Must-Have Back-to-School Gadgets

New computers should be complemented with shiny, new printers as well. Because printers are relatively cheap compared to the ink cartridges you have to keep purchasing, I prefer not spending lots of money on printers.

My first stop for best prices would be one of the warehouse stores (Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's) or giant discount department store retailers (Wal-Mart [WMT], Target (TGT), and Kmart [SHLD]). You should be able to find good-quality, color ink-jet machines for under $100. Maybe even under $50. A good black-and-white laser printer will set you back more than $150.

I would look for models from H-P (HPQ), Epson (SEKEY), Dell (DELL), Lexmark (LXK), Canon (CAJ) and Samsung (SEO). Over the years, I've had good luck with them all (I've had a lot of printers). If you find a model you like, don't forget to also check prices online.

As for cell phones -- this could be grounds for the biggest battles. Hot, new phone designs and monthly service fees all are considerations for which phone and what provider you choose.

iPhones are really terrific, but they're not for everyone. There may be features or programs and content that you would prefer not be downloaded on to a school kid's cell phone. If you do a little research, you will find some companies have new programs that allow you to control your children's cellular airtime and usage. There's even a new T-Mobile scheme that lets you set a monthly allowance of minutes for each family member. When you exceed the set number, your handset can only make calls to parents or emergency services.