It is Sunday afternoon, and you are enjoying your Sunday paper over a nice cup of coffee and a bagel. Of course, while others may be reading the articles, you are actually perusing the advertisements looking for the deepest discounts, ferreting out coupons, and taking a look at the sales that will be up and coming.  Before you know it, you see an ad for a tax-free day coming up.  You know that this is the day and the time to purchase high tickets items.

Yet are there some tips you need to observe to maximize your shopping prowess on this crazy day? As a matter of fact, there are!

Tax-free sales are often the incentive to get consumers into the stores.  Many times there will be colorful sales ads, big signs, and specials that will be run on the very same day.  Beware!  Not every item is included in the tax-free sale!  Make sure that you carefully read the ad to understand what all is included in the same, and which items are specifically excluded.  Similarly, if the ad is unclear, ask a sales manager to explain the limitations to you.  The sales register is the wrong place to argue this, and will not only lead to great frustration of the sales staff but also to that of fellow shoppers who did take the time to do their homework.

If you are going to purchase a high-ticket item, such as a TV set, make sure that you compare the prices before you head to the store.  While a tax-free sale is wonderful to save some money, it will not always do so if the actual item is overpriced.  For example, if the coveted TV set with all the bells and whistles costs $1,000, and you live in an area that has an 8.25% tax rate, you might be able to save $82.50.  This is almost $100!  However, if a competition advertises the same TV set at $899.00, and requires you to pay $74.17 in tax you are looking at purchasing the same TV for $973.17.  This puts the odds in your favor if you go the first store, right?  Not so fast!  Many times big box stores have price guarantees that will offer you further discounts if you can find the same item for less at a competitor’s store. Suddenly, that $917.50 television might not be such a good deal, if you can persuade the second store to not only match the price, but also give you an additional 10% off!  So shopping around definitely pays off.

Stick to your budget. It is easy to get sidetracked during a tax-free sale.  There are so many bargains, and perhaps whatever it is that you will want to buy requires some accessories, or would be even more enjoyable with some other accompanying gadgets.  Do not give in to these temptations!  Unless the accessories you are looking at are on sale or at least heavily discounted, you will spend all the money you were hoping to save in the first place.

As you can see, tax-free shopping days are wonderful opportunity to save money and to purchase high-ticket items at reduced prices.  Yet you need to keep in mind that these tax free deals do not always mean that you will purchase the item at the store that has the sale, but instead you might get it for much cheaper at a rival’s store!  Similarly, stick to your budget and do not give in to the siren song of other merchandise that is cleverly displayed and just beckoning to be bought.

 

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