download free LibreOffice 3.
BTW, buy an older version of Office, like 2007, if you want to go that route.
Bought outlook 2007 for my new laptop with windows 8, because it’s the version I have on my other computers. Outlook 2007 won’t install in windows 8. I feel your pain.
There are student versions of Office that cost much less than off the shelf Office that you’d get at Office Max or Staples. And they come with all the goodies.