The back-to-school season comes around the same time every year, but like the holidays, it tends to sneak up on parents — and their bank accounts. Last year, the National Retail Federation estimated that parents would spend a record average of $789.49 doing back-to-school shopping for children and about $1,059.20 shopping for college-aged kids. That’s a lot of money for pencils and glue (and MacBooks).
As the Tech Guru and CEO of Senior Savvy, I educate thousands weekly on the tech skills they need to thrive in today’s digital world. I want to share my best budget tech picks with you so that you can make your back-to-school dollars stretch.
Back-to-school budget tech:
Flex it FREE with Chrome OS Flex – Refresh your older devices with a modern operating system and extend their lifespan to reduce e-waste. Chrome OS Flex is a new cloud-first, fast, easy-to-manage, and secure Chrome OS for PCs and Macs. The OS is in early access mode, and you only need a USB drive to try it today. Free!
Charging Champs! Getting stuck without the correct charger can lead to costly impulse purchases. The SDBAUX-Multiple-Connectors cable provides a 4-in-1 design with 3 different USB ports so you can charge your iPad and your Samsung Galaxy and power up your Ring light. I love the mixed color matching, military nylon weaving, and 4 feet length. 2 pack for under $10
JLab Joy! Every back-to-school list includes headphones or earbuds, but you don’t have to spend $$$ to get a high-quality option. The JLab Go Air Pop earbuds feature 8+ hours of playtime in each earbud and 24+ extra hours from the charging case. Use either earbud independently or use both together. A built-in microphone ensures clear calls. I love using the integrated USB cable.
Power Hub! Your new laptop might be blazing fast and super lightweight, but it probably doesn’t have as many ports as you’d like. The Sabrent-4-Port is an excellent option for students. It’s compact, measuring 3 x 1.4 inches, and includes three USB-A ports and one USB-C connection. That should let you connect accessories like mice and keyboards and even access files on a thumb drive while working on a group project. $10