When the back-to-school season hits, the to-do list and shopping runs can feel absolutely out of control. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the supplies we need to buy and tech we need to upgrade.
That’s why our team has worked pretty much nonstop since the start of summer to find some great tech tools and gear. These must-haves can really help busy families stay within a budget and keep everyone safe (online and off) this back-to-school season and beyond.
Stop with the budget-breaking smartphones already…
All of a sudden, everybody in the family needs a phone. This can mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, flying out of your pocket just to keep everyone connected. To save your hard-earned money, think out of the box and look into something like the Straight Talk Family Plan. It’s pre-paid. (No surprise bills or sticker shock!) You can get two lines for $75 for each line per month and keep adding on lines for just $25 more. This includes unlimited data, and you don’t have to use autopay to get the best rate, giving you more choice and flexibility for paying.
Price: Two-line accounts with unlimited data are now just $75 per month, and four-line plans are just $25 per line per month for a significant monthly savings of $80
Go for refurbished gadgets to save even more $$$
Another little gem among those in the know is eBay Refurbished. You can save a lot of money on tech here. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your laptop or find dorm-room essentials, it’s a great place to look for back-to-school must-haves (including some of our favorite back-to-school gadgets for your kiddos). It’s a solid money-saving tech option because everything sold via eBay Refurbished gets thoroughly screened. They also have to meet rigorous program standards. Products also come with an up-to-two-year warranty, an eBay Money Back Guarantee, and ship for free. Nobody else will know you didn’t spend retail like they did … unless you brag a little, of course.
Here’s our latest haul: nearly $300 off an iRobot Roomba EVO robot vacuum, 50% off Sony headphones and you can even find rare discounts on a coveted Apple iPad 11 Pro.
Find it all at eBay.com/eBayRefurbished.
Want a more flexible way to pay?
Looking for an easy way to manage your budget a little more wisely online? Check out PayPal’s Pay Later option. This is a great tech tool for busy families that can raise the bar on financial flexibility by allowing split payments over time. For some people, this is an absolute lifesaver. The way it works is really simple. Whenever you checkout with PayPal, select “Pay Later.” That gives you the choice to make payments every two weeks or monthly so you can find an option that works best for your budget and specific needs.
Learn more at www.paypal.com/buynowpaylater
But … don’t skimp on your safety!
Protect every part of your family’s digital life with a safeguard like Kaspersky Premium. It watches out for your kids’ privacy and keeps everyone’s laptops and mobile devices safe while they’re learning, browsing, or streaming online. It also secures sensitive data by stopping cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. This fully-loaded security suite comes with an unlimited VPN that prevents third-party tracking, a password manager for all of your online accounts, and parental controls to block adult content, monitor social media, and limit screen time outside of school. It works across all platforms and they’re it’s 15% off right now with coupon code B2S23.
Price: $66.29 with coupon code B2S23 (15% off 77.99 for 1 year – protects up to 10 devices)
WiZ Indoor Camera to keep an eye on your abode
The new WiZ Indoor Camera lets you check in on your home from an app on your smartphone. Use the real-time video streaming feature and two-way talk so you can tell your kids to get their homework done before you get home! You can also get notifications when it detects sound or motion, and they have this feature they call SpaceSense technology that lets your WiZ bulbs act as motion sensors. Which is very cool. The WiZ app lets you control your lights remotely too. I love this because it can make it look like someone’s at home when you are, in fact, traveling the globe. You can also program your lights to auto-turn off or on when you leave or enter a room. It all works without a hub or any additional wiring.
Price: $69.99