Do you work for or volunteer with a not-for-profit, i.e., an organization that has been designated as a so-called 501(c)(3) by the IRS?  If so, immediately go to www.techsoup.org and sign up for a membership.  They are a clearinghouse for most all of the major software providers, offering overwhelmingly large discounts for top-of-the-line applications.  Just a small sample includes Adobe, Cisco, GrantStation, Intuit, Microsoft, Symantec, etc.  As examples, the $700+ 10-program Office Pro Plus package only costs $32 while a 3-license version of Quickbooks costs just $99.  There are also 4G WiFi hotspots from Mobile Beacon that only cost $10 per month, and very affordable refurbished computers.