Back to School & "Tax Free" Weekends

[newmummy]

Ok, my brother had pointed out that they do crazy things like *raise* the price of hand sanitizer for "back to school" sales. Hence, I slowly stockpiled the school supply list (thank you advanced local schoolboard, keeping the list online year round!)

August 19th - 21st is the "tax free" weekend here, where you can purchase some clothing items without tax. This includes some adult clothes, up to ten backpacks, etcetera. Also, some school supplies.

I'm cruising the flyers now, trying to decide which items are "must," which are "maybe" and budget it out. Anybody have any hints or tips? My boy's going into kindergarten this year.

[thyme4change]

At my kids' school, in kindergarten they pooled the school supplies. I had forgotten a couple of things, and called the teacher and she said she was good for a while, and I let it go. I called her during Christmas break and asked if she needed any replenishment of any supplies since I had shorted her at the beginning. I ended up buying her a couple things. In the older grades, they did not pool their supplies - they each had their own box for stuff.

So, you might want to call the school / teacher and ask. If they do pool - your kid is covered. If they don't pool items, you can get it during the first month and everything will probably be okay. Just make sure he has crayons.

Tax Free weekends are only really helpful to retailers and possibly people with a lot of disposable income. The people that need the most relief don't have a stockpile of money sitting around to stock up on everything and really take advantage.

[mizbear]

With me living on the east coast- we just went to the next state over to shop tax free for school stuff- my DGPs paid for it.
At my nieces' schools that they have attended almost all of the lower grades pool supplies now- and many parents are not happy about it. Some are not happy because they feel they are supplying other kids, others because the pooling of the supplies forces a bit of conformity (all the supplies have to be regulation). Most parents who are short are very appreciative and try to make up in other ways (I know a lady who went in every day and volunteered while she was out of work and looking for another job) but there is always that exception that sees it as a free ride to not do something.
I try to pick up extra stuff for my nieces because they never seem to have what they need. I also try to pick up extra for whatever school they are attending because I know what it's like to wonder if you're going to have a bookbag or a binder that doesn't have duck tape on it.