The kids will soon be going back to school and it will be time to do some back to school shopping.
A report from LendingTree.com found that 73% of back-to-school shoppers feel stressed about shopping for school supplies, and 40% expect to take on an average of $793 in debt.
There are several ways to save money as you begin to plan for back to school.
One is to shop during Connecticut’s Sales Tax Free Week, which starts Sunday. (See below for what you need to know about Sales Tax Free Week.)
Some stores will be holding sales next week to coincide with the consumption tax exemption week.
Another way you can save money is by buying refurbished tech products.
“These are products that have just been taken out of the box, and someone decides, ‘This is the product for me,’ and they’re returning it. If it’s a laptop, it might never have been turned on. You should look for a refurbished product, because a refurbished product repairs the product. They make sure it’s in the exact same condition as a new product,” said Samantha Gordon, trade editor at Consumer Reports.
You can also spread out your shopping to spread out the costs.
“Kids don’t need to have a full outfit on day one, and not all of the shopping is necessarily needed in the first few weeks, so you can spread out the shopping and do it little by little later,” Gordon says. “Holiday sales are coming up soon, and they often start in October.”
An additional piece of advice is to decide on a budget and shop around.
See if you can find cheaper items at other stores and check out consignment stores and dollar stores.
What you need to know about Connecticut’s 2024 Sales Tax Free Week
The event will be held from Sunday, August 18th to Saturday, August 24th.
During the sales tax holiday, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items under $100 are exempt from Connecticut sales and use tax.
This exemption applies to each eligible item under $100, regardless of how many items are sold to a customer on the same invoice.
Exempt clothing and footwear
Antique clothing Aprons (kitchen) Arm warmers Workout socks Bandanas Baseball caps Swimming caps Belts, suspenders, belt buckles Bicycle sneakers (no cleats) Blouses Chef uniforms Children’s bibs Clergy vestments and religious clothing Diapers (cloth or disposable, adult or child) Dresses Earmuffs Employee uniforms (police, fire, mechanic, nurse, post office, etc.) Fashion boots Formal wear gowns Formal wear rentals Inclement weather gear Garters Gloves Golf dresses and skirts Golf jackets Golf shirts Graduation caps and gowns Gym clothes Handkerchiefs Hats, caps Jeans Jogging suits, sweat suits Leg warmers Leotards, tights Lingerie Nylons, socks* Coats Coat shoes, rubber, boots Painter pants Ponchos Rain jackets, rain suits, rainwear Uniform rentals Robes Sashes Scarves Scout uniforms Shirt laces Shoes: aerobics, basketball, rowing, running (no cleats), safety shoes (suitable for everyday wear) Ski sweaters, ski jackets Nightwear (nightgowns, pajamas) Slippers Sneakers Socks Square dancing clothes Swimwear Tenniswear (dresses, hats, shorts, skirts) Ties (for men and women) Underwear Wedding dresses, headpieces, veils Work clothes
Click here for more details.
