Did Anyone Benefit from the Sales Tax-Free Weekend...

For the past few years, I have gone shopping for my kid’s school supplies, shoes and some fall clothes during the tax free holiday season.  And, every year, I have always wondered if I was really saving money over shopping on a non-tax holiday weekend. . . this is because even though I save on the tax, I always felt like the items were not reduced or on sale as much as they usually are on regular weeks.

But, I never really tested it until this year.  The other week, I purchased all the school supplies for my two kids (who are both in elementary school).  I also found some clothes on sale and bought a couple of pair of shoes.  Given the volume, the tax savings was worth dealing with some crowds – I was lucky enough to go on Friday as opposed to the weekend.

Anyways, the following week, I went back to those same stores and checked on the items I purchased and most of them were on sale for a price less than 5% of what they were during the tax free weekend.  So, I could have saved more money buy taking the 30+% discounts and paying the tax.

I do not know if this was the case for any one else, but I am definitely going to think twice next year.