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  • Back to School Tips: What to Buy and How to Save

    Back to School Tips: What to Buy and How to Save

    When you’re shipping your little ones off to school, the last thing you want is for them to be underequipped. In the modern classroom, things are fast-paced, interconnected and competitive. Getting high marks is harder now than ever before, so making sure your kids are outfitted with the best gear is a must to help them stay competitive. Today we’re going over the must-have tech and best deals you can find on back-to-school gear.

    Back to School Tips

    Only Shop Deals

    Between buying back-to-school clothes, school supplies and new tech the kids might need for school, you might find yourself spending a lot of money on them. This is why we highly recommend you only shop for deals this time of year. If you just buy the first thing you see every time you walk into a store, you’re going to find yourself seriously strapped for cash in no time.

    Make sure you’re getting deals on all school supplies that start around at least 40% off. For clothes, buy either steep discounts, like 30% off or better, or buy secondhand clothes that are significantly cheaper than brand-new. When it comes to tech, it’s okay to buy laptops or tablets that are a few generations behind to save a few hundred bucks. Make sure you make that cash last!

    Don’t Get Distracted

    There are tons of gadgets and gizmos that you might think the kids could need for school. Things like e-readers might seem like sensible purchases until you realize that a tablet does the same thing, but can also double as a notepad and research aid. Don’t let marketing hype trick you into buying tons of stuff that your kid doesn’t actually need for school.

    Another example of this is stores selling back to school clothes in big “sales events” without actually offering significant discounts. Remember, there are tons of stores you can go to in order to find deals on clothes. If you go to a department store and see absurdly high “sale” prices on clothes, it’s best to leave and look for better deals elsewhere.

    Power vs Convenience

    If you plan to buy your kid a laptop for school or for college, it’s best to know what you’re looking at. A lot of high-end laptops might look like they’re great for students, but think critically. How much power does a student really need to write research papers and type notes? A super high-end processor and a 4K screen might be a bit of overkill on a device meant to help with studies.

    We recommend prioritizing a smaller laptop, something like a Chromebook or a netbook. These are less expensive than high-end gaming laptops, offer a smaller, more portable profile, and don’t guzzle battery charge as quickly. These things all make them ideal for putting in a school bag and carrying from class to class to take notes. Your tech-savvy youngster might be begging for a super-powered laptop with tons of RAM and great graphics, but they’ll appreciate not lugging that heavy beast all over campus.

    Fitness Tracker

    If you’re sending a kid off to college and they seem interested in fitness, it might be worth looking into getting them a fitness tracker. Examples like the FitBit and Apple Watch are great for keeping track of time spent exercising and calories burned. They can also serve as handy ways to keep from opening the smartphone and scrolling ad infinitum when it’s study time!

    Many people who use smart watches or fitness trackers that pair with their phones have noted their time saving functionality. Since you don’t have to open your phone to see the time or check an incoming message, you don’t have the same desire to start scrolling through your social media feeds. This frees up that much more time to study and do schoolwork!


  • Back to School Tips: What to Buy and How to Save

    Back to School Tips: What to Buy and How to Save

    When you’re shipping your little ones off to school, the last thing you want is for them to be underequipped. In the modern classroom, things are fast-paced, interconnected and competitive. Getting high marks is harder now than ever before, so making sure your kids are outfitted with the best gear is a must to help them stay competitive. Today we’re going over the must-have tech and best deals you can find on back-to-school gear.

    Back to School Tips

    Only Shop Deals

    Between buying back-to-school clothes, school supplies and new tech the kids might need for school, you might find yourself spending a lot of money on them. This is why we highly recommend you only shop for deals this time of year. If you just buy the first thing you see every time you walk into a store, you’re going to find yourself seriously strapped for cash in no time.

    Make sure you’re getting deals on all school supplies that start around at least 40% off. For clothes, buy either steep discounts, like 30% off or better, or buy secondhand clothes that are significantly cheaper than brand-new. When it comes to tech, it’s okay to buy laptops or tablets that are a few generations behind to save a few hundred bucks. Make sure you make that cash last!

    Don’t Get Distracted

    There are tons of gadgets and gizmos that you might think the kids could need for school. Things like e-readers might seem like sensible purchases until you realize that a tablet does the same thing, but can also double as a notepad and research aid. Don’t let marketing hype trick you into buying tons of stuff that your kid doesn’t actually need for school.

    Another example of this is stores selling back to school clothes in big “sales events” without actually offering significant discounts. Remember, there are tons of stores you can go to in order to find deals on clothes. If you go to a department store and see absurdly high “sale” prices on clothes, it’s best to leave and look for better deals elsewhere.

    Power vs Convenience

    If you plan to buy your kid a laptop for school or for college, it’s best to know what you’re looking at. A lot of high-end laptops might look like they’re great for students, but think critically. How much power does a student really need to write research papers and type notes? A super high-end processor and a 4K screen might be a bit of overkill on a device meant to help with studies.

    We recommend prioritizing a smaller laptop, something like a Chromebook or a netbook. These are less expensive than high-end gaming laptops, offer a smaller, more portable profile, and don’t guzzle battery charge as quickly. These things all make them ideal for putting in a school bag and carrying from class to class to take notes. Your tech-savvy youngster might be begging for a super-powered laptop with tons of RAM and great graphics, but they’ll appreciate not lugging that heavy beast all over campus.

    Fitness Tracker

    If you’re sending a kid off to college and they seem interested in fitness, it might be worth looking into getting them a fitness tracker. Examples like the FitBit and Apple Watch are great for keeping track of time spent exercising and calories burned. They can also serve as handy ways to keep from opening the smartphone and scrolling ad infinitum when it’s study time!

    Many people who use smart watches or fitness trackers that pair with their phones have noted their time saving functionality. Since you don’t have to open your phone to see the time or check an incoming message, you don’t have the same desire to start scrolling through your social media feeds. This frees up that much more time to study and do schoolwork!


  • Saving on Back to School Shopping: Tax-Free Weekend and More

    Saving on Back to School Shopping: Tax-Free Weekend and More

    There are a number of schools of thought when it comes to saving money on school supplies. On the one hand, there’s people who just buy any and every supply under the sun and don’t even check the price tag. Other parents carefully pick and choose which items, and which brands, they’ll be sending their young ones to class with in order to save every penny they can.

    What if you could have the best of both worlds? Shopping for every school supply your kids could possibly need can be pricey, but it ensures they’re well-prepared. Likewise, saving money on supplies is great, but you don’t want your kids to be at a disadvantage in school. Thankfully, you can have your cake and eat it too with our back to school shopping tips!

    Tax-Free Weekend

    Many states offer tax-free weekends around the time back to school shopping season starts. This is usually in early August, so it’s nearly upon us in most states. Check your state online to see if there’s a tax-free weekend coming up. This is the best time to stock up on back to school supplies, though you may need to contend with a bit of a crowd.

    Of course, tax-free is only a portion of the savings you could find when you’re hitting up the stores for discounts. There are many other ways you can find some substantial discounts on your supplies, though you might need to be a bit more careful in your planning than just “I’m shopping on tax-free weekend.” Here are some other ways you can save big while you’re stocking up.

    States that Have Tax-Free Weekends

    The majority of states that have tax-free holidays are in the Southeast. The only exceptions are Georgia and North Carolina, neither of which offer any tax-free holidays. Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio and Connecticut are examples of non-Southern states that have tax-free weekends, as well.

    Weekly Ads

    Make a plan of attack for how you’re saving money by checking out the weekly ads for whatever stores you’re hitting up. Compare and contrast prices between places like Staples, Target and Walmart, and make sure you’re getting the best deals. Be ready to get there early on Saturday morning so you beat out everyone with the same idea as you: otherwise you might miss out on the deal altogether!

    Don’t be afraid to plan to hit multiple stores, either. If one store has a great deal on pencils, but another store has great notebook prices, you’ll want to make sure you go to both and stock up. There’s no reason to pay more in one place if you can get the same items for half the price somewhere else!

    Coupons

    If you really want to pile on the savings, you can go in for coupons. This will require even more forward planning than just selectively buying from the weekly ads, though the potential savings are tremendous. Many retailers get into price wars around this time of year, and their coupons are a big part of that. As such, you’re likely to find incredibly steep discounts on things like binders, calculators and highlighters through coupons during this time of year.

    If you’re able to find a combination of deals that are at the lowest price through both the weekly ads and through coupons, you’re likely going to need to keep track of all of the deals with some kind of list or planner. However, the prep work pays for itself when you can get out with deals as good as half off or better! Stack all of these savings with the tremendous savings you could get from a tax-free weekend and you’re looking at some serious savings.


  • Best Back to School Tech: Keys to Academic Success

    Best Back to School Tech: Keys to Academic Success

    There’s something magical about the first day back at school, isn’t there? Popping new line paper in your binder, busting out freshly sharpened pencils and getting to know all of your new classmates. In 2019, however, there’s more to it than just that: you need to have the right tech for success. What do you need to excel this year at school?

    From the best laptops for taking notes and doing research to the best entertainment devices, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re buying for yourself before you head back to college, or you’re a student asking your folks to get you the hottest new tech, the goal is to save money while getting an edge on the coursework. Let’s take a look at some of the best back to school tech.

    Best Laptop: MacBook

    There’s nothing quite like being able to take notes at the speed you type. While writing is more direct, typing is faster by a wide margin: that’s where a good laptop comes in. Whether you’re a freshman just going into college or a grad student heading in for your doctorate, there’s nothing quite like having a good station to take notes from. What’s more, the newer MacBook models are thin and light, fitting easily in a backpack.

    The bright screen, responsive keyboard and robust suite of creative programs available to Macs are a huge draw for students, as well. If you need to edit photos or videos, record your music or other such creative endeavors, a Mac is the right tool to have on hand. Not to mention, your classmates will likely appreciate the stylishness that the Mac brings to your study time!

    Best Apps: Chegg and Calendar

    Whether you’re an Apple or Android user, the most important app in your phone for going back to school is your calendar app. There are also third-party apps for to-do lists and reminders, though both Android and Apple have such functionality baked into the core of their OS. Make sure you put your class schedule in your phone, as well as reminders for test dates, club meeting times and other extracurricular activities.

    Another important app is Chegg, an online resource that is great for students. It’s replete with resources like books, test prep, study materials and more. It’s a bit pricey, so finding someone to split the cost with could be a good move. In any event, if you need someone on your side to help you with the more free-form feel of college, Chegg is a great resource.

    Best Storage Solution: Google Drive

    Remember: store everything on the cloud as well as on your hard drive. We prefer Google Drive for this, though iCloud is great for Apple fans, too. In either case, it’s important to have cloud backups of all of your materials in case something horrible happens to your laptop or thumb drive. In the event that your hardware is destroyed or lost, you can fall back on your cloud backups.

    Make sure you also save often. There’s nothing more soul-crushing than powering through thousands of words for an essay just to have the battery die on your laptop and you lose all of your hard work. Make sure you remember the shortcut for “save document” and save often! There’s no reason to put yourself at a disadvantage when the unexpected strikes.

    Best Tablet: iPad

    It’s nice to be able to kick back and watch some Netflix or YouTube to unwind from a long day of class and studying. That’s where your tablet comes in. We’re partial to the iPad, but there are other great options out there too. In either event, tablets are great for reading articles or books while relaxing in bed or between classes, and you can even keep up with your emails and planner if you synch the tablet with your phone’s apps.

    The big screen, powerful processor and connectivity features are what make the iPad such a great companion for a college student. When it’s the end of the day and you’re just trying to kick back and enjoy yourself, the tablet is a great way to pay a couple of games or watch a bit of your favorite show before bed.


  • Saving Money on Back to School Clothes

    Saving Money on Back to School Clothes

    Having kids is expensive, there’s no two ways about it. Between their school supplies and back to school clothes, they can be even more expensive around the end of summer. If you’re gearing up to send your kids back to school, you’re probably wondering about the ways you can keep the costs down while still outfitting your little one with some sharp clothes.

    Thankfully, we’re here to help. Today we’re going over some of our tips on how you can save money while shopping for back to school clothes for kids from grade school all the way up through college. Let’s talk saving money!

    Secondhand

    There’s nothing wrong with heading down to the thrift shop and picking up some secondhand clothes for your kids. Here’s the thing about fashion: it’s what you make it. You can find some stylish and inexpensive things at thrift stores without having to even look all that hard. A little bit of creativity can go a long way towards equipping your kid with some stylish new clothes for just a few bucks.

    There are also more “boutique” style secondhand shops like Plato’s Closet that take in secondhand designer clothes. This is a great way to pick up some very stylish clothing on the cheap. Another thing to keep in mind is that buying clothes secondhand is also great for the environment! The more clothes that are bought new, the more clothes get made. These clothes can often end up clogging up landfills when people decide they’re done with them.

    When to Shop

    If you’re going to hit up big department stores, you’re going to need to know when to hit the shops to get the best deals. In particular, you’ll want to hit the stores up on Tuesdays and Fridays for the best prices. Tuesdays, for whatever reason, are the days with the lowest foot traffic in department stores. This means that employees have more free time, sales are down, and managers are more likely to mark items down to get a few sales rolling in.

    Fridays, on the other hand, are when most department stores roll out their new week of sales. It’s also when most stores get their new shipments of clothes. This means that you’re more likely to get the drop on a good deal if you’re shopping on a Friday for new clothes.

    What to Look For

    As a general rule, when you’re shopping for back to school deals, the discounts you want to see should be around 40% off or so. Any discount for less than 40% is likely closer to a “standard” discount, but you’re not looking for the average, you’re looking for better than average. Around 40%, or even higher than that, and you know you’re getting a good deal.

    Make sure you don’t fall for “buy this, get that” deals that make you spend more money than you otherwise would. These look like “deals” but actually make you buy clothes you wouldn’t have even picked up normally.

    Gift Cards

    If you really want to make sure you get the absolute best deal possible for your back to school clothes shopping, you can use discounted gift cards. Typically, you can buy discount gift cards from wholesalers that offload recycled gift cards in bulk. This allows you to save a solid percentage on your shopping without having to fuss with coupons or deal-hunting.

    That being said, when you add all of this together, and even find some coupons on top of that, it’s likely you can get out of a big box retailer for a very low amount of money while still getting great clothes for your kid.