Back-to-School season is here. Well, if you have been in any big box stores, it’s been back-to-school time since June. But alas, it is actually upon us. Whether armed with your school supply list or not, you can prep for school and save a little money with these tips.
Tax-Free Holidays
Some states offer tax-free holiday periods just before school starts. This means no sales tax is charged on certain items, differing per state, during that period. There are usually caps on the cost per item. Some states include items like clothing, footwear, and diapers. There is no need to apply; if you shop for those items during that time period, no sales tax will be charged. Here is a list of states with upcoming dates and what is included.
If the time period for your state has passed, check to see if you are driving through a state that hasn’t passed yet while on a PCS. You can utilize it! Even without a school supply list for your next school, you can still gather basic supplies and clothing for the kids and save that tax money!
Connecticut: August 20 – 26, 2023
- Clothing and footwear (up to $100 per item)
Maryland: August 13 – 19, 2023
- Clothing, diapers, & footwear (up to $100 per item), backpacks & book bags (up to $40)
Mississippi: July 28 – 29, 2023
- Clothing, footwear, and school supplies (up to $100 per item)
New Jersey: August 26 – September 4, 2023
- Certain computers (up to $3,000), school art supplies, school computer supplies (up to $1,000), school instructional materials, school supplies, sport or recreational equipment
Texas: August 11 – 13, 2022
- Clothing, backpacks, & school supplies (up to $100 per item)
States that offer tax-free time periods this year that have passed are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. States can opt in or out at any time; check your state’s tax page for more information on upcoming dates or if participation is set for the upcoming year. Some states also do more than one tax-free period throughout the year, so maybe more dates are coming!
Teacher Discount at Target
This year, Target is offering a teacher discount to not just teachers at brick and mortar schools, but also homeschool teachers. The Target Circle Teacher Appreciation Event is running from July 16 to August 26, and verified teachers can get a one-time discount of 20% on an entire shopping trip. Verification of ID is done through SheerID, just like military verification. If there is an issue with the verification, contact Customer Service at Sheer ID.
Local Giveaways
Sometimes in preparation for the new school year, organizations like Blue Star Families, the USO, or even churches local to military bases will organize backpack giveaways. These giveaways often come with basic school supplies and may in fact come with information about the area. Getting information on local resources is key for military families who just PCS’d to a new area and may benefit from information on the local tutoring, clubs or events in the area. Check out local base pages, and social media pages for the local chapters of Blue Star Families or USO.
Use Coupon Applications
Applications like Ibotta may offer discounts or deals on school supplies. In years past, Ibotta and Wal-Mart offered free school supplies but there is not an ad for participation in 2023. A coupon is still savings though!
Store Ads
Big box stores like Costco often add coupons to their school supply items – sometimes even printer paper. Check out the ads for Staples and Office Depot for buy-one-get-one-free items that may help offset the school supply budget.
Buying school supplies, especially if occurring after an expensive PCS, can be another large expense for military families. Utilizing tax-free holidays, coupons, discounts and giveaways saves some, and every little bit helps with the budget!
