Rita Soledad Fernández Paulino / CNET
Tax-free holidays are coming.
If you live in one of the 16 states that offer a tax-free weekend, you can buy items such as back-to-school supplies without paying sales tax. It may not seem like much, but the extra savings can come in handy.
For example, if you live in South Carolina, you normally pay 6% sales tax. If you buy $50 of school supplies or other items between Aug. 2 and 4, you won’t have to pay the extra $3.
Rita-Soledad Fernández Paulino, a money coach, expert review board member and parent who’s all too familiar with back-to-school shopping, says it’s a cool way to save money.
Still, she warns that sales tax holidays could make it tempting to overspend. With all the snazzy, colorful back-to-school displays (and your kid’s excitement over a $10 Squishmallow pencil pouch), it’s easy to go over budget.
“Even though it’s a tax-free weekend, the best way to be intentional with your money is creating a plan,” said Fernández Paulino, who goes by Soledad.
I have two kids who always want everything when we go shopping, including school supplies. Soledad shared a strategy to help parents like me save time and money while checking off their school supply list. And I must say, it’s one of my go-to favorite tips.
Plan ahead and shop online
“Planning ahead, shopping online and just scheduling a pickup is a way that you could afford the back and forth with your kids.”
Back-to-school shopping may seem easier if you just visit the store in person, but then your little ones (and you) might be tempted to grab way more off the shelf than needed. Plus, you could find yourself having to go to multiple stores to cross everything off the list, which can make the temptation grow even bigger.
“Kids can quickly start to add little accessories, new lunch boxes, new water bottles,” said Soledad. “Planning ahead, shopping online and just scheduling a pickup is a way that you could afford the back and forth with your kids.”
To stay on task, Soledad recommends making your purchases online and opting for pickup, shipping or delivery. That way, you can make sure you have what you need and are intentional with your money. I even do this for my weekly Target trips to avoid walking the toy aisle or buying too many home decor items.
When shopping online for supplies, you can read reviews to feel confident about your purchases. And it’s easy to remove items from your cart to stay within a strict budget.
What I love most about Soledad’s tip is that you can still involve your kids and teach them a little about finances along the way. For instance, I let my 8-year-old pick between four bookbags online that were all within my budget and on sale. I was able to save time, score the deal and pick up one she loved.
Read more: Where to Shop Online for the Best Deals on Back-to-School Supplies
Always set a back-to-school budget
Even if you or your kids prefer back-to-school shopping in person, you should still plan ahead and set a budget. I recently took my kid shopping at Target and gave her the power to pick up her supplies. We budgeted $30. She chose cheaper items to stay under budget (like solid color folders instead of glittery ones) so she could still afford her $10 Squishmallow pencil pouch. The bonus? I stayed within my own budget, and it was an important money lesson for her.
If you’re looking for other ways to save on back-to-school shopping, remember to compare store prices and shop online first to see what you can mark off your list. Here’s a list of states offering tax-free holidays and dates you can save.
| State | State sales tax | Tax-free dates |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4% | July 19-21 |
| Arkansas | 6.50% | August 3-4 |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | Aug. 18-24 |
| Florida | 6% | July 29 – Aug. 11 |
| Iowa | 6% | Aug. 2-3 |
| Maryland | 6% | Aug. 11-17 |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | Aug. 10-11 |
| Mississippi | 7% | July 26-27 |
| Missouri | 4.23% | Aug. 2-4 |
| New Mexico | 5.13%* | Aug. 2-4 |
| Ohio | 5.75% | July 30 – Aug. 8 |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% | Aug. 2-4 |
| South Carolina | 6% | Aug. 2-4 |
| Tennessee | 7% | July 26-28 |
| Texas | 6.25% | Aug. 9-11 |
| West Virginia | 6% | Aug. 2-4 |
If you’re looking for more ways to teach your kids about personal finance, here’s advice from my colleague and a fellow parent who is teaching her kids how to be money-savvy.
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