School is expensive — there is no doubt about that! Whether you are paying tuition or not, it has really become pricey just to buy the supplies. So, I have put together a few tips on how you can possibly save a little this back-to-school season.

Tip #1: Buy refurbished. This is a great way to save a lot of money by buying previously owned equipment. Now I know when you hear the word “refurbished” you might immediately think old or used, maybe even beat-up. That is truly not the case. First of all — and most importantly — always buy your refurbished devices directly from the manufacturer, and if you are a worry wart, you can increase your warranty protection.

For example, consider the way Apple backs its refurb program:

“Before we put a refurbished Mac, iPod, iPad, or Apple TV up for sale in Special Deals, it undergoes a rigorous refurbishment process to make sure it’s up to Apple’s tough quality standards. We back it with our standard one-year limited warranty. And you have the option of purchasing an AppleCare Protection Plan for it to extend your warranty.”

That’s one reason why you should buy from the manufacturer. Another is that refurbished doesn’t necessarily mean that the item is bad or old. Sometimes people will receive a laptop or a computer, use it for two or three weeks and then turn it in because they didn’t like it. These items also are considered refurbished, so you basically can get a new computer for a large discount. Read more on TODAY.com.