Back-to-school shopping is underway, and the supply list isn’t like it was when I was a kid. 

More schools and colleges are leaning on technology for educational purposes, and some of those costs could fall on US shoppers. Big-ticket purchases, like laptops and tablets, can be a strain on your finances, especially when juggling other back-to-school items and everyday expenses. 

CNET’s new back-to-school survey dives into just how much US shoppers are concerned about making tech purchases ahead of the school year starting back. One point is clear: 78% of back-to-school shoppers are worried about affording tech purchases. 

Between tight budgets, potential tariff price hikes and the possibility of shortages, buying a new laptop or tablet can be stressful, to say the least. Here are the survey findings and what CNET tech experts recommend when shopping for back-to-school supplies.

Back-to-school shopping is taking a toll on finances 

The average US shopper will spend $328.68 on back-to-school shopping. Even though that’s less than last year, it still may be a lot to cover with tighter budgets and higher prices on some supplies compared to last year. 

Nearly 1 in 3 are worried about affording tech purchases 

Affording tech purchases is one of US shoppers’ top concerns this back-to-school season. 

That could be for a few reasons, including tighter budgets and higher-than-expected prices on tech gadgets. Josh Goldman, managing editor and laptop reviewer at CNET, recommends comparison shopping by starting with the everyday price, then looking for sales at your favorite stores and manufacturers. Especially if you’re looking for a computer. 

«HP, Dell, Lenovo and others frequently have the best deals and also offer student discounts. You might want to actually give them a call, too, tell them your situation and see what’s possible,» said Goldman. 

Goldman and other CNET experts also recommend buying used, refurbished tech from reputable places. Before you buy, see if there’s a rating system to help understand the device’s condition. And check for any return policies and warranties in case you’re not satisfied. 

Lastly, Goldman recommends checking with family and friends who may have aging devices that can save you money on a new one. «While it might not meet their needs anymore, it could be just enough for a student,» said Goldman. «Also, if it’s a bit too old even for your student, there’s a chance it can be traded in for a discount on an upgrade.»

Close to 1 in 4 are concerned about unexpected tech fees, too

Beyond buying the hardware, 23% of shoppers are concerned about additional tech fees and subscription costs. 

Some learning management systems are free or included in the course, while other apps and services with upgraded features can add up. For example, some educational app subscriptions, maintenance fees and even e-book rentals are required but cost. 

To trim that cost, some schools offer special codes or discounts to lower how much you’ll pay. I also recommend checking online student forums for students in higher grades who have completed the course but still have access and for any unused offer codes.

1 in 5 are concerned about managing expenses without credit or BNPL 

CNET found that 1 in 5 (20%) are concerned about managing expenses when using credit or Buy Now, Pay Later to afford tech. Yet, juggling expenses and debt can be detrimental to your finances and can lead to interest and fees if you’re unable to pay the statement balance in full and on time. 

If you need to lean on financing to cover back-to-school costs, try setting aside any amount you can to help finance less of your school supply list. You may also look for deals to pay less than the sticker price and save money, or hold off on a few purchases for now. 

If you have to make a big tech purchase right now, try to cut or hold off on other back-to-school items for now. For example, holding off on shopping for new clothes or reusing some supplies from last year can help cut costs for now. 

Back-to-school shoppers are concerned about tech purchases 

Gone are the days of only needing pencils, pens and paper. More schools are using technology for educational purposes. Now, there’s a need for laptops, tablets and headphones. And the price tag of these big-ticket items is a concern for shoppers. Here’s a closer look at shoppers’ top concerns.

Nearly half of shoppers are worried about tariffs and rising prices

Which products will be impacted by tariffs has been a hot topic for months now. Earlier this summer, CNET found that 64% of shoppers are rushing to buy tech to dodge price spikes and shortages. It’s a fair concern considering some tech companies, including Microsoft and Acer, have stated that tariffs will push prices on tech higher. 

By the numbers, nearly half of back-to-school shoppers (46%) are concerned about rising prices and tariffs. We haven’t seen the impact yet due to the reciprocal tariff agreement pause, and tariffs don’t change prices for items in stock overnight. 

But if more tariffs go into effect, price hikes are likely at some point. Therefore, if you know you’ll need a laptop for the upcoming school year and you’re worried about costs going up, Goldman recommends buying one sooner rather than later if you can. On the other hand, if you can wait until holiday sales in the fall, you still may be able to score a good deal depending on the impact of tariffs and US product availability, Goldman added. 

Half of shoppers are worried about finding quality, affordable tech 

Besides being able to afford tech, half of shoppers are concerned about finding quality technology at an affordable price. Buying the lowest-priced laptop or tablet may not be worthwhile if you’ll pay more in repairs. That’s another reason why our experts recommend shopping for high-quality second-hand tech. 

«Woot.com is a good place to find reconditioned laptops and school tech,» said James Bricknell, CNET’s senior shopping editor. «You don’t always need brand-new tech for school, as the latest processor and graphics card aren’t really needed for the average school classroom.»

Our editors also recommend the Amazon Renewed Store, Apple Certified Refurbished and eBay Refurbished as a few trusted retailers for secondhand tech. 

Other ways to save on back-to-school tech this year 

Here are a few other ways CNET experts say you can save money on must-have tech this back-to-school season. 

Shop deals and sales 

Some states have tax-free weekends to help you save money by excluding tax on select items for a few days. Coupling this weekend with sales and deals can help you save money on your shopping list. 

Bricknell pointed out that even though big sale events, like Prime Day, are great times to get deals on tech before school starts, you may be able to score savings around Black Friday if you’re able to wait until later this year. 

Track prices 

CNET’s experts are still tracking plenty of tech deals to scout out the real savings based on their recommendations, but no matter how sweet the savings may seem, CNET senior editor and computer expert, Matt Elliott, recommends being patient and tracking prices. 

«Be patient and track the price of a product and then do what stock traders do and ‘buy the dip.’ Online retailers are constantly rotating discounts, so it pays to wait for a sale price to land on the product you are looking to buy,» said Elliott. 

Elliott added that you’ll see the price fluctuate over a few weeks, so you’ll get a sense of when to buy quickly. Some websites and browser extensions can help you track prices, too — like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel.

There may be other options if a tech must-have isn’t within your budget. Bricknell recommends checking with your school for programs to still get what you need at a fraction of the cost or for free, in some circumstances. For example, some schools may loan laptops for a school year or semester, but eligibility requirements may apply. 

Trade in old devices 

If you have old tech that you’re no longer using, it may be worth some money that you can use to buy a laptop or tablet you need now. 

«Companies like Swappa can give you cash for your old tech, but keep in mind that the more used your tech, the less cash you’re likely to get,» said Bricknell. 

Before you sell your old devices, check several retailers to make sure you’re getting the best deal before selling. How much you get back can depend on the condition of your device, how old it is and the demand for it.  

Methodology

CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,601 adults, of whom 689 have gone or are planning to go back-to-school shopping. Fieldwork was undertaken July 16 to 18, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a fun word, and the letters aren’t too rare. Want to know which letters show up the most in English words? We have a full list. If you need hints and the answer to today’s Wordle puzzle, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: Start letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with S.

Wordle hint No. 4: Fly away

Today’s Wordle answer is a type of bird.

Wordle hint No. 5: Oh, baby

Today’s Wordle answer is often associated with newborn babies.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is STORK.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Aug. 4, No. 1,507, was RIGID.

Recent Wordle answers

July 31, No. 1,503: FRILL

Aug. 1, No. 1,504: BANJO

Aug. 2, No. 1,505: DAUNT

Aug. 3, No. 1,506: LUMPY

Quick tips for Wordle

#1: Check our list ranking the popularity of all the letters in the alphabet and choose your starter words accordingly. (TRAIN, STERN and AUDIO are good.)

#2: Don’t forget that letters can be used more than once.

#3: Many words are similar. You don’t want to use up multiple guesses that don’t advance your cause. So if the puzzle is STA_E, don’t guess STARE, STATE and STALE. Guess something that uses that R, T and L, like TWIRL.

Fresh off the excitement of the Perseids meteor shower is a chance to see six planets lined up in the sky at once. These events, colloquially known as planet parades, only occur about once or twice a year, with the most recent one in February showing off all seven planets in our solar system at once. The next one will feature six of our closest celestial neighbors, and the event starts on Aug. 20. 

The six planets sharing the sky will be Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. Mars will technically be there at the beginning of the night, but it dips below the horizon right after sunset, so it won’t be visible when all of the others are. Of those, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter will be visible to the naked eye, while the others will require high-powered binoculars or, preferably, a telescope. 

Even though they’re spread out across the eastern and southern skies, the planets pair up with this one, making many of them pretty easy to find if you know what to look for. From east to west, here’s where each one will be. 

• Mercury — Eastern sky near the Cancer constellation. It’ll pop over the horizon just before sunrise, so you’ll have limited time to view it before the sun comes up and obfuscates it. 
• Venus — At the lower tip of the Gemini constellation in the eastern sky, a couple of hours before sunrise. 
• Jupiter — Will be near Venus, also in the Gemini constellation. It rises about an hour before Venus does. 
• Uranus — Will be near the upper tip of Taurus, rising after midnight. This one will require some magnification. If you see Pleiades, a cluster of stars at the upper tip of Taurus, you’ve gone too far upward.
• Saturn and Neptune — These two are right next to each other and will be sitting between the Pisces and Cetus constellations in the southern skies. Neptune will be closer to Pisces while Saturn will be closer to Cetus. 

Since it takes a long time for planets to move through the night sky, Aug. 20 is the starting point, and it’ll run through the rest of the month. Once September hits, Mercury will be too close to the sun, which will obscure it. From that point, there will be a five-planet parade for a while until Venus sinks below the horizon in early October. So, in all, you’ll have a chance to see at least five planets for over a month. 

Will the planet parade be visible from my region?

Yes. We double checked Stellarium’s sky map from a variety of locations across the country, and everything above will be applicable everywhere in the continental US. Per Starwalk, the parade will also be visible in other parts of the world after the following dates for about the same amount of time (one to two weeks). 

• Abu Dhabi — Aug. 9
• Athens, Beijing, Berlin, Tokyo and London — Aug. 10
• Mumbai and Hong Kong — Aug. 11
• Reykjavik, São Paulo and Sydney — Aug. 12

The planets will move based on date, though. The above locations are where they’ll be around Aug. 20, but if you’re looking a week or so later, they’ll be in the same general area, but will shift to a slightly different part of the sky. 

Will I need any special equipment?

Yes. Neptune and Uranus, especially, will require some sort of magnification to see. We recommend a telescope, but high-powered binoculars may work if the sky is dark enough. Saturn is also difficult to see without magnification, so you’ll want it for that too. Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury should be visible on their own with the naked eye. 

We also recommend taking a trip out to the country, as light pollution from suburbs and cities can make it even more difficult to see Neptune and Uranus. The moon will be out as well, which may make Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury harder to see. Other factors like weather may also make it more difficult to see all of them. If you’re lucky, you may see a few shooting stars at the tail end of Perseids as well.