GREENSBORO, N.C. — Back-to-school shopping is in full swing. It will run through mid-to-late September, and you’ll probably be seeing deals on all the tech devices you’ll need, whether that’s laptops, computers, printers, or wireless routers.
A good approach when you’re shopping for back-to-school items is to not try to find everything at once.
Consumer Reports tracks the prices of many of its top tested products all year long, so it knows exactly when they go on deep discount. Here are the ones to look out for in this month’s Best Time to Buy.
First up on deep discount are computers. CR found the Mac Mini for $649 at Amazon. It shows fast speeds in CR’s performance tests and scores well in owner satisfaction.
Next, strengthen your connection and make it more secure by upgrading your router. The Netgear Orbi Mesh Router System is $97 at Amazon. CR says it scored very well for mid-and far-range distances in its tests.
Another item that can go a long way this school year is a tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Tablet is $530 at Amazon.
And finally, you can at least try to keep that college dorm room or any room clean with a robotic vacuum.
The Eufy RoboVac is $220 at Amazon. CR says this extremely quiet model excelled at cleaning and navigating in a specially designed test laboratory. Vacuums, in general, tend to go on sale throughout the year, so you should never pay full price.
ICYMI: FREE & REDUCED INTERNET
the Emergency Broadband Benefit is temporary help for households that can't afford broadband internet service. You're eligible if: you’ve lost your job or been furloughed, have an income less than or equal to 135 percent of federal poverty guidelines, use assistance programs including SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline, or you’re a current Pell Grant recipient. Any family who has a child who gets free or reduced lunch is included.
First, check the website of the Federal Communications Commission to see if your internet provider participates in the program. There are three ways to apply:
Contact your provider to learn about its application process
Apply online at GetEmergencyBroadband.org
Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application