With the highest sales tax in the U.S. hovering at about 10.75% (California), you have to ask yourself if the savings are worth the effort.  Crowded stores, long-lines, uncooperative kids and driving all over town might save you that 10%, but what if you could save more from the comfort of your own home or office?  I think it is possible to save on your back-to-school shopping and, if you start today, you can still have your student(s) stocked up and ready to head off to their first day.

Start With Amazon.com

No other online business makes shopping as easy as Amazon.com.  Take that required list of school supplies provided by your school district and head over to the Back-to-School Savings area.   Items on Amazon.com are typically less-expensive than their big-box store counterparts and you don’t pay tax, ever (at least in Texas).  Become a member of Amazon Prime (FREE trials available, $79 a year) and you can take advantage of unlimited fast shipping, including FREE Two-Day shipping and One-day shipping for $3.99 per item on all eligible purchases.

I myself have been an Amazon Prime member for the last year and I will never go without it again.

Shop Competitvely

I’m not saying you need to put on a helmet and pads, but you do need to flex your tech skills to get the best prices on the more expensive items on your child’s list.  Whether your college freshman needs a new laptop or your middle-schooler needs a backpack, you can use online or smartphone shopping tools to compare prices from other retailers before making your decision to purchase.

For those of you with smartphones (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) there are numerous barcode scanning apps that you can download.  ShopSavvy (my favorite Android tool) is just one of these apps, which allows you to scan a barcode and get instant comparison results from over 20,000 retailers and 200,000 products.  In many cases, the online price of an item can be 20%, 30% or more off of retail.

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!

No matter where you end up shopping, don’t forget the coupons.  “But why would a blog about computers and tech write about something as traditional as coupons?” you might ask.  Coupons have evolved as much as shopping over the last few years.  Not only can you find coupon codes for just about any website (thanks to RetailMeNot.com), retailers like Target and JCPenney are distributing digital coupons that cam be redeemed right from the screen of your smartphone.

For Next Year

Unfortunately, it’s too late to take advantage of this great service I found while doing my research.  Next year, stay ahead of the game and order your supplies from a company like School-Pak, Inc.  They have been preparing and shipping packaged school supplies since 1991.  You email them your list and they send you a quote for all the items and delivery.

If you have school shopping left to do, just open a new tab in your browser and get started now.  You could be done with it all before you leave the office today.  If you know someone else with school-aged children, forward this article on.  They’ll thank you later.

If you have ever taken your laptop with you on a trip, you’ve had this issue.  If you’ve ever taken more than one gadget (iPod, PSP, GameBoy, Camera) to work, you’ve been frustrated by this issue.  If you’ve ever used a laptop or messenger bag to transport your tech, you’ve fought this issue.  Carrying any kind of electronic device(s) means carrying the power cable and any/all other accessories with you wherever you go.  As soon as the second item hits your bag, things get complicated.

Cables tangle, screens get scratched and everything in your bag drops straight to the bottom.  This makes finding any one item next to impossible (without dumping the contents of the entire bag) and, most likely, it is going to shorten the life and look of your gadgets and devices.  For any tech/gadget nerd, this is just not acceptable and, if you are anything like me, you want to take care of the items that you paid so much for.  There is a bit of pride in owning an iPod that is 2-years old, but looks like you just bought it.  Throw-in the fact that “no scratches” and “like new” make great tag lines for any product you want to sell on eBay, and you’ve got yourself a good set of reasons for taking care of your gear.

That is exactly where Cocoon comes in. Their line of products is available “to protect and safely transport our most precious virtual cargo as we navigate the real world.” At the heart of the Cocoon line is the GRID-IT! system, “an internal organization system that allows the user to customize and reconfigure the interior organization as their needs and cargo evolves.”

The GRID-IT! CPG8 (just one of many available)

Pure genius! This year you are carrying an iPod Classic, a PSP 2000 and a Canon PowerShot Digital Camera.  Next year, when you switch to an iPad, a GameBoy DS 3D and a Flip HD, you won’t have to go out and buy a new GRID-IT!, or any other system.  Your items will still fit and stay protected in their Cocoon, thanks to the GRID-IT! organization system – “a rubberized woven elastic object retention system for gadget organization.”  There are a limitless number of configurations you can use to store your tech toys.

The Organization System is Available in Different Colors

GRID-IT! is going to find it’s way into my shopping cart today, but that might not be the only item I’ll be ordering from Cocoon.  They carry of full line of products aimed at creating “a place where the technological extensions of our lives and work could be kept safe and organized.”  There are hundreds of products, including:

• iPad cases
• Airport friendly cases and bags
• Blackberry cases
• Messenger bags
• Slings
• Laptop cases
• Totes
• Backpacks
• Camera Bags

By the way, I was not paid or compensated in any way for my review of Cocoon and their product line.  I am simply a fan of protecting my gadgets and I thought you might share that passion.  Check them out today and share this article with anyone you know that might be interested in doing the same.

Cocoon Web Site: http://www.cocooninnovations.com/

• I like to see an item in person before purchasing
• I want to be able to return the item easily, in case it’s not what the site showed/described
• I need it now and can’t afford to wait a week
• I would only save a few dollars by buying online – it’s not worth the hassle
• I don’t have the time to sit at the computer and comparison shop

While there are times when you absolutely must have an item in hand immediately, I think most purchases are a little rushed and impulsive.  Time is an important factor in shopping, but it doesn’t have to be a barrier.  Thanks to the makers of some very smart applications for smart-phones, online shopping doesn’t have to be scary, time-consuming or unrewarding.

Smart-Phones

If you own a smart-phone (iPhone, Android, etc.) then you have a shopping tool in your pocket/purse at all times.  Add a simple application (like the ones below) and turn your phone into a barcode scanner, comparison shopper and ordering device.

ShopSavvy is by far my favorite FREE shopping app and it is available (CLICK HERE) for the iPhone, Android phones and certain Nokia devices.

“With ShopSavvy users can scan the barcode of any product using their phone’s built-in camera.  Once scanned, it will search for all the best prices from local and online retailers. ShopSavvy is used by more than 5.5 million users around the world providing them access to more than 20,000 retailers and 20,0oo,000 products.” - taken from the product web site

I have personally used ShopSavvy for the last year and it is super-simple and super-rewarding.  If you are interested in the features of ShopSavvy, take a look at the video below.  The content is great, even if the voice-over is a little…. lacking.

Amazon App is something I wish I had known about before today.  Now, you can add their app to your smart-phone and access pricing, reviews, wish lists, 1-click ordering and your own Amazon account right from the palm of your hand.  Just like ShopSavvy, you can use the camera on your phone as a barcode scanner.  The app is available for Android, iPhone and Blackberry users. (CLICK HERE)

Safe Web Sites

No matter what great deals your smart-phone returns in a product search, be sure to buy from trusted, safe sites.  While the Amazon App will keep you within the Amazon site at all times, ShopSavvy links to many other retailers and might take you to some sites you have never heard of.   If you are unsure of how to tell the difference between a safe site and a scam, check out our article Shopping Safely – 101 Days Until Christmas.  The title might be outdated, but the content is not.  In the article, we provide a few, simple tips and tricks on making sure the site you are on is secure.

Arguments Revisited

Here is some food for thought.  Remember those arguments that I posted in the beginning of the article?  I’d like to revisit them and show how using one of the apps above can still work within your “guidelines for shopping.”

• I like to see an item in person before purchasing – This is what I do.  I visit retail stores and check the product out in person.  While I am there, I simply use one of the apps above to scan the barcode or I write down the product information and price compare when I get home.  Waiting a day or two for delivery on the item could save me some hard-earned cash.
• I want to be able to return the item easily, in case it’s not what the site showed/described – Many web sites, including Amazon have simple, fair return policies and they often include return labels with your delivery.  Depending on the reason for the return you might not lose a dime.  I recently returned an item to Amazon because of an ordering mistake I made and I was only out $5.
• I need it now and can’t afford to wait a week – Programs like Amazon Prime can cut wait-times down to 2 days on all products (FREE shipping).  No matter what site you buy from, check for coupon codes that will yield you free shipping or see if there is a minimum purchase price to activate free shipping.  In some cases, the money you save will more than outweigh the cost of a 2-day delivery.
• I would only save a few dollars by buying online – it’s not worth the hassle – In many cases, you will save more than you think possible.  For instance, in the example video above (ShopSavvy) the item scanned retailed at $141.99 and the ShopSavvy application found the same item (NEW) online for $64.99.  I think the savings on this item was well worth the wait and the “hassle.”
• I don’t have the time to sit at the computer and comparison shop – Using an app, like the ones above, limits your hassle.  Simply scan the item and email the results to yourself.  When you get home, spend 2 minutes on the computer and order the item from the link provided.  You can find that 2 minutes if it will save $$$.

I have written about Dropbox repeatedly and used their product religiously since a good friend introduced me to the service.  If you haven’t already been introduced, let me the one to tell you all about it (see Introduction below).  For those of you who are already fans, this week’s news was like getting a new double-album and a FREE concert.  You veterans can jump on down to the WOW! section to see the latest from our rock stars.

Introduction

JumpstartMyPC.com was started to help PC users get the most out of their computer and no product exemplifies this idea like Dropbox! Dropbox is a file-syncing, file sharing, online backup tool that you can access from just about anywhere and you can start using it for FREE! I have written about this product many times, shared it with clients, friends and family and I use it myself, every single day. If you aren’t using it yet, you are in for a real treat.

Dropox is a storage application and service operated by Evenflow, Inc. The service enables users to store and sync files online and between computers. There are many great features to this product, but best of all IT IS FREE. Click below and watch the video (created by the folks at CommonCraft) to see for yourself.

Features

A complete feature list is available on the Dropbox web site, but we have a few highlights for you:

• File Syncing – Start with 2GB of storage for free and synchronize any file type to as many computers/devices as you want. Within seconds of adding a file to your Dropbox, it is synced to any and every computer you have installed Dropbox on.
• File Sharing – Want to share files with friends and family but aren’t sure how? If you can right-click, you can use Dropbox to send anyone a link to a file. Create a shared area for pictures, movies or even work documents.
• Online Backup – Your files are stored on the Dropbox servers, so if your computer crashes or you accidentally delete it locally, your file (and previous versions) are still available.
• Security – Without going into a lot of technical jargon, your files are secure. User names and passwords are required to access any files and all of the transmissions of your data are encrypted.

Pricing

Getting started with Dropbox is FREE and they start you off with 2GB of space. You can refer friends, family and colleagues to increase this space up to 10GB, which is adequate for most users. To give you some perspective, I use Dropbox for JumpstartMyPC every day. I’ve been storing blogs, invoices, install files, images, etc. for 7 months now and haven’t even used 30% of the 3GB provided to me.

If, or when, you feel that you need more space, you can sign up for the Pro 50 ($9.99/mth) or Pro 100 ($19.99/mth) account.  Yearly plans are also available and you can save some cash by paying for the year in advance.   Although the pricing is fair, it is my hope that pressure from similar services and an upcoming Google storage offer will cause the Dropbox folks to lower that pricing a bit.  That being said, if I fill up my 10GB of space, I won’t hesitate to pay for the Pro 50 plan.

WOW!

As if the feature set and applications already released by the folks at the recently upgraded Dropbox headquarters weren’t enough, we were presented with several fantastic bits of news this week:

1. The official Android app is here – YES!!! I can now access all of my Dropbox files on my G1.  Android users (and there are a lot of us) can now have our files with us everywhere we go.  It’s like having a tiny briefcase in our phone.
2. Dropbox has an iPad app – WHAT???  How did you do that so quickly.  I haven’t been able to get a hands-on with the iPad yet, but some great screen shots have surfaced of the new app at work and it looks great.
3. Mobile API for “Dropbox Anywhere” – Developers can now get in on the fun.  According to cnet news, Dropbox “has worked with a number of developers to integrate their apps into the new data pipeline… All of these apps are able to tap into a user’s Dropbox storage to fetch data, and save it back without needing to use any of that device’s local data.”
4. Blackberry on the Way – Only listed as “quite soon,” the imminent release of the Blackberry app for Dropbox is on the horizon.  Last time a “coming soon” was announced (Android app), it took exactly one month for Dropbox to deploy the app.

Whether you are a Dropbox user currently or not, you can see that Dropbox is starting to turn up everywhere.  For those of you who need files on the go, anywhere at anytime, the one choice in cloud storage is becoming quite obvious.  Better start populating your Dropbox now so you’ll be ready for the revolution.

The key to maximizing our schedules is organization and (ironically) it takes time to get organized.  For those of you in the “9 to 5″ crowd, you probably have access to Microsoft Outlook for managing your work hours but what about the rest of your life?  What about users who don’t have access to this email/calendar program (part of a $300 Microsoft Office package)?  Even if you had a wonderful program like Outlook, would you have the time/opportunity to get in front of a computer regularly throughout the day?

For anyone interested in using a calendar to keep track of events and schedules there is a solution that offers the flexibility of an electronic system and the mobility needed in our busy lives… Google Calendar and Google Sync.  They are both FREE and can help you find the time for what really matters, without wasting hours in setup.

Google Calendar

Students, Professionals, Mothers and anyone else with a hectic, busy schedule can keep track of life’s important events all in one place, for FREE.  Google says “organizing your schedule shouldn’t be a burden” and I couldn’t agree more.

Google Calendar Daily View

There are countless ways that Google Calendar can help you and there are constant additions to the functionality of this program.  Google has an overview page that does a great job of explaining the benefits of this FREE, web-based program.  I would just like to share a few reasons that I use Calendar:

• Reminders – One time, weekly, monthly or a year in advance.  I can set a reminder to pay a bill, send in an important tax document or simply for scheduling a meeting.  If it is on the calendar, I will have a hard time missing it.
• Sharing – I can share my calendar with family and business partners to let them know when I am busy and what I am doing.
• Contacts – My contacts (stored in Google Contacts) are instantly available in Calendar for setting up meetings, inviting someone to an event or sharing.  I don’t have to remember or write down email addresses.

Google Sync

Having your day, month or week scheduled out in Google Calendar is great, but what about accessing your calendar on the go?  If you can’t see the calendar, it is useless, right?  Google Sync can put the contents of your calendar on your cell phone.  With a smart phone, you can view your calendar, add events, set up new appointments, etc.  If you don’t have an iPhone, Blackberry or Android based phone, you can still receive reminders via SMS (text messages).

Google Sync for Your Mobile Phone

Features vary, depending on your device, but with the majority of the world moving to mobile phones, users will find Google Calendar and Google Sync to be a life-saver.  Get organized, schedule your week and find a way to earn back that all too important free time that has escaped you for so long.  Setting up these services takes just minutes and doesn’t cost you a dime.