Good Nesting
Financial Help

4 Tips To Buy A Laptop Without Blowing Your Budget

Good Nesting
3 min read

A laptop could serve several purposes in your home, but if you’re on a tight budget, you may struggle to afford one. If you need a laptop now, try these tips to get it without breaking the bank.

1. Shop for a laptop when you’ll get the biggest discount.

There are certain times when laptops can be had at a fraction of the cost. Time your laptop shopping properly, and you can pick one up at a deep discount. When do the best laptop deals occur? Usually around these times:

  • Right before school starts via back-to-school sales.
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Black Friday
  • Cyber Monday
  • During holidays like New Year’s, MLK Jr. Day, St. Patrick’s, Easter, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and July 4th
  • After tech announcements where companies like Apple reveal upcoming laptop releases.

2. Go refurbished.

Refurbished laptops can be just as good as new ones and come with a warranty. Best of all, they can come at highly discounted prices that fit your budget. When buying a refurbished laptop, make sure it comes from a reputable retailer and has a warranty and a return period.

3. Skip the latest tech.

Unless you are buying a laptop for gaming, professional editing, or some other purpose that requires extreme power, don’t be afraid to get one that does not have the latest processor or the most RAM. Most standard laptops are sufficient for casual users who need to browse the web, do homework, check social media, etc.

4. See if you qualify for a free laptop.

Several organizations help households in need get connected via free laptops. Unfortunately, there is not an unlimited supply of free laptops, so to qualify, you will probably have to show you make below a certain income level or have other exceptional circumstances that make you deserving of a complimentary device.

Here is a list of organizations that offer free laptops. Contact each to see if you qualify so you can get the laptop your family needs without paying a penny.

  • Your local public school district – Have you made the decision to homeschool your children? Then contact your local school district, as some offer free laptops to parents who have chosen homeschooling for their kids.
  • Online colleges – If you are returning to school to get your degree, check and see if your college offers a free laptop for enrolling. Some will as an incentive to get new online students to sign up. You can check the Open Education Database to see examples of colleges that offer free laptops or iPads.
  • Computers for Kids – This organization supplies free laptops to qualifying K-12 students in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
  • Alliance for Technology Refurbishing and Reuse – The AFTRR helps people find free computers via local nonprofits and refurbishers.
  • With Causes – Low-income households, military members, and battered women can get free laptops from With Causes.
  • On It Foundation – K-12 students that receive free or reduced-cost lunches at school can qualify for a free computer from this program.
  • Computers With Causes – Some military members and low-income households have had success getting free laptops from this organization.

You may also like