Portable electronic equipment has a hidden operating cost. You wont find it listed on the price tag, or mentioned in the advertising, but by the end of a year of use, you may well have matched the cost of the component with what youve paid for batteries to keep it running.

Batteries arent cheap, and keeping a fresh supply on hand can result in operating expenses of five dollars a week to five dollars a year, depending on the component they power. There are some ways to keep battery costs at a minimum, and they should be kept in mind when shopping for components.