If you are holding onto your aging printer or cracked smartphone longer than you had planned, you are not alone.

Heather Mitchell, 69, retired and living in Tucson, Arizona, is content with her phone even though it is old by smartphone standards.

"My Samsung Galaxy A71 is six-years-old. It's hanging in there surprisingly well for a jalopy. I've had issues with it, and still do, but they are minor," said Mitchell. "I love Samsung phones, but can not afford a new one right now. A new phone would be a luxury."

The average American now holds onto their smartphone for 29 months, according to a recent survey by Reviews.org , and that cycle is getting longer. The average was around 22 months in 2016.

While squeezing as much life out of your device as possible may save money in the short run

See Full Page