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Recently a friend called and asked me to help her shop for a new digital camera. Always eager for a diversion--especially if it involves shopping--I agreed to meet her at a nearby electronics store.

My friend, a digital photography newbie, hadn't planned to spend a dime more than the camera's $350 price tag. But if you've ever shopped for a digital camera, you know that the process is rarely that simple--or that cheap.

Sure enough, after my friend purchased a memory card larger than the paltry one the camera came with, extra batteries, a charger, a decent case, and a media card reader, her bill was more than $500. And that didn't even include lots of other nice-to-have but nonessential accoutrements she'd once pondered, such as a wide-angle lens, filters, and software for editing images and organizing photos.

Digital cameras may have more accessories than Martha Stewart's living room, but there's no lack of extras--or unplanned expenses--for almost any tech toy you might be considering. The trick for the tech-savvy shopper is to get just the add-ons that you really need and avoid a grand total that takes over your credit card bill. Here's how to figure out which extras are important, along with some suggestions for saving a few bucks on the stuff that you do buy.

The Cartridge Habit

Let's start with printers. Great deals on ink jet models can really suck you in, making you forget the machines' constant hunger for new ink cartridges.

Suppose you're looking at an ink jet printer that costs $120. If you print an average of 500 pages a month, you'll likely be buying replacement cartridges 12 times a year. If those cartridges cost $20 for black and $35 for color, in a year you'll have spent over $650 on ink. You could save by buying recycled or no-name cartridges, but their quality might be spotty.

What's the alternative? If color isn't essential to you, maybe you should take a look at a black-and-white laser printer. A laser toner cartridge costs about $60, but you'll print five times as many pages as you would with a black ink cartridge. Prices for low-end monochrome lasers have dropped to about $150--just the cost of a cartridge or two more than the cost of an ink jet. And low-end color lasers are now as cheap as $400, meaning that anyone who prints hundreds of pages a month should probably consider one.

If you're going to stick with an ink jet printer, think about this: Some ink jets use a separate cartridge for each color, so if you anticipate using more of any particular color--for example, if your company logo is mostly blue--it might be worth considering one of these models.

Some of the impetus for adding accessories comes not from your own needs, but from a salesperson's hype. Such tricks won't work if you're purchasing technology you really know. But if you're buying in a technology category for the first time, you could get stung. A salesperson might try to persuade you to get a foldable keyboard along with a new PDA, or to upgrade to high-end headphones for your MP3 player. (Be especially wary if you place an order online and are asked to call to complete the order; that's often a ploy to get you on the phone with a high-pressure salesperson. For more on such tactics, read "Camera Confidential.")

To resist the hype, whether you're in the market for a digital camera, a notebook computer, or anything else, it's important to determine before you go shopping which specific accessories you must have--and can afford.

Start by deciding exactly how you want to use your new device. If you're perusing digital video cameras, your expenses will be very different depending on whether you plan to produce high-quality marketing films or you just want to record your six-year-old's dance recital. A serious videographer may need to upgrade a PC's processor, add an extra hard drive for all that footage, and spend hundreds of dollars on sophisticated editing software. A home-movie auteur may need little more than what comes with the camera.

Laptop Choices

If you're looking for a notebook PC strictly for business travel, obviously you'll need basics like a good carrying case and extra batteries. But if you plan to use the system as a home-office desktop replacement, you might want to spring for a bigger, higher-resolution monitor, a mouse, or a docking station.

Any notebook these days should be equipped to hop onto a Wi-Fi network. Getting the system equipped at the factory for wireless networking is easier--and not much more expensive. But if you've already set up your home or business network, you might consider installing a wireless access card yourself; that way you can get a card from the same company that manufactured the rest of your network equipment. Doing so could head off compatibility problems and make techs less likely to try to pass the buck if you have to call for support.

No matter how careful you are with your gear, always get a protective case for portable devices like notebooks and PDAs. If you don't already have a surge protector, spend a few bucks for one. And if you're planning to take that new notebook along when you hike the Himalayas, consider shelling out for the accidental-damage protection warranty.

Compare the software that comes bundled with PCs, cameras, and other equipment, since you can save hundreds of dollars if the applications you want are included with the item you're buying.

For many of us, going technology shopping feels a lot like going to the toy store when we were young--we want all the matching outfits, and the action hero's spaceship. But remember, when you get to the cash register, mom and dad won't be paying the bill.