Tech hacks

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

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Replace the battery in your existing phone to restore performance and extend its lifespan.
A new battery can make the phone work like new and last for several more years.
4 people, independently
Keep using your current phone if it still functions rather than buying a new one.
Avoids spending hundreds of dollars unnecessarily; one user successfully used a Note 3 for four years.
one person who lived it
Judge phones by their actual quality rather than brand reputation.
Brand quality can change over time, with good brands turning bad and vice versa.
one person who lived it
Use durable phone cases instead of monthly insurance to protect devices long-term.
Good cases work fine and are cheaper than insurance in the long term.
one person who lived it
Prefer paying more for new phones to ensure expected reliability, as refurbished units are unpredictable.
Buying refurbished is described as a 'crap shoot' with mixed results.
- Some argue refurbished phones are fine if they come with a warranty or money-back guarantee.
one person who lived it

Keep your work phone totally separate from your personal phone.
that boundary's worth protecting
one person who lived it
Spend extra to ensure durability for a phone used daily.
It is worth the cost to ensure a device you always carry survives.
one person who lived it
Avoid using phones that no longer receive software updates if they contain sensitive information.
Without OS security updates, you lose control over what information the device collects, which is not frugal.
- If the device does not maintain finances or buy things and contains no sensitive information, it may be largely fine.
one person who lived it
Consider that some people prefer spending money on experiences like holidays rather than material goods like new phones.
It can cost less and be preferred over having the latest device.
one person who lived it

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Reframe the desire for a new phone as a pursuit of a dopamine hit and find other exciting activities instead.
one person who lived it
Refuse company requests to use personal devices for work by citing security and paperwork separation concerns.
To keep paperwork straight and maintain personal and work security.
one person who lived it