Back to school: Getting more for the money

Published 10:13 am Thursday, August 16, 2012

 

Pens, pencils and notebooks are slowly disappearing from back to school lists as new technology takes hold of the 21st century classroom.
Current and future generations of students will never experience taking notes by hand using pen and paper.  Now they need nothing more than a computer or a tablet and access to Wi-Fi or 4G to succeed.
But these new essentials come with a hefty price tag.  According to the National Retail Federation, more than $83 billion will be spent on school supplies for K-12 and college students this year, and parents are looking for ways to buy the latest equipment without spending a fortune.
As the first day of school approaches for parents and students in St. Clair County, there are ways to consider cutting costs.
—Order online.
Websites often offer free shipping for purchases exceeding a specific dollar amount and offer online coupons for discounts, and discount websites offer new and used items at a fraction of the cost. Customers are not forced to rely on the availability of in-store items.
—Take advantage of free offers.
With many big item purchases, companies often reward customers.  This year Apple is providing $100 gift cards for downloads from the App Store and iTunes with qualifying orders.  Likewise Dell and Microsoft are giving away free Xbox 360s to customers who purchase computers $699 or more.
—Consider renting instead of buying.
If classes require expensive equipment or pricey textbooks that will be useless after the class is finished, compare the costs of renting to buying those items or borrowing items from friends who already completed those courses.
—Get cash.
For students needing equipment upgrades, they take advantage of trade-in offers and get cash for old items.  Find stores willing to offer free appraisals on items to be traded in.
—Compare options.
Search for the most bang for your buck and figure what is available within your budget.  Compare brands, prices and feature options for tablets, computers and other essentials.  Also consider buying refurbished items instead of brand new ones.
—Use student discounts.
Look for student discounts whenever possible because more discounts exist than people realize.  For example, Apple offers education discounts on computers, software and other products, and Amazon has a six month trial offer that allows students with a .edu email address to take advantage of exclusive discounts, two-day shipping and streaming video access.  When the trial membership expires, students have the option to purchase a membership for $39 a year.