5 Back-to-School Budgeting Tips for Apple Fans

by Brad Moon | August 20, 2014 2:31 pm

Your students would love to get their hands on some new Apple (AAPL[1]) gear, and they may well be hoping your back-to-school supplies list has a new iPhone or iPad on it for them and not just the usual pens, paper and binders.

Even if your student prefers a Samsung (SSNLF[2]) Galaxy S5 or a tablet running Google’s (GOOG[3]) Android operating system, Apple (AAPL[1]) offers lots of other high-demand products.

For one, Apple sells one of the most popular laptops in the world in the MacBook Air — an ultra-portable machine with all-day battery life and the ability to run OSX or Microsoft (MSFT[4]) Windows. There’s also the line of Mac desktop PCs, the Apple TV set-top streaming box, the AirPort wireless routers and the good old iPod.

Despite its reputation for premium pricing, Apple discounts do exist for those buying back-to-school supplies on a budget. Here are five ways to avoid paying the full MSRP on Apple’s products:

Back-to-School Supplies on a Budget for Apple Fans: Apple Education Store

Apple holds an education store[6] on its website — with discounted pricing! What’s offered, and who is eligible for the reduced price tags? Here’s the blurb directly from the company:

“Apple offers special education pricing on Apple computers, software and select third party products to college students, parents buying for a college student, or teachers, home-school teachers, administrators and staff of all grade levels. Students who have been accepted to college are also eligible.”

The MacBook Air starts at $899 for the public, but it costs $849 at Apple’s education store. The 27-inch iMac is bargained at $1699 instead of $1799.

The online education store is an easy way to save on those Apple-branded back-to-school supplies all year.

Back-to-School Supplies on a Budget for Apple Fans: Apple’s Secret eBay Store

Even though this eBay (EBAY[8]) storefront not an official Apple project, it’s selling Apple-certified, factory-refurbished and unlocked iPhones[9] with a one-year Apple warranty.

AppleInsider says Apple is running it in partnership with eBay[10]. The Apple warranty, like-new condition and claim of “final quality inspection by Apple” certainly supports the theory.

If your back-to-school supplies list includes an iPhone, you can pick up an unlocked 16GB iPhone 5 for $449 — that’s what Apple officially charges for an unlocked iPhone 4s, a much older (and smaller) smartphone.

Apple’s secret eBay store disappears and re-appears without notice — it was still online at the time of writing.

Back-to-School Supplies on a Budget for Apple Fans: Apple’s Online Refurb Store

Tucked away as a nondescript link at the bottom of Apple’s website is one of its best kept secrets: The Refurb store[12].

Apple-refurbished products are sold in good-as-new condition.

For example, every refurbished iPad receives a new battery and a new outer shell. They come with all accessories, arrive in a nice box (nothing cut-rate about the packaging) and carry the same one-year warranty as other Apple products. Best of all, the savings can be significant.

How significant? The store is currently offering $500 off a 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, $24 off the latest Apple TV and $80 off a 16GB iPad Air.

Back-to-School Supplies on a Budget for Apple Fans: Discounted iTunes Cards

Technically iTunes cards are not Apple gear, but any student with a Mac, iPad, iPod, iPhone or Apple TV will appreciate them. These gift cards hold the currency that buys music, movies, apps and e-books (including digital textbooks that might just be on that back-to-school supplies list) from the online Apple store.

The key with iTunes is to take advantage of third parties offering you a discount. Watch the flyers every weekend and there’s a good chance you’ll see 10%, 15% or even 20% off iTunes cards bought at big-box retailers like Staples (SPLS[14]).

So, if you take advantage of Target’s (TGT[15]) 5% discount for REDcard users, you can save 5% off iTunes gift cards there.

Back-to-School Supplies on a Budget for Apple Fans: Apple’s BTS 2014 Promotion

Finally, Apple runs a special promotion every year for students (or their parents). If there is someone on your back-to-school supplies list who wants a new iPad, iPhone or Mac, this year’s offer is a great way to save.

Buy any of those Apple products, and you get the educational discount. Plus, Apple will kick in a free iTunes card: $100 on a Mac or $50 for an iPad or iPhone.

This one’s a limited-time offer[17] and is expected to expire once the back-to-school shopping season is over.

As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2014/08/back-to-school-aapl-apple/

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