Riddles are time-honored educational tools used to entertain students while teaching them the value of critical thinking. They often require the kind of outside-the-box inductive and deductive reasoning that is so valued in the business world today. Now, those same educators who talk about two coins adding up to 35 cents are being presented with their own riddle by the state and federal governments. The solution to the riddle of how to acquire more technology on a limited budget is one that is often overlooked: used and refurbished corporate computing equipment. The fact is that districts can double or triple the amount of computer equipment they purchase by going with used rather than new gear. So why don't they? There are a number of reasons: some based on past facts, others on preconceived notions that buying anything but new gear puts the district in a bad light. This article examines the perceptions versus the realities of used and refurbished equipment so school boards, administrators, technology committees and educators can make more informed decisions.