Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2025 BBB Tip: How to take advantage of tax-free shopping days The 2025 Massachusetts sales tax holiday, also known as the tax-free weekend, is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10. f you’re gearing up for backto-school shopping, you might be able to take advantage of tax-free weekends to save on essential supplies. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has tips to help you make the most of these tax holidays. What you’ll learn: • How to fi nd out if your state off ers tax-free weekends or holidays • How to make the most of these tax-free shopping days Many states offer tax-free weekends or tax holidays to encourage spending and give shoppers a price break on must-have supplies. Tax-exempt items might include back-to-school items, disaster preparedness supplies, or other consumer goods. Each state has its own list of qualifyI ing items, usually up to a maximum price. With some planning, you can take advantage of your state’s tax holidays for serious savings. How to make the most of a sales tax holiday • Find out when your state holds tax-free sales. Visit the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) website for an up-to-date list of when each state is having its tax holidays. Usually, these sales occur just before the school year begins, but some holidays happen earlier or later in the year. • Research what items will be tax-exempt. Tax holidays aren’t just for parents of school-age children. Besides school supplies and electronics, some states offer tax exemptions on tools, Energy Star products, generators, emergency preparedness items and even gun safes and hunting supplies. Check the FTA’s website early in the year to see if your state will be waiving taxes on any items you need, particularly high-dollar items like appliances or electronics. • Know the cost limits. States usually cap how much an item can cost to be tax-exempt. For example, some states allow for computer tax exemptions that cost up to $1,000. Check your state’s rules to determine the limits where you live. • Don’t be confused by advertising. Just because a store advertises a “Back-to-School Sale” doesn’t mean the items are tax-free. Double-check your state’s dates and tax-free list to be sure. • Set your budget before you go shopping. It can be easy to go over budget when you feel you are getting a great deal on an item. Set your budget before you head to the store. • Start with the most expensive items fi rst. Make bigger purchases fi rst to ensure you get the most benefit from taxfree sales. There is often high demand for tax-free items during tax holidays. If you need a new computer and school notebooks, start with the computer and snag it taxfree before it’s out of stock. • Do some deal-stacking. Dealstacking means using several money-saving methods at once to maximize your savings. Look for coupons and cash-back off ers you can use during tax-free holidays to save the most. • Find out if you can shop taxfree online. Many states offer tax exemptions on online purchases, too. Some popular retailers, such as Amazon, automatically take sales tax off any eligible purchase you make. Check your state’s rules to see if you can shop online during tax holidays. For more information For related advice, see the BBB website (bbb.org) for “BBB Tip: Get ready to go back to school” and “BBB tax tips and resources.” In addition, read BBB tips for smart online shopping and learn more about BBB Accreditation Standards and BBB Standards for Trust. BBB Tip: Back to school shopping for tech supplies A s the back-to-school season approaches, parents and students are gearing up for the annual shopping spree. Whether you prefer in-person shopping or browsing online, staying informed and prepared can make this busy time more manageable and cost-eff ective. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has tips to help you navigate back-to-school shopping. What you’ll learn: • Steps to take to prepare for back-to-school shopping • How to maximize savings from sales and tax-free weekends • The types of sales and discounts you might be able to leverage Before determining what students might need for the year, set a budget. Planning ahead as much as possible will help keep expenses to a minimum and help everyone involved stay on task. BBB recommends the following tips when looking for school-related items, either in person or online: In-person shopping • Create a shopping list before heading to the store. This helps you to stay focused and avoid impulse purchases. • Shop early. To avoid crowds and ensure you get the best selection, start your shopping early in the season. • Compare prices between retailers, save coupons, sign up for email alerts and redeem any cash-back or rebate offers. This will help you get the best deals and stay within budget. • Check store policies. Be aware of return policies, especially for electronics and clothing, in case you need to make exchanges or returns. Research big-ticket items • Read reviews. Look for reviews from credible sources to understand the pros and cons of diff erent models. • Check specifi cations. When buying new equipment, check with your child’s school to learn about any technical requirements and determine if any changes are necessary to the home’s high-speed internet. Before purchasing an expensive laptop, tablet or computer accessory, research the brands, warranty, customer reviews and prices at various stores to ensure the best deal. Also, look up the retailer’s reputation on BBB.org. • Look for student discounts. Many tech companies off er discounts for students. Verify eligibility and take advantage of these savings. Shop smart with sales and tax-free weekends • Plan ahead. Mark your calendar for upcoming sales and tax-free weekends. These are ideal times to buy school supplies, clothing and electronics without paying sales tax. Check out the Federation of Tax Administrators to see what your state off ers. • Make a priority list. Decide which items are most crucial to purchase during these sales to maximize your savings. • Combine discounts. Look for opportunities to combine store sales with manufacturer rebates or coupons. Asking for discounts • Don’t hesitate to ask. When shopping in person, inquire if there are any available discounts, especially for bulk purchases or fl oor models. • Leverage loyalty programs. Sign up for store loyalty programs, which can off er exclusive discounts and points on purchases. • Use student IDs. Some store discounts are available to students with either an “.edu” email address or a student ID. If you’re a student or you have a student in your family, ask if there are any student discounts available. • Visit school supply drives. Many communities and organizations host school supply drives where you can either donate or receive supplies. Check with local schools, community centers or nonprofi ts. Consider buying in bulk • Team up with other parents. Consider pooling resources with other parents to buy supplies (like paper towels, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer) in bulk, which can be more cost-eff ective. • Warehouse stores. Check out warehouse clubs for bulk deals on school supplies and snacks. and safely online Shop wisely • When shopping online, be wary of ads that feature items that imply that you might want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying to drive you to a diff erent website. Take note of the ad and go to the store’s website by directly typing into the search bar. Note the website’s privacy policy and contact information and always use a credit card when purchasing. • Shop on reputable websites. Ensure you are purchasing from well-known and trusted websites. Look for HTTPS in the URL. • Use secure payment methods. Opt for secure payment methods like credit cards or payment services that off er buyer protection. By following these tips, you can make your back-to-school shopping experience smoother, safer and more economical. Whether you’re shopping for essentials or splurging on bigticket items, a little planning and research can go a long way in ensuring you get the best value for your money. For more information, read more tips at https://www.bbb.org/all/backto-school.
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