Jane -

Some vendors selling preinstalled Win8 machines were offering a cheap (sometimes free) "downgrade" to Win7. It might be worth checking with the manufacturer's website to see if any such offers are available if that would help you.

Recent Win versions have included a "Run As" option to allow some older equipment to be run "as if" on an earlier version. I don't know whether Win8 includes that sort of capability, but investigation before investment is often a good idea. Someone with Win8 here might be able to offer advice(?) if you don't rush to buy the new hardware.

Checking to see if new "Win8 compatible" drivers for your old printer - from the printer manufacturer - might also find a solution, although if the printer is more than a few models old for the maker that's probably just a faint hope.

John