From the article: 2009 Tax Free Weekend Events
Back to school shopping can get quite expensive. Aside from shopping during your state's Tax Free Shopping Dates, what do you do to save money the school supplies, clothing, and shoes your kids need for school? Share your thoughts with our readers. Your Money-Saving Tips
Coping With No Tax Free Week
- Especially in this day and age, I cant believe they wouldn't give (my state) a tax free week. I agree with a reader that Walmart does have good things at a low price. Right now they have their school uniform shorts and skirts on sale for $10. They also have a pack of 2 school uniform shirts for $10. The shirts are in blue and white and the shorts are in khaki, but if your school requires different colors they have them for $6 each. I also work there, but it's still a good price.
- —Guest amy
ebay shopper/seller
- my middle school daughter loves brand name clothes and I find a lot of them on Ebay. I also sell the clothes that don't fit her or the ones she does not want anymore. I believe that it's good for the wallet, but at the same time I put my grain of sand in the recyling process. I also look for sales all year round, and by the time back to school comes we are fully prepared.
- —Guest cb
Reuse What You Can
- I go through all the items that come home at the end of the school year, and I take out and save anything that can be reused the next year, and put those items somewhere where I can remember where they are and where they won't get used during the summer. This way, I'm not buying things like scissors or rulers every year!
- —Guest Guest
Tips from a Teacher
- Please be careful about buying the off-brand names of things like glue, pencils, and crayons. They really don't hold up well at all. Go for the old standbys!
- —Guest Kteacher
Catch Pre-Tax Free Weekend Sales
- Some of the major chain stores, such as Belk, have 25-50% off sales at least two to three weeks prior to the tax free weekend, and I buy all of my daughter's school clothes then. I don't mind paying the tax if I feel like I'm getting a good percentage off of the regular prices. Sometimes I even find stuff for 75% off!
- —dar.nah0526
How I Save on School Supplies
- I rely on coupons, sales and Walmart. I also take advantage of tax free weekends, and I use to pay for my kids' uniforms.
- —Guest mom of 2
Shop sales on-line and off
- Like most of the parents who have already posted, I, too, shop all the local sales for back-to-school school supplies and buy extras for the year. For shoes, jackets, book bags, under garments, and such, I mainly shop on-line sales by getting extra savings with free shipping and discount codes. Codes can easily be found by searching the name of the store and the phrase "coupon code" on Google. Once you find a few good sites, bookmark them, and you can save time by looking there first the next time you need it. Thanks for the great useful list I'll link back here from my website.
- —Guest Honestly Earn Money Online
Shop at the End of the School Year
- Just as soon as the school year ends, I start school shopping for the next year, just by picking up items here and there. I also go to the dollar store because they usually have just about all of the minor school supplies needed.
- —Guest loveglynis
How I Save on School Supplies
- I stock up pens, pencils, paper, etc. at the back-to-school sales. That way, when they run out f those items during the year, I have them on hand. On sale, that stuff is usually about half price, too!
- —Guest mom of four
Kid's Back to School Shopping Needs
- Go to the clearance racks in each store. You can find some great deals for clothing out of season! You should always look for coupons to use with things on sale, too. The extra off can rack up the savings!
- —Guest Love a Bargain
End-of-Season Sales
- At the end of every season, I shop at all the sales and buy my kids items that I think will probably fit them the next year. It saves me a ton of money!
- —Guest J.B.
