It's back-to-school shopping time. For many families, that means stocking up on school supplies as well as new clothes and shoes.
When our legislators decided to implement a tax-free holiday to compete with Texas, they exempted clothing and shoe purchases under $100. But many other states with tax-free weekends include school supplies, and some, such as New Mexico, go so far as to exempt computer purchases.
See
a great interactive map on what states do with their tax-free holidays at Bankrate.
The 8.517 percent tax savings isn't a huge amount in itself, but a lot of retail stores run extra promotions during the weekend, which can add up.
Last year, Oklahoma consumers saved close to $7 million in sales taxes during the tax-free weekend, according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
But if you miss the sales tax holiday, plenty of time remains to capture some of the savings. Most stores will be running back-to-school specials throughout the month of August.
And now that all Tulsa Public Schools sites require uniforms, let me give you my big tip: buy uniforms that fit now and a larger set that will fit in the spring. Because when your daughter has that growth spurt in January, you will have a hard time rooting out khaki skorts or purple polo shirts in Tulsa.
But it's middle school uniforms that make me smile. With so many rules to follow, the students seek express themselves through their footwear.
My girls have a thing for Converse tennis shoes, which I don't mind buying because they are reasonably priced, practical and last forever.
But more than once, my middle-schooler has tried to get me to buy her a pair of Sperry Top-Siders.
That's right, top-siders are hip again with new colors and patterns -- a far cry from the brown and navy that were popular when I was in school. But what hasn't changed? They cost at least twice as much as I'm willing to pay.
My daughter's friend was over the house earlier this summer in what she called her "faux top-siders."
"My mom's too cheap to buy me real ones," she explained.
I had to laugh. "Your mom's a smart woman," I told her.
But I don't want to pick on Sperry. It's the same with many of the popular brands teens crave. I've seen $50 Toms shredded in weeks, $129 Uggs that make me say ugh, and Tory Burch flats on seventh-graders that I can't afford.
It's a lesson that is reinforced for me each year: Back-to-school shopping is all about negotiating the delicate balance between what's fashionable and what I'm willing to pay.
Follow Colleen Almeida Smith on Twitter.
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