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By Sarah Modlock

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In a world where there is always something bigger, faster, clearer and generally guaranteed to impress your mates, it's important that the price is right.

Even the average child now has £1,260 worth of gadgets in their room; with one in 10 parents admitting that their child's room is home to more than £2,500 worth of technology according to Co-operative Insurance. Many men would actually swap their partner (if they had to) for the latest 'must-have' gadget; a GfK NOP survey reveals that one in eight men would consider trading-in their loved one for the latest sought-after electrical goods such as iPods, widescreen and HDTV or home cinema systems. If your chap is happier snuggling up to his Playstation in the evenings then watch out.

Chaps are also likely to fib about the cost of their new techno-toys say Halifax Home Insurance, with 41% of grown-up boys lying about the price of electronic equipment, such as a Playstation 3 or iPod. All the more reason to get value for money when you buy new technology.

The general rule of thumb is to be patient. It may be tough to wait until the euphoria dies down but if you can hold back from buying until at least six months after new technology is launched then you could save around 50% as other mugs take up the new trends and the prices drop.

Televisions

The array of goggle-boxes is mind-boggling. When buying, don't just think about your budget but consider the size, picture quality and convenience.

Yes, yes, we know that size matters but before you get involved in competitive screen-buying, think carefully about whether you really have the room. Bigger screens mean that you will need to more viewing room so unless you have a large enough space, you could end up sitting in the garden to enjoy your new purchase. If the TV is not being hung on the wall but will be in the corner of the room then you can avoid splashing out on the slimmest screens and opt for a traditional CRT TV, which will not only be much cheaper but will also have the longest life expectancy - 12 years or more. Retailers say that it's a myth that these 'old style' TVs do not give a better picture than plasma screens.

Rush out and buy a cheap plasma screen and it's likely to be a false economy in terms of picture quality. Generally speaking, the more expensive end of the market is likely to be much better value in the long run so watch out for 42" plasma screens and bargain prices. These models are likely to have a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, which is native 4:3 stretched to widescreen and too low to accurately display 625 line broadcast TV. Bear in mind that the brightness of a plasma TV begins to permanently decrease from the moment you switch it on and their tendency to 'burn' static images such as channel logos onto the screen gives them a low shelf-life of around three years of average viewing.

LCD TVs have been a long time coming as experts had to make them work fast enough to carry a video image. They can have contrast problems and be hard to view from certain angles but weigh less and use half the energy of plasma screens. Try before you buy and keep and eye on prices, which are coming down all the time.

It will also pay to wait as long as possible before buying HDTV. Prices will drop and the all-important but more expensive HD-DVDs and HD-Sky box (£299) will cost more, along with the eye-watering expense of replacing your existing DVD collection to enjoy the clarity your screen can provide.

DVD players

When DVD players were first launched they cost hundreds of pounds. These days you can put one in your trolley at the local supermarket for around £20. Now the next generation of DVD players is arriving along with new costs. Sony and Toshiba are head-to-head with Blu-ray and HD-DVD respectively, in a battle which reminds anyone over a certain age of the Betamax -v- VHS video format war of the 1980s. Even Hollywood studios are choosing between the two, so don't make your own choice too quickly. Sony has cut £50 off the price of the BDP-S300 so it now costs around £250. That's half what the firm's first Blu-ray player cost at its launch six months ago. Toshiba's HD-DVD retails at around £150.

Games consoles

PS3 is a classic example of the breed of consoles which are not just designed for games but can be used as a complete entertainment systems. But if there is a problem with the console it affects each different function, you may be grateful for insurance cover. From March this year, retailer Game has been offering extensions to the standard manufacturer's guarantee on their consoles by either one or two years for protection against accidental damage and break down, costing around £39.99.



Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com highlights the following models for value: Garmin StreetPilot i3 (refurbished) £85 delivered, NavMan F20 £117.49 incl delivery, Medion PNA150 £93.84 incl delivery, TomTom ONE UK Edition £142 incl delivery and Medion GoPal PNA 350 £135 delivered. He also advises buyers to check their local Tesco and Halfords who sometimes offer bargain £60 sat-navs (if there are any left). "Since Sat Navs are pretty complex bits of kit, be sure to check out these models yourself to find one that best fits your needs," he advises . "If you're to stay up to date you'll need to pay for updates every once in a while. Prices vary depending on which model you have, but expect to pay at least £20 each time, plus extra for speed camera locations (these can also be paid for separately)."