Off the top of your head, can you remember the number of gadgets you own?

According to a survey conducted by Sophos, today’s users carry an average of 2.9 gadgets, with smartphones leading the popularity contest. Amazingly, the most number of gadgets carried by a single respondent was 12. And we’re just talking about the ones they carry, not the total number they own.

Gadget craze seems to be at an all-time high, with people trading in their months-old smartphone for the latest in the market or, in some cases, making their own collection of electronics. It’s one thing if you actually need the whole array of smartphone, tablet, ebook reader, DSLR camera, laptop and computer; it’s another to buy them just for the sake of owning them. Don’t buy into all the hype. Be a wise consumer: think about the value of the product, and evaluate if it’s something that you’ll actually use and appreciate.

Let’s take a look at some questions we can ask ourselves before we make our next big purchase:

Personal vs. Business: Do you really need two different phones?

I know more than a few people who have multiple mobile phones. Their reasons vary from wanting to have different service providers to just wanting to have several phones, period, but I’ve found that the most common reason is that they want to keep their work separate from their personal life. Now though, there are options that’ll allow you to use a single phone for work and play, without compromising either aspect.

RingCentral business phone service lets users send and receive work-related calls and messages from their personal smartphone with the help of RingCentral’s own mobile app. There’s a way to maximize the use of your smartphone, and that makes for one less gadget to worry about.

Tablet vs. Laptop: What meets your work requirements?

The popularity of tablets is undeniable. In fact, NPD Display Search estimates that tablet sales in the US will exceed laptops at 240 million versus 207 million. Both devices are portable and allow for browsing, gaming and working. However, the tablet takes the cake in terms of portability and in general, affordability. So why think twice?

There’s the issue of usage. Laptops have the whole shebang—the keyboard, a large screen, and most importantly, powerful processors, making it ideal for jobs that involve a lot of research, design and programming. You can also choose how light you want to go without necessarily compromising your laptop’s power. But if your work requires only the basic word processing and editing coupled with a lot of traveling, a tablet might do the trick. You don’t even have to worry about typing because you can hook up your tablet with a keyboard case or a Bluetooth keyboard. Just be extra careful with your tablet’s touchscreen to avoid any unwanted mishaps.

Tablet vs. Ebook Reader: How do you unwind?

This might be one of the easiest decisions you’ll have to make; in fact, it might not even be a question for most. The most important thing you have to think about is how you spend your leisure time. If you’re mostly into movies and games with some magazines on the side, then it’s a no-brainer: the tablet’s the way to go. If you like to read for hours at a time, the ebook reader’s for you—that is, if you actually want to trade in your paperbacks for digital copies. The idea of an ebook reader may appear intriguing to bookworms, but the reality of it is very different. I know people who bought e-readers, only to set them aside in favor of real paper. I suggest borrowing a friend’s Kindle first or trying out a model at a store to get a feel for it.

I’ve had my Kindle for almost three years new, and I’m in love with its handiness and the fact that it gives me access to my entire library. My sister keeps asking me if I plan on getting an iPad and I always tell her that I’d rather buy the latest Kindle Paperwhite. I’ve found the perfect balance of smartphone, laptop and ebook reader, and I couldn’t be happier.

What about you? What are your gadgets of choice?