How to Save on Back to School Tax Free Weekend
Tax free weekend is just around the corner, which means that back to school preparation doesn’t follow too far behind. It’s time to save big on items that the students will need to get back into school mode. Know how to be prepared to catch the best savings when the sales tax holiday begins.
1. Create a game plan
Just as one would not (should not) walk into a grocery store without actually knowing which groceries you need, the same idea applies to tax free weekend. You have to think ahead of the game and plan your strategy. What are your top necessities? Which stores do you know will offer the best savings? Will you be bringing someone along to help catch the best deals? Before leaving the house, be sure to note your strategy.
2. Buy with the future in mind
Keep in mind that tax free weekend only occurs annually, but you will most likely be taking multiple trips to the store throughout the year to restock on notebooks, pencils, glue, etc. This means, that you’ll end up paying taxes for the same items that you could have gotten tax exempt. Stocking up now will help you save time and money in the long run. However, let’s not confuse this with the concept of over-buying. It helps to guesstimate how much you will need per items and only purchasing the necessary amount to last you the year. You might as well take advantage of the savings now!
3. Don’t stray from layaway
Don’t forget that you can also put your items on layaway. Most stores will allow you to take part in the tax free savings if you either put the item on layaway during that weekend OR if you decide to make your final payment during that weekend on an item you have previously stored away.
4. Commit to a price only if you know it’s the best available offer
During this sales tax holiday, many stores are competing for your business, which means better feasible savings for you! However, you need to do your research and look at all of your options. Most stores will offer a price match guarantee, so if you find a better price, they’ll match it! This will help to reduce your travel time if a price match option is offered in the store you plan on buying all of your items. For increased savings, most stores will send out coupons on items prior to the weekend, so be on the lookout for specific coupons that match the product you are looking for.
It’s important to note that every state will have different qualifications in which items they’ll consider to be tax exempt. Technically, this tax-free season is reserved for back to school items; however, the state does recognize other necessities as exempt. When the sales tax holiday arrives, be prepared and ready for these great savings. Your friends at A-MAX Auto Insurance want to wish all students a happy 2017-2018 school year!