Texas tax-free weekend will happen this year on August 20, 21 and 22. The tax-free weekend gives consumers a break from sales tax on clothing and footwear priced under $100. Backpacks and messenger bags are also exempt from sales tax, and this year, so are various school supplies. Tax-free weekend saves you roughly $8 on every $100 you spend. Here are some pros and cons to consider when planning your shopping trips this month.
Timing
Most schools in the Dallas area will start on August 23rd this year. Some will start even earlier. If you wait until the weekend before school starts to shop for clothes and supplies, you risk not finding everything you need.
Savings
A lot of stores are having their back-to-school sales now. Check with those stores to see if the items you need will be on sale during tax-free weekend, as well. If not, you have to figure out which one gives you the most cost savings – a store sale or a sales tax exemption.
Crowds
A lot of people shop on tax-free weekend. That means longer check-out lines, more people to fight in the school supply bins and parking spaces that are harder to find. If crowds are not your thing, it may not be worth the savings for you.
Texas tax-free weekend is a great concept, but saving money isn’t always a given. If there’s a pair of shoes or a great outfit you’ve been eyeing for a while but can’t justify the cost, this may be the time to save a little money. But do the math. If all the pieces of your outfit come to $100, you’ll pay exactly $100. If you can wait for that outfit to go on sale for 25 percent off, you’ll only pay about $81, including sales tax. If you buy it at 10 percent off, plus tax, you’ll still only pay about $97 and change.
The key with anything you buy is to shop smart. Don’t ignore a larger than life sale to save $8 on tax-free weekend. Do the math first and shop when it makes sense for you.
Fore more information about Texas tax-free weekend, click here.
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