[craftymama]

How soon ahead of school starting do you get your back to school shopping started? I hate to say it but I usually wait until the last minute, not because I am a procrastinator but because that is usually when they have the tax free days.

[jason]

I wait until the state does the reduced taxes on school items/clothes. Usually it is around the first of August.

[Rachel_W]

I try to time it when the required lists are posted in all the stores and when the tax relief day occurs. Sometimes I miss it as it's in between pay periods. I am amazed at how much extra "stuff" we have to buy for the classroom. Kleenex, Lysol wipes, plastic bags, etc. It irks me that this is part of my school expenses for my child. My parents would have gone through the roof if they were expected to buy all this extraneous stuff.

[Lucretia]

I'm lucky. My girls go to a charter school. I pay $25 at the beginning of the year, and they are covered. I only buy a few pencils and erasers for home. Their uniform I buy a little at the time specially when the uniform store has specials. I just both two shirts with a 15% off.

[craftykris]

We are starting next weekend for school clothes. We wait until a couple of weeks before school to get the supplies. I shop early and shop throughout the summer, it's easier on the checkbook.