Flipping the calendar this morning, I came face to face with
the onslaught of activities already written in….two weeks of band camp, get the
school lot parking sticker, school physical, add funds to school lunch account,
etc. it all adds up – it’s back to
school time! This year is a special time
in our house – my youngest daughter starts her SENIOR year!
The good news is that on the first few days written in big
red letters I see – TAX FREE WEEKEND!!
THIS Friday through Sunday parents and students head to shopping centers
across the state to take advantage of buying back to school supplies and school
clothes - tax free! BUT there are some things you should know
before grabbing your credit cards and loading up the car to head out.
- First - know the basics – no tax on clothing under $75 and school supplies under $15…PLUS NEW THIS YEAR – you can a buy new computer as long as it’s under $750; even some computer accessories are tax exempt – BUT be careful - these are for personal use only, now’s not the time to load up your business with a bunch of new computers.
- Before heading out, be on the lookout at your favorite stores; you might save more money by waiting if your favorite store is holding a big sale after the weekend.
- Make a list of what you REALLY need – how often have we walked out of a store with our arms full of supplies we never really needed….I still have a box of unused #2 pencils from last year, who knew high schoolers use mechanical pencils – the old kind are “lame.”
- Think ahead – this is a great weekend to buy clothes, shoes, and other supplies your kids will need in the coming months; not just their first day back.
- Get acquainted with the specifics – not EVERYTHING is tax free; for instance if you have a child that is into sports – don’t assume all their equipment will be covered because it’s not...trust me.
For a complete list of what’s covered and what isn’t, check
out the Florida Department of Revenue’s latest T.I.P. (Tax Information Publication).
Now you have it from a mom’s perspective – how do the
students feel about this weekend? Check out Alysha’s blog on YoungFreeFlorida.com
for her own strategy!
Have a great weekend and HAPPY SHOPPING!!
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