Back to School in Katy

An exciting new school year awaits, which means parents and students are in back-to-school shopping mode. But with an economy that’s seen better days, the question for budget-conscious families is, “Where are the bargains?”

Tax Free Shopping 

Texas Comptroller`Susan Combs has once again announced tax-free shopping days, scheduled this year on August 17- 19. The Comptroller’s website states, “Retailers will not be required to collect state and local sales or use tax on most footwear and clothing that are sold for less than $100 during the holiday. The exemption applies to each eligible item that sells for less than $100, regardless of how many items are sold on the same invoice to a customer.” Backpacks, school supplies and clothing are tax-free, with some exclusions. For instance, barrettes, baseball cleats, hand bags and such will be taxed.

Shoppers can visit www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html for a full list of exempt and non-exempt purchases. The malls will be crowded, as back-to-school sales often coincide with tax free days. But for families willing to navigate busy parking lots and loads of bargain hunters, the trip may be worth it. All surrounding malls, including Katy Mills, First Colony and Memorial City, will be participating.

Resale

Several consignment and resale shops await shoppers, offering discounted clothing and accessories for those who don’t mind gently worn clothing. Often kiddos outgrow clothing almost instantaneously, so it makes sense to replace clothing frequently at a huge savings. Crayon’s Resale Shop, The Children’s Carousel, and Tot 2 Tot, which is having their 2012 fall sale at the Church of the Holy Apostles September 7-8th, are located nearby.

For older students, Plato’s Closet, Blackbird, and The Walk In Closet  help take the stigma out of resale. In fact, some high schoolers actually love shopping at Goodwill and Katy Christian Ministries, because some of the inventory can be unique, vintage and just “different” enough to make a statement.

Cautions

Even with gently used clothing, each item should be carefully gone over for quality and wear. Watch for zippers, buttons, stains, solid seams and hemlines — most items are nonreturnable and nonrefundable, so vigilance is necessary. But clothing can be purchased for a fraction of the cost, and a side benefit is that last year’s clothing can be consigned or sold, meaning you may be able to receive cash on the spot or accumulate store credit.

Getting Organized

Knowing the exact school supplies your campus requires is key to locating the right mapping pencils, number of tissue boxes and required thickness of binders. Each elementary, junior high and high school campus has school supply lists available, and some retailers and grocery stores also carry them. Following the lists closely can make that first day of school much less stress-free for students, who always seem to worry about bringing the correct items to class.

Couponing and Fliers

We’ve seen the extreme couponing shows, and more consumers are taking advantage of the savings for back-to-school lunch items including canned fruits, yogurt, snack bars and a host of other lunch box-friendly items. Even juice boxes go on sale. They key is to watch for coupons in newspapers and fliers, seek opportunities to double them, and locate retailers who honor them. It takes some leg work, but dedicated couponers — extreme or not  — love the savings. Your neighborhood stores have coupling details and specials, so don’t be shy. Ask if they double or triple coupons and also ask about in-store specials every time you visit. Often prices drop at the register if you present a store discount card.

Good Old Walmart

Parents will be hard pressed to beat the prices at Walmart, with their famous low costs on everything from glue to pencils to binders. The downside includes crowds  and long lines, but many feel that’s a small price to pay for big money savings. August is the big month for sales, so frequent Walmart shoppers in all Katy locations will find the discounts once they are promoted.

Sending Them Off with a Prayer

As always, blessing our children through prayer and encouragement sets the tone for a successful school year. Most parents remember what it was like to be student and can relate to the angst and worry some children feel as they negotiate friendships and bond with new teachers. Yet, these current times seem to be more complex and students are faced with greater moral and social challenges than ever before. Church families, strongly entrenched values and supportive parenting goes a long way to ensure each child is rooted and grounded in the Word. We certainly pray for our students in private, charter and public schools and will continue to include them in our upcoming Christian Student Profiles.

Have a safe and productive 2012-2013 school year!

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