Frugality

How to Save Money on Software and Why It’s Important

Software is what brings value to a computer. Without software, it would just be a piece of equipment you aren’t able to use. In a household, there are multiple devices depending on the number of family members who live under that roof. Even though they don’t come up on top as one of the biggest expenses of the household, software can be quite the penny drainer if you’re not careful. People often times fail to recognize the true costs of software and end up spending huge amounts of money on software when it could have been easily avoided.

How to save money on software

There are multiple ways in which you can start saving money on software. Most of these tips revolve around finding deals and making sure that you don’t just jump for the first offer that is thrown in your face. So if you’re ready to explore your options, be sure to check the rest of this article.

Keep an eye out for deals

No matter what kind of software you are trying to buy, make sure there aren’t any ongoing deals before you settle on a purchase. Software is easy to sell online and there is almost always some kind of sale or offer that you could use to get off cheaper. Websites like couponbuffer is where you can find those kinds of deals and save a pretty penny in the process.

Look for an off brand

When it comes to very important tasks on which the financial stability of your family might depend, sure, go for the most used and efficient solution out there. However, when you’re looking at smaller tasks that don’t hold as much value, don’t let your ego get in the way of you getting an off brand software solution. They often offer the same features but without the flashy brand logo that everyone knows. Explore marketplaces for such alternatives before buying the most expensive app there.

Always look for family deals

If you want the same antivirus or streaming service available on all your household’s devices, make sure you don’t individually buy it for all of them. Service providers recognize the need for having all the home’s devices protected or equipped for entertainment and almost always offer package deals based around the idea of sharing software with the rest of your family. These are a lot cheaper and let you install software on all your devices.

Always try the free version free

There is an alarming number of people that choose to ignore the free version of software before buying the full version. In many cases, the free version might be just enough for what you need. That means that you are spending money on extra feature you don’t actually need or use. Trying the free version is, well, free. So there’s no reason why you shouldn’t.

James Hendrickson

James is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek.  When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College.  He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.