Students on a tight budget? Check out these sub-$50 gadgets

You don't need to be an A-grade student to know back-to-school gear can get expensive.

If cash is tight, you might consider a modest, entry-level PC that can handle basic tasks – like word processing, web research and social media – along with some gadgets and related accessories that won’t break the bank. Students (or their parents), take note of these following suggestions. Note: At the time of writing this, all products are under $50, but be aware prices do tend to fluctuate somewhat over time.

Sculpt Touch Mouse

Are you getting hand cramps by using your laptop’s touchpad for hours at a time? Instead, consider Microsoft’s Sculpt Touch Mouse ($39.95), which pairs with a laptop via Bluetooth, therefore not requiring a dongle to be inserted into a valuable USB port. Along with three customizable buttons, a touch strip on top makes scrolling through long and wide documents quick and easy. And you can use this mouse on virtually any surface.

Verbatim Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard

Great for students who take copious amounts of notes, this Verbatim wireless keyboard ($44.99) is ideal for long-form typing on virtually any Bluetooth-enabled touchscreen smartphone or tablet. When you're on the go, this full-size QWERTY keyboard folds up to half its size and slips into a matching black case, but when you want to type take notes, write a long email or type an essay or sales report, simply open it up, turn it on and prop up your device with an optional stand.

TP-Link Portable Wireless N Router

As the name suggests, the TP-Link Portable Wireless N Router ($39.99) is a compact Wi-Fi router you can take with you – perhaps to a dorm room or hotel room – and once you snap in a USB cellular modem, multiple devices around you can get online at the same time – with wireless speeds up to 150Mbps in certain 4G/LTE areas. This is also safer and more private than using free, public Wi-Fi, say, in a café, school campus or airport.

Kobo mini

Whether it’s used for reading digital textbooks or New York Times best-sellers, the Kobo mini ($49.99) or used Amazon Kindle ($49.99) delivers crisp, legible text, fast Wi-Fi to download new material, a long-lasting battery and an intuitive interface. And for the price, you can’t beat it. Swipe through digital books, newspapers and magazines on its 5-inch glare-free touchscreen. And at just 4.73 ounces (134 grams), you won’t even know it’s in your purse, pocket or backpack.

Creative Labs D100 Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Despite the fact it’s small enough to fit in your palm, the Creative Labs D100 Portable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker ($39.99) allows you to stream your music wirelessly, perhaps in your dorm room, as it pairs with any Bluetooth-enabled device. Not only can you listen to the music from your smartphone, you can also use this speaker as a hands-free calling solution. This Bluetooth 3.0-powered mini boombox provides up to four hours of talk time and includes a USB charging cable. Non-wireless MP3 players can be connected via the integrated aux-in port

Koss QZPro Noise Cancelling Headphones

Who said you need to spend hundreds of dollars on noise-cancelling headphones? The Koss QZPros ($49.99) are a pair of comfortable over-the-ear headphones with active noise-cancellation; simply flick the switch and it’ll cut down on more than 95 per cent of ambient noise, such as an airplane’s engine roar while flying home from school for a family visit. The long 4-foot cable houses an in-line volume control, and included is a two-prong airline adaptor, if needed.

Otterbox Defender Cases

Klutzy types might prefer a ruggedized smartphone case to protect their investment. OtterBox’s Defender Series ($49.95) safeguards the phone in three ways: a clear membrane that covers the screen, a hard polycarbonate skeleton that surrounds the smartphone and a wrap-around silicone skin that absorbs bumps. Available for iPhone, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices, these cases also include a swivel belt clip that doubles as a small stand for viewing video on some models.

Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000

Chatting via text is so 20th century. Instead bring your online conversations to life with high-def video and audio – with the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 ($29.99), a Windows-based webcam offering superior video quality (720p HD video with a 16:9 aspect ratio) and 1.3-megapixel still photos, along with other handy features such as built-in microphone, one-touch “Call” button and automatic face-tracking software. If you’re faking a sick call into your professor, however, just be aware you now have to look the part, too. Also consider the Logitech C310 HD Webcam for $49.99.

Chill out

Keep your cold ones frosty while you’re working (or playing) on your computer with the CoolIT USB Beverage Chiller ($29.99), a clever PC peripheral for thirsty mouse clickers. Simply plug this cold-plate into the USB port of your laptop or desktop computer and it’ll cool down to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, the perfect temperature to keep your drinks chilled. This product draws its power from the computer, so no AC outlet is necessary. Mmmmmm, cold ones…

WD Elements SE Portable 500GB External Hard Drive

Thank for the memory. Students understand the importance of backing up their important information – be it documents, music, videos, photos and other files – and a robust, easy-to-use hard drive you can take anywhere is a recommended companion. This Western Digital Elements 500-gigabyte hard drive ($49.99) includes a USB 3.0 connection – with data transfer speeds up to 5 gigabits per second – and used with any PC or Mac (and some other products, like smart TV boxes and video game consoles).