will definitely stir excitement and make you consider splurging. However, it is prudent to consider whether you really need the latest television, largest screen, or sharpest resolution on the market. These features are nice to have, but they are not essential. Therefore, you can probably do with a slightly older model that will provide a similar viewing experience and save you hundreds of dollars.

Use a cash-back credit card

A new TV is a significant expense on its own. If you are purchasing a new TV due to relocation or as part of a home improvement plan, you likely have other huge expenses that will make acquiring it even more challenging. Therefore, buying a new television is the best time to bring out your cash-back credit card to save money. According to a 2021 Bankrate poll, 41% of American adults identify cash-back as their favorite credit card feature. This percentage is way higher than those who favored wide acceptance, low interest, travel rewards, and low fee cards. There are many great cash-back credit cards to consider, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card and Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, so keep this in mind.

Conduct comparison shopping

It is common knowledge that anything you purchase is likely to be sold at a more expensive or cheaper price somewhere else. Therefore, one of the best ways to know you are getting the best deal on a product is to compare its price with that of competitors to discover whether there are any significant differences. For starters, make a list of about five to seven televisions you are most interested in. Then, read their reviews at reputable sites like PCMag.com and CNET.com to ensure that they are worth investing in. Also, visit sites like Amazon to check out their online prices, so you can have a figure to compare against when you go to the store. You might find a huge difference between the two prices, giving you a clear idea of how to proceed to save some cash.