Over the next few weeks, you won’t be able to turn on the television without seeing an advertisement for back-to-school sales.

For those of us without kids or have kids who have already graduated college, it can certainly be annoying to put up with the onslaught of ads each year.

Of course, the fact that you can swim around in your disposable income like Scrooge McDuck instead of spending a ton of money on multiple kids somewhat alleviates the annoyances of those commercials.

That being said, it’s time to shop smarter by taking advantage of back-to-school sales for yourself. Why pay more for electronics, athletic gear and office supplies in September or October when you can snag better prices right now?

With that in mind, here are five ways to do just that:

Preparing for Football Season

While retailers will roll out a rash of discounts on televisions and other home theater gear around Labor Day to coincide with the start of both college and professional football, you can get fairly equivalent discounts on the same models as kids are heading back to school.

For instance, Dell has been particularly aggressive as of late, basically including gift cards between $100 to $300 with the purchase of a new HDTV. In addition, those televisions will be priced to match or beat Amazon’s price on the model.

Of course, you can also find some great deals on tablets (mainly 7-inch & 8-inch models), ideal if you want the “second screen” experience when watching the games on Saturday and Sunday. If you are unfamiliar with the relatively new second screen feature, mobile applications produced by organizations like the NFL will offer additional stats about each player on your favorite team, how the current games are altering your fantasy league and push notifications about important plays while you are watching the game on your HDTV.

Check Ben’s for TV Deals

Hitting the Treadmill

If you are obsessive about running or are just getting back into the practice of regular exercise, this is a great month to purchase a new pair of sneakers. Retailers like Kohls, Nordstrom and REI have been slashing prices on shoes in order to attract back to school shoppers, as well as clear out summer apparel lines (which included shoes). You will also find great shoe deals at places like 6pm, eBay and Finish Line.

It’s also not limited to running shoes. You will find great deals on other types of sneakers as well as sandals throughout August. Some of these larger store sales will also cover athletic clothing like shorts and T-shirts, ideal if you need to replace a larger portion of your wardrobe.

If you like to listen to music while you exercise, be sure to check out the August back-to-school deals on headphones / earbuds as well. You won’t find a significant number of deals on portable music players, but it’s likely that you already have one built into your smartphone.

Check Ben’s for Shoe Deals

Kicking off a Freelance Career

With so many kids graduating college without jobs, turning to freelance work as a temporary option can be helpful to make money while job hunting. Freelancing covers a wide range of career options such as writing, marketing, web development, photography, social media management, graphic design and accounting.

Of course, you will need the right gear to operate successfully as a freelancer. The current back-to-school deals on Windows laptops and tablets as well as Chromebooks are a good place to start, especially if you need to replace an older computer that makes work more difficult due to slow speeds and outdated technology.

You will find killer deals on Dell, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS and HP models over the next few weeks. After the back-to-school sales are over, you won’t see the same level of discounts until November rolls around. Be sure to check out our feeds of laptop deals to see what’s available and suitable for your needs as a freelancer.

Check Ben’s for Laptop Deals

Restocking the Home Office / Craft Room

Assuming you aren’t actively swiping office supplies from work, there’s no better time than right now to resupply your own home office than right now. Back-to-school sales provide huge savings opportunities to stock up on computer paper, writing paper, notepads, pens, pencils, erasers and pretty much anything you would find in a typical home office. In regards to prices, your best bets for cheap office supplies will be Walmart and Target rather than the big office supply chains like Staples and OfficeMax.

Beyond the home office, this is also an ideal time to stock up on products that could be useful in a craft room. That would include items like tape, glue, scissors, markers and colored pencils, ideal for anyone in an artistic profession as well. In addition, if you use a chalkboard in your kitchen or entryway for communication with family, be sure to pick up some cheap chalk this month.

Check Ben’s for School Supply Deals

Early Christmas Shopping?

Even if you don’t have kids, this is a great opportunity to pick up gifts for kids that may be in your extended family or perhaps kids of your friends. While you won’t find great discounts on toys, items that encourage creativity, like crayons and markers, can be found at a huge discount compared to the Black Friday prices. This could also be ideal to have on hand if young children are visiting your home.

If you are active in charity during the year, this is also a great time to pick up children’s clothing as well as school supplies for needy kids. Many charity organizations will have drives for these items throughout the end of the year, so you can save money by stocking up on items right now to donate in the near future.

No Kids? 5 Ways You Can Take Advantage of Back-to-School Sales

As a kid, one of the best parts about going back to school each fall is getting to go to the store and pick out a shiny new backpack. Luckily, this is a tradition that doesn’t have to end when you “grow up.” Here are some of the best backpacks/bags to consider for students heading off to grade school and college this fall (in no particular order).

1. Timbuk2 Q Laptop Backpack ($59, Backcountry)

Pretty much anything from Timbuk2 is going to be good, but this backpack is especially cool because it has their “Swing Around Access” system which allows you to get at your stuff without taking your backpack off. You can get select colors (like the pictured gray/blue) for about half the retail price right now.

2. Chewbacca Messenger Bag ($90, ThinkGeek)

Here’s a good option for the Star Wars fans — fellow nerds will take notice and appreciate, but it’s subtle enough (well, when worn without the hairy wookie suit) that everyone else will just think it’s a nice, normal messenger bag.

3. Chrome Citizen Messenger Bag (Chrome, $120)

If you’re going to be doing any biking (to and from classes, to and from work, etc), a Chrome bag is definitely the way to go. They are spendy, but the amount of stuff you can fit in one of these is ridiculous. They are also still made in the US and have a lifetime warranty, which is pretty cool. This Manhattan Portage New York Messenger Bag is also a pretty good option if you are looking for a less expensive alternative ($70).

4. Powerbag Charging Backpacks ($50-$100, Amazon)

Powerbag backpacks and messenger bags have built-in USB charging stations so you can charge your smart phone or iPad between classes. Keep an eye out on Ben’s for these — we’ve featured them for as low as $24 in the past.

5. Nintendo Messenger Bag ($27, Amazon)

Geek out in this messenger bag designed to look like a retro Nintendo controller.

6. The Sharper Image Backpack Speaker System ($50, Amazon)

Here’s a backpack that lets you jam to your favorite tunes, either privately through a special shoulder strap/headphone jack, or publicly through a stereo speaker on the back. Set it up on the ground and add some nice background music for outdoor study groups, or wear it around campus blasting the latest Kanye album and annoy the crap out of everybody. Also, check out this crazy looking Boompack backpack (still in “development”).

7. The North Face Jester Daypack ($65, REI)

This bag’s greatest feature is that prominent North Face logo you see at the top; it will let everyone know you’re totally outdoorsy and super cool. In all seriousness, though, the North Face does make nice stuff, and this roomy pack will not only be good for lugging around your books, but also for overnight camping trips (either in the woods or on someone’s floor).

8. TMNT Shell Backpack ($35, eBay)

This totally tubular backpack comes with four turtle masks (which you’re probably thinking is really lame right now, but will think is the greatest thing ever one night at about 3AM after a bit of partying).

9. Herschel Supply Co Backpack ($20-$75, Nordstrom)

Herschel makes simple, well-made backpacks for those who prefer more of a classic, no-frills style. They aren’t going to have as many “features” as other brands, but they’re solid (and will certainly make you look nice and classy walking around campus). Nordstrom has a bunch of styles 40% to 50% off right now (the pictured Herschel Supply Co Pop Quiz Backpack is $35).

10. High Sierra Swerve Backpack ($42, Amazon)

If you google “most comfortable backpack,” you’ll see this one pop up all over the place. Reviewers also rave about how many pockets/organization compartments it has. It comes in tons of different colors/patterns, ranging from simple solids (pictured) to zebra stripes and rainbows.

10 Awesome Back-to-School Backpacks

As a learning tool, a personal tablet can be extremely useful for children of any age. In addition, buying a tablet for a teenager entering high school is useful for gaining an edge in preparation for college as well as fostering a sense of personal privacy by allowing them to get away from a family computer.

Each year, retailers attempt to get parents into stores to purchase new tablets for students with sales throughout August and early September. While you can find a constant feed of the best tablet deals on Ben’s Bargains, it’s also good to know what brands and models to keep an eye out for when shopping for students of all ages.

We have put together a list of five tablets that will be ideal to own at the start of the school year:

Ideal for Early Learning

LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra

• Includes parental settings to control app downloads
• The Web browser is safe and protects kids from adult content
• More than 1,000 apps ideal for kids between 4 to 9
• Retail cost around $150, Deals in the $125 range

Search Ben’s for this Tablet

Great for Avid Readers

Amazon Kindle Fire HDX

• Kindle Freetime allows parents to limit time of specific activities
• Kindle Unlimited subscription service great for kids that love to read
• Available in 7-inch and 8.9-inch models
• Retail cost starts at $229, Deals in the $150 range

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Excellent for Writing Notes / Drawing

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

• Handwriting-to-text engine converts your written notes to digital type
• High resolution display (2560×1600) excellent for drawing
• Offers up to 9 hours of battery life
• Retail cost around $600, Deals in the $500 range

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Perfect for College-level Work

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

• Fantastic for using Microsoft Office for schoolwork
• With keypad, excellent for taking notes while in class
• Processor upgrades ideal for games during downtime
• Retail cost starts at $799, Upgrades available

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Fun after Finishing the Homework

Apple iPad Air / Mini

• Excellent for entertainment like movies, television or games
• Also ideal for checking up on email or surfing the Web
• Light weight of Air (1 lb) ideal for carrying around the house
• Air starts at $499, Mini with Retina at $399

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The Best Back-To-School Tablets for Students

It’s not exactly a secret that college textbooks are outrageously priced. When first entering college, sticker shock is almost a given. Students are price gouged significantly at the college bookstore for a new edition and provided a pittance when selling the books back at the end of the semester.

With college tuition costs already ballooning over $15,000 a year at public universities (double that for private), spending an additional $500 to $1000 on new books each semester isn’t an option. There are a number of tricks and tips you can follow in order to avoid the horrific prices on campus.

1. Plan Ahead (to avoid the bookstore)

If you have waited to the last minute and are already a couple classes into the semester, you don’t have much of a choice other than spending insane amounts of money at the bookstore. However, if you plan ahead, you will be able to hit a number of other options first. The college bookstore should be your last option, not the first.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. On occasion, the professor will request that students pick up an additional packet of information at the bookstore that’s supplemental material to the textbook.This packet is often provided for free or at a nominal cost since it’s simply a small stack of paper.

2. Wait Until Class Starts (or email early)

Unless the professor has specifically rolled out the update to a previous edition of a textbook he or she wrote, you may be able to get away with buying last year’s edition. Quite often, the professor will provide this tip during the first class when going over the class syllabus. You can also try emailing the professor early to check.

Of course, you won’t be able to find the old edition at the college bookstore. You will have to turn to third parties and online courses to locate the older edition. However, be wary of online sites that are still selling the edition as new and charging an exorbitant price (since some schools will be using that edition of the textbook rather than upgrading).

3. Check the Campus Library

While probably a longshot to acquire a copy, most campus libraries will keep a few of editions of the text book on hand to loan out to students. If you can manage to score one of these copies, it will save you a ton of cash, even if it’s only for a limited time.

If the copy of the book is currently on loan to another student, hop on the waiting list and the library will contact you when it’s returned. You can also check the interlibrary loan system to see if other branches have a copy on hand. If that’s the case, your school library can get that copy for you.

4. Considering Renting

The popularity of online textbook rental companies has increased dramatically over the last five years. While your local bookstore could offer a similar rental structure, the price will likely be higher than a company like Chegg. If timing is an issue, Chegg also provides a e-book version of the textbook while you are waiting for the physical copy to arrive.

Rental fees can often be as low as  50 percent cheaper than the cost of a new textbook and students will be able to hang onto those books all semester. Of course, students won’t be able to sell the books back at the end of the semester to recoup some of the cost.

5. Search for Used Copies

If the professor is using an older version of the textbook, you will be able to find cheaper copies of the textbook through online sources such as Amazon and eBay. My favorite site for searching for used, rental and new textbooks is BookFinder. Just enter a ISBN number and Bookfinder will spit out tons of listings and prices for the book.

Be aware that used copies could have some issues, like torn pages or handwritten notes in the margin. However, the condition of the copy will likely be noted within the posting.

6. Split the Cost with a Friend

Ideal if you are taking the same class as a roommate, sharing the cost on a used, rental or new textbook will be extremely helpful. Of course, you will have to create a study schedule to determine when each party should have access to the book.

You should also check with your instructor to see if the textbook is needed during class. While most professors simply provide instruction through a presentation, some may require you to read along in the textbook or take quiz questions in the book. In addition, some professors will allow you to use the textbook during tests, hence sharing may not be a great option.

7. Check Facebook

Assuming you are networking within your own school of study, you are likely aware that those students will create a Facebook group for the entire four years of study. This can be extremely helpful in locating an older textbook that someone wants to sell at the end of their semester.

There’s also the potential for a straight trade, basically swapping books with someone that’s taking a class that you just took. Beyond using the Facebook group to ask about a copy of a textbook, you can also check the campus classifieds to see if anyone has posted about selling a used copy of the book.

8. Go Electronic

Assuming you are comfortable with using an e-reader or tablet, e-textbooks can be a fraction of the price of a regular textbook. The downside is that the formatting may be off in comparison to the regular textbook and page numbers indicated by your professor may not match up.

Of course, you will need to invest in the hardware upfront. The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a popular choice for students. Be sure to check with the instructor to see if e-readers are acceptable for class as well.

9. Shop Around on the Sellback

If you were forced to purchase a new edition of the textbook or simply had to purchase at the last minute, make the college bookstore the last place you visit when selling the textbook back. For instance, Amazon is a popular option when selling a book back, since the retailer offers a bonus when redeeming as an Amazon gift card.

While eBay is an option if you want to sell it yourself, be sure to check the sellback prices at Chegg and Valorebooks. The latter covers shipping when you sell the book back. Also, be sure to preserve the condition of the textbook if you plan to sell it back at the end of the semester. This means no notes in the margins and use a book cover to protect the front cover.

9 Ways to Save Money on College Textbooks

That back-to-school time of the year has always been bittersweet. You’re cooped up indoors most of the day, but the days are still long and leave plenty of time to play. You say goodbye to all your new summer friends, but all your old buddies or girlfriends are back in town. Waking up early is such a pain, but new seasons of TV shows and morning cartoons begin again.

Whether you’re or 16 or 61, here are a few ads you might remember and a lot you probably wont.

10 Vintage Back-To-School Advertisements

Superheroes tend to have super problems, but what about the day-to-day trials and tribulations of everyman everykid Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes? Whether it be transmogrifying, visiting Mars, or avoiding character-building, fans know Calvin’s great power is an unbridled imagination.

Still, there are those times when the back-to-school reality threatens the spirit…

Times such as Miss Wormwood’s classroom with its ever-exacting tests…

Bear witness to the rise and fall of Stupendous Man!, champion of the test-taking coping mechanism. “S” is for Stupendous! “T” is for Tiger, Ferocity of! “U” is for underwear, Red! “P” for power, incredible! “E” for excellent physique! N for…um…Something…hm, Well, I’ll come back to that… “D” for determination! “U” for… wait, how do you spell this? Is it “I”??

(Calvin is Stupendous Man!…..and Flunks His Test from Best of Calvin and Hobbes)

Calvin and Hobbes Use Superpowers to Fight Back-to-School