Ready to shop to 'til you drop? Several states are offering tax-free weekends, with Massachusetts serving up a two-day summer sales tax holiday in effect for Saturday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 15 in Massachusetts.In the Commonwealth, the tax holiday will apply to items costing $2,500 or less. The exemption doesn't apply to all sales of motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, tobacco products and any single item whose price is over $2500.
Other states participating in the holiday include Connecticut, extending the tax-free period from Aug. 15-21 on back-to-school items including clothing and footwear under $300. Of course, residents of Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon never pay sales taxes.
The folks over at WhiteFence are serving up a slew of tips for those lucky enough to live in a participating state. Here's the list:
- Get There Early – Tax-free weekend is an incredibly popular event, so shoppers may want to get to the stores before they open.
- Make a List – As basic as it may sound, bringing a list of required school supplies and clothing needs ensures no items are missed, maximizing the savings potential.
- Stick to the List – By buying items not on the list, it can be easy to get off track and spend hundreds more than was planned.
- Compare and Save – Consumers can compare offers on home phone, electricity, broadband, broadband, natural gas, television service and more at WhiteFence.
- Shop Alone – Kids can make shopping both more stressful and expensive.
- Don’t Skimp – While it can be tempting to hunt out the lowest prices on big-ticket items, there’s no point in buying an item that will need to be replaced in a few months.
- Shop Around – While it can be convenient to buy everything at one store, the biggest savings can usually be found by shopping at multiple stores.
- Bundle Up and Save – One of the easiest ways consumers can save on their monthly bills is to combine their broadband, cable or satellite and home phone services together. At WhiteFence, consumers can find the hottest bundle deals from all of the top providers.
