Question

Hey all, I'm in the market for a new laptop. I'm wanting to finance it with little or no interest. With a Best Buy or Amazon credit card I can get 0% for 18 months but I don't want any more credit inquiries affecting my score for the rest of this year, I already have 2 new accounts opened this year. Any other ideas on how or where to buy a new laptop? Or am I making this credit score too big of a deal?  

Answer 1

If you have to finance the purchase of a laptop, I'd be wondering if you should you be buying one in the first place? Perhaps the better idea would be to buy a used one and save up for a new one. You can buy an ok one for $500 and many people at this point can get by with an android tablet + keyboard. Also, +1 on what do you need it for? If you're just doing email and typing, a cheap alternative would be a raspberry pi + hdmi cable + existing tv or free used one + used keyboard + an SD card. Probably would cost you less that $100 all in.  

Answer 2

I often get zero interest offers on balance transfers from the cards I already have; they come in the mail and I put them next to the paper shredder. Last month I wanted one, so looked through that pile and picked one. I think the score might matter if you're going to make a major purchase soon, but I don't think a credit card inquiry makes much of a dent. I could be wrong.  

Answer 3

What’s your budget? What do you need it for?  

Answer 4

Like others are asking. What's the budget and what are you needing to do. Netflix, Facebook, and web? Get a Chromebook. They're relatively cheap in comparison to a Windows machine and probably more reliable.  

Answer 5

It shouldn't make a big difference in your score, but I agree with @phooey10 that if you have to finance it then you should probably look for something cheaper. I built a pretty decent gaming PC for about $500. A work desktop could be much cheaper to build, and a Dell Inspiron can be got for $300. Mine got me through pretty much all of high school, and was then only replaced because I got a newer one as a grad present. A chromebook could be gotten for even less, but I'd almost rather just use my phone for everything rather than use a chromebook (I deal with them enough in the classroom and hate it).  

Answer 6

Have you looked at PayPal’s zero interest for 6months for purchases through eBay using their service? Could be a option but I’m not sure if it’s always available or promotional

Answer 7

I've had 5 credit checks in the past 6 months. Its had very little impact on my score. I wouldn't be overly worried about it. (Though in all fairness I was very worried about it at the time, but it only affected my score a few points which shocked me).  

Answer 8

Depending on your budget, I would look at the refurbished Mac’s or MacBook Air. For around $1000 you could get a laptop that, if you take good care of it, will last at least 10 years. I’m going on 9 with mine and it still works really well.  

Answer 9

Thanks all for the help. I'm in a unique situation--I need a Windows PC due to accessing DOD websites which require a smart card reader. A lot of these sites are built on antiquated architecture, and combined with the security certificates, can only be viewed on Internet Explorer (yuck). I wanted a financing option due to separating from active duty to reserves. (aka, I'm between jobs)

Comments

Buy a used PC off of craigslist or Facebook marketplace. You can probably sell it for what you paid for it once you can afford to buy a new laptop.  

Answer 10

Definitely go used for now. Plenty available. The Best Buy and Amazon 0% finance requires you to give up the 5% in points you would get if you didn't finance. Those points are as good as cash at those stores so in reality, you are sort of paying 5% interest immediately upon financing the laptop.