If you’re like many college students today, you depend on your computer for your education. Papers are planned, researched , and written with it. Group project assignments are broken down and delegated online. Without a computer, you’d probably have a hard time getting things done efficiently.

Your computer is a valuable tool for your education. You want to make sure it’s protected, but you lack the budget to buy the fanciest antivirus software. Is it possible to protect your computer without going broke? Are there advantages to getting the paid versions of programs? How can you tell if you picked a program?

AntiVirus Software – What’s It Good For?

What exactly does antivirus software do? They protect you from malware that can harm your computer and files. It can also detect and remove spyware from your system as well.

Malware is a broad term and can include the following:

• Viruses
• Trojans
• Worms
• Spyware
• Adware
• Keyloggers

While no antivirus software can keep ahead of problems, the best ones can add valuable protection.

Top Free Options

While there are many free antivirus programs out there claiming to be free and safe to use, here are some proven ones.

• AVG Free
• avast!
• Avira AntiVir
• Microsoft Security Essentials

Personally I’ve been using Avira AntiVir for my laptop and so far it’s been pretty good. Microsoft Security Essentials has a good reputation for offering good protection.

Are the Paid Versions Worth It?

The big question is, does the free software work as well? Should you fork over the money to buy the latest edition? I can’t give you a definitive answer, because you have to examine the quality of service you’re getting for a paid version to see if it’s really worth it.

I have relatives that benefit from having the paid service since they tend to call customer service a bit.

If you’re looking for some solid paid programs, you probably have to look no further than the trial versions that come with new computers. Some of the free antivirus software listed above also offer paid versions.  If you’re looking for software that is a bit more known, the 3 most popular ones right now are:

• Norton
• MacAfee
• Kaspersky Anti-Virus

Check them out and see if they offer you any additional benefits. My family has used MacAfee and Kaspersky and has had great success with them.

Your Take – Antivirus Software

For now, using the free programs has worked well for me. If it changes, though, i’m more than willing to switch over to a paid service. How about you? Is getting the free version a frugal choice or is it being cheap? What’s been your experience with antivirus software?

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I’m a big fan of shopping around and with some recent purchases, I’ve been especially keen on taking advantage of any rebates I can qualify for. One special that stores seem to be running is rebates. Rebates can put money in your pocket if you play your cards right.

My favorite rebate of course is the instant one. When we were picking up new phones last year we used the instant rebate at Best Buy to grab our phones for more than half off.

Why Offer Rebates?

With some of the steep discounts you can get with rebates, you might wonder why manufacturers and stores offer them. Retailers use rebates to gather information on their customers. While they do forfeit some profits, they know the fast majority of people don’t send in the rebate or fail to follow the conditions. It’s really a small cost to them to have more sales and more information.

The Federal Trade Commission has a list of why manufacturers offer rebates. Besides the ones already mentioned, it also includes:

• Demand Generation
• Product line introduction/extension
• Competitive Response
• Grow the Brand

I think you may be able to use competitive response as a way to get a discount. If company X is offering $50 rebate, could another store price match it without the rebate? It never hurts to ask and you can save both time and money.

Tips on Making the Most of Your Rebates

• Don’t buy it just for the rebate. I’ve actually heard people buy some items just because they had a coupon for it. It’s not a deal for them and it won’t be a deal for you if you buy something just for the rebate. The money you receive back should be the bonus, not the reason.
• Check the rebate rules before you buy. If you want your money, make sure you follow all the instructions.
• Scan and save your rebate paperwork. If you have evernote, you can upload that into your account and have it ready to resubmit if the company claims not to receive it.
• Send it early. Don’t wait until the last week to send out the rebate information. Keep record of when you sent it.
• If it’s a big claim, have delivery confirmation. if the company disputes the timing of your submission, having delivery confirmation can be helpful.

If you have problems and the company is not working with you, consider contacting the Federal Trade Commission. They may be able to get the company to give you your money due.

Your Thoughts on Using Rebates

How often do you use rebates for your purchases? Do they influence you buying a product?