Now that I think about it, it was actually “tax free” weekend so it was like 3 discounts combined. Our sales tax is 8.5% but they have a weekend in August when school supplies, including computers, are tax free.
Thanks everyone for sharing your student’s laptop. I feel DS’s proposal is OK now.
What state are you in? I am familiar with the back to school tax free days for clothing and minor supplies (under $25) but not computers. The tax savings could be significant. It could be worth a short trip if its close to home of DD’s school.
In Florida, a computer up to $750 can be tax free. Usually it’s the first weekend in Aug.
Laptops/computers are also tax-free the first weekend in August in my state which was when we bought D’s laptop last year. However, the software (Micrsoft Office for Mac) and the laptop case were not tax free. The limit for a tax-free computer here is $1000.00.
DS (a CS major with a focus on game programming) and I splurged on a new laptop - we split the cost of a pretty ‘wackadoo’ gaming laptop. He used summer earnings and from us it was a graduation/birthday present. It was $1800, and we got a 3-year warranty that includes drops and spills. He loves it and uses it for everything. For a kid to whom the computer is not 97% of their whole world, I would think $1,000 should be sufficient, unless you want an Apple (I don’t really know how much they are, we’re a Windows/Linux family).
My daughter got a Macbook Pro last year also. I don’t recall the exact price but it’s almost 2K. I thought it was overpriced but she wanted one and was using Christmas/Birthday/Graduation money that she saved.
My DS has a MacBook Pro, which he loves. He is on the prowl, though, for an additional second-hand Windows desktop for some engineering software.
Also, if you are looking at Apple, be sure to check out the Education Store area of Apple. College and high school students (and teachers) always get a discount. I think it is limited to one computer per person per year. You only have to agree that you are, indeed, eligible. We found some “packages” that appeared inexpensive, but when we looked on our own, we could get better rated and more inexpensive peripherals by NOT bundling and taking the educational discount.
Apple also has excellent deals on refurbished items, which come with a full warranty.
@AvonHSDad - I’m in SC. Probably out of your way unless you are vacationing in these parts. Tax free weekend is Aug 7-9th this year. It includes clothing, footware, school supplies, computers (no price limit), computer software, printers, printer supplies, bed linens, bath towels and other items. I usually skip tax free weekend because I hate shopping in crowds. Last year, however, I shopped all 3 days for college - 1 for dorm, 1 for clothing and shoes, and 1 for school supplies and electronics. It about killed me, but the savings were substantial.
@Overtheedge - thanks for the info. That would be a great way to partially outfit DS’s (HS-2011) new apartment for law school in NC but we are returning from vacation that weekend and flying from FL back to home in OH. If we were driving it would work out perfectly.
One of the ways that I saved last year was with the purchase of two computers (got my law school student a new one, too). I got them through Staples, which has a great rewards program. I used the rewards to purchase binders and other supplies for my son. He certainly did not care where I got the things. He was just glad that he had them. I’ll probably take advantage of some of those sales again. He still likes his binders and taking notes.
Meanwhile, the past five days have been a little rough on him. Dental appointments revealed the need for fillings. He has never had this much drilling done, so he’s a little miserable. Hopefully, the pain subsides, and he can enjoy his time visiting his girlfriend later in the week.
I can sympathize. I hate dental appointments as well. I don’t like the sound of the drilling so close to my ear.
My daughter also needs some dental work before heading to her school this fall. She needs one of her wisdom teeth extracted.
Ugh, trying to get all the appointments taken care of while working around the job schedule is the worst.
Btw, 6 weeks home and d’14 finally cleaned all the “dorm” off her floor and put her clothes away.
@ordiinarylives - I agree. We have a backlog of appointments in our house. I’ve put off a root canal (broke a molar) for 3 weeks now due to crises at work. Need to get in next week before it gets any worse. My D STILL has her dorm stuff all over her floor. I reminded her yesterday that summer is half way over.
My D still hasn’t put away any dorm stuff. Her walk in closet is piled for feet high. Ugh.
In other news…She got a tattoo! went with her, her best friend and her best friend’s mom. It was so much fun. Her dad is ticked off because hewasn’t consulted. Of which he would have shut the whole thing down just because he didn’t think of it first. He is having a very hard time letting go even a bit. They have been talking about getting tattoos for three years and it is a small two inch cross behind the ear. Seriously.
My D still hasn’t put away any dorm stuff. Her walk in closet is piled for feet high. Ugh.
In other news…She got a tattoo! went with her, her best friend and her best friend’s mom. It was so much fun. Her dad is ticked off because hewasn’t consulted. Of which he would have shut the whole thing down just because he didn’t think of it first. He is having a very hard time letting go even a bit. They have been talking about getting tattoos for three years and it is a small two inch cross behind the ear. Seriously.
DS’s stuff moved from the floor of his room to his couch. I guess that’s some progress. He is away this weekend visiting next year’s suitemate in New York, along with some other buddies. Next weekend he is in UVA for midsummers and then back there again the following weekend for a sports training event. His summer is flying by, when my DD18’s just started!
I got tired of seeing all the shoes on the floor, which made it difficult to clean the room the way it needs to be cleaned. So I went in there this weekend and cleaned – my son is currently out of town visiting his girlfriend and her family. The place looks so much better! If possible, I’d like to finish a few more things before he returns. I wonder if he’ll notice the difference?
I stopped trying to ask DS to put away his dorm stuff. I ended up designate one area of the house for all his dorm stuff. I figured, come August, we won’t have to pack. We will just put everything in the “designated area” back into the van and drive them with DS to school.