Strategies for Purchasing a Laptop for Your Student at a Significant Discount
Saving on Back-to-School Laptops: A Guide for Families
As the new school year approaches, the focus is on getting it right the first time when it comes to back-to-school laptop shopping. With a budget of around $300 for electronics, families are looking for ways to save without compromising on price and performance.
Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls recommends finding ways to save when buying electronics for back-to-school. One of the key strategies is shopping during seasonal sales offering significant discounts. Sites like Amazon, Best Buy, Lenovo, and HP often have laptops heavily discounted, sometimes to all-time low prices. For instance, Amazon currently has MacBook Air models starting at $799, which is less than typical sale prices.
Another way to save is by utilizing student discount programs from major brands such as Apple, Microsoft, Lenovo, and Logitech. These often require verification of student status and can provide 5-35% off laptops and accessories. Apple has an Educational Savings program, Microsoft offers no-interest financing and discounted software subscriptions, and Lenovo extends additional savings for students.
Exploring refurbished or certified pre-owned laptops is also a recommended approach for families looking to save money. Retailer websites and specialized outlets like Amazon Renewed, Best Buy Outlet, and eBay Refurbished offer a variety of refurbished electronics with warranties. The benefit of purchasing through LaptopSchools is that they'll also help with service and repairs.
Moreover, families can save by taking advantage of bundled promotions, such as HP’s back-to-school sale where buying laptops along with monitors or accessories can earn an extra 10% off.
For those seeking additional savings, using sites like RetailMeNot for coupons and cashback offers can help save money when buying brand new electronics.
For low-income families, organisations like Computers for Classrooms offer refurbished laptops for as little as $125. Many school districts also offer students the option to check out a laptop if a student doesn't have access to a computer at home. Programmes like Clovis Unified's laptop checkout service and Central Unified's School2Home Technology Assistance Program are examples of this.
Fresno Unified has the "The Student Laptop 1:1 Program" which provides laptops to students.
The National Retail Federation predicts families with students in elementary through high school will spend an average of $860 on back-to-school shopping this year. By combining these strategies—timing purchases during sales, verifying student eligibility for discounts, considering refurbished options, and shopping on the recommended platforms—families can reduce the financial burden of back-to-school laptop buying significantly.
Recommended websites and resources for coupons, student discounts, and refurbished laptops include Amazon Student/Prime for Young Adults, Best Buy Student Hub, Apple Education Store, Microsoft Store Education, Lenovo Education Store, HP Online Store Back-to-School Sale, and Discounts for AAA Members.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/MacBook-Air-13-inch-Intel-Core-i5/dp/B086J86B6K [2] https://www.cnet.com/how-to/back-to-school-2021-the-best-deals-on-laptops-and-chromebooks/ [3] https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjaffe/2021/08/02/back-to-school-shopping-2021-how-to-save-on-laptops-and-other-tech/?sh=66d588c66c1b [4] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/shopping/back-to-school-2021-the-best-laptop-deals-for-students/ar-AAQv5RU [5] https://www.hpb.com/us/shop/back-to-school-sale
- To save on home-and-garden expenses while shopping for back-to-school items, families can explore refurbished or certified pre-owned laptops from retailers like Amazon Renewed, Best Buy Outlet, or eBay Refurbished, offering economical options with warranties.
- For those interested in lifestyle improvements and cutting costs during back-to-school shopping, utilizing student discount programs from brands such as Apple, Microsoft, Lenovo, and Logitech can provide substantial savings, often up to 35%, with proper verification of student status.
