I share the best gadgets for back to school season.
back to school
The best free apps for school – Cityline
Winston Sih takes us through the best FREE apps that will allow you to store all your homework and notes, clear and restore your devices, and protect your computer from unwanted viruses.
As aired on Cityline, Monday, August 18, 2014, on City.
As always, you can watch previous episodes of Cityline at Citytv.com, or via the City Video iOS or Android apps! Cityline airs 9 a.m. on City across Canada. Check Citytv.com for all television air times across the country.
Back-to-school tech gadgets – Cityline
We take an early look at some of the must-have back-to-school tech gadgets for 2013.
As aired on Cityline, Wednesday, August 7, 2013, on City.
As always, you can watch previous episodes of Cityline at Citytv.com, or via the City Video iOS or Android apps! Cityline airs 9 a.m. on City across Canada. Check Citytv.com for all television air times across the country.
Show notes:
Future Shop
www.futureshop.ca
Products for home:
- Kobo Arc 7″
- Verson eReader light
- Brother Electronic Labelling System
- Logitech Washable USB Keyboard
- Epson Expression Home All-In-One Wireless Inkjet Colour Printer with AirPrint
Products to take to school:
- Microsoft Surface Windows Tablet
- Livescribe Sky Wi-Fi Smartpen
- Kensington Ultrabook Laptop Keyed Lock
- Beats by Dr. Dre Mixr On-Ear Headphones (Neon Collection)
- Logitech Zone T400 Wireless Touch Mouse (910-003671) – Blue Rush
Tips for teaching your kids the importance of wants vs. needs
Shopping for back-to-school can provide a great opportunity to teach your kids a lesson about finances and the importance of “wants” vs. “needs.” Here are some suggestions on how to get the conversation started when it comes to managing money and priorities.
Before making the trip to the mall, have your child clean their room and pull out the previous year’s school supplies: This allows you to determine what he/she actually needs for the coming school year, as opposed to what would be nice to have. It also cuts down on the drama while you are in the store. Make a list that separates needs from wants, and talk to your child, to clarify what the absolute needs are based on your available budget.
It’s important to stay positive: Tell your kids that if they remain under budget, they could have extra money to purchase a few other items on the “wants” list. Budgeting is an important lesson to teach early on, and it’s one that will serve your children well throughout their lives.
Focus on ‘must-replace’ items and encourage your child to earn money toward nice-to-have splurges: It may be better to replace a broken backpack, and stick with a current laptop for another year if money is tight at the moment. If your child wants a new computer or cell phone but doesn’t really ‘need’ it, then discuss ways they can earn money to put toward those pricey purchases.
Do your homework: Before hitting up the mall, remember to do your research! Go online – there are many great parenting resources like Today’s Parent, where parents share past experiences and shopping advice, and find out what your child really needs for their age group. Needs shift as your kids move through elementary school, to high school, to post-secondary education, so make sure what you’re getting is age-appropriate and can be reused down the road.
What suggestions do you have when it comes to teaching your child about the importance of wants versus needs? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Repost from Cityline.ca
Five tips for back-to-school tech shopping
As the first day of school rapidly approaches, parents are scrambling to get the kids in gear – and that includes sending the kids off tech-ready. Here are five helpful tips to keep in mind when shopping for back-to-school tech gadgets.1. Make a list, and prioritize.A brand new computer can make a sizeable dent in your credit card. So, as with grocery shopping, when going back-to-school shopping ensure that you make a list and prioritize what you need and what you merely want. Chances are you only need the bare necessities and the all of the other gadgets are simple wants. Bear in mind that you can go a long way with a small budget — even when it comes to technology.
2. Do your research.
Before hitting up the big box electronic stores, remember to do your research! Keep in mind that stores often mark up prices come back-to-school time, and sales associates sometimes try to sell you electronics that you really don’t need. Instead, go online – there are many great parenting resources like Today’s Parent – where parents share past experiences and shopping advice, and find out what your child really needs for their age group. Needs shift as they move through elementary school, to high school, to post-secondary education.
3. Hunt for the sales in flyers, and online.
Keep an eye on the weekly flyers and online on store websites. Parents often make the mistake of leaving back-to-school shopping to the last minute and they – literally – pay for the procrastination. Flyerland.ca is a great all-in-one destination for local flyers, and big box stores have sales early on in the season with limited quality items. Laptops also go on sale late-July/early-August, and that is the ideal time for families to head to the store and save some money simultaneously!
4. Cash-strapped? Take a look at feature phones.
The reality is, we live in a smartphone-dominated world. They aren’t cheap to start with, so if you are a little cash-strapped, be sure to take a look at feature phones. Cell phone carriers, like Rogers Wireless, offer an inexpensive alternative to having a smartphone that maintains access to social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and email; without the added cost of an actual data plan. They can range from $7/month and up; versus the $25+/month with a traditional data plan.
5. Find the free alternatives to expensive programs.
Companies like LibreOffice and OpenOffice offer free or inexpensive alternatives to productivity software tools like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. There are no strings attached – they are simply open-source software choices (maintained by free developers) that offer significant savings to a family, giving the same amount of functionality as the traditional paid software, without the high price tag.
What tips do you have when it comes to back-to-school tech shopping? Share them with us in the comments below, or email submissions@cityline.ca!
Repost from Cityline.ca