Save Money On Back-to-School Shopping

As summer draws to a close, students of all ages are preparing to go back to class, and that means parents are looking for bargains on back-to-school supplies. High-end items like graphing calculators, computers and band instruments can really tax a household budget if the only places a parent looks for bargains is online or in big box stores at the mall.

If your back-to-school budget is feeling stretched, it may be time for a new approach. Modern pawn shops are clean, streamlined facilities that offer high-quality pre-owned merchandise at just a fraction of the price you would spend if you bought that merchandise new.

Laptop Computer Picks

Laptops are no longer just a cool extra for your high school-aged son or daughter; they’re a necessity. Students use them to take notes in class, to research projects and to prepare homework. Pawn shops offer a variety of top-end laptop brands at very affordable prices.

Additionally, in order to protect their capital investment, pawnshops will only accept electronics that are fairly new and that are in good working condition, so your chances of finding equipment that sports all the latest features and capabilities are high. Pawn shops also have a fairly high turnover rate, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for the first time you visit, come back in a couple of weeks: There’s a good possibility you’ll find something even better.

Band Instruments

While tuition at public schools may be free, parents can end up spending a lot of money on extracurricular activities such as music. The budget your local school district gives your band director is probably very small, and it has to go toward uniforms and transportation to events and competitions. Parents are responsible for providing instruments, and instruments are expensive.

Pawn shops generally carry one of the most diverse collections of musical instruments you’ll find anywhere. Whether your high school marching band member needs a saxophone, a flute, a clarinet or drums, you’re likely to discover what you’re searching for here. Pawn shops are also good venues to find string instruments like violins, violas and cellos that are the mainstay of school orchestras. You’ll also find a wide assortment of keyboards, acoustic guitars and electric guitars here in case your budding musician wants to take the spring talent show by storm.

Additionally, pawn shops offer a wide range of electronics such as amplifiers, speakers, mixers and various types of DJ equipment that enhance musical performances.

Merchandise is high-quality, and prices are often less expensive than the prices of comparable instruments at a music store. You’ll need to carry out the same type of due diligence you would perform purchasing any used instrument from a private seller. Handle the instrument and examine it for signs of wear and tear; play the instrument so that you can evaluate its tone. If you like the item but feel it’s priced too high, it’s perfectly acceptable to try and negotiate a lower price. One of the many advantages that pawn shops offer, in fact, is that the number on the sales tag is often fluid.