Depending on where you live, some states lift the sales tax on certain goods, making them more affordable when everything else is becoming more expensive. It doesn’t happen all at once, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the calendar for your state.
Read on for a roundup of when a tax-free weekend (or week) will happen near you.
Not everything is included
What qualifies as tax-free varies state by state, so don’t expect large TVs, your favorite toys, or gourmet food to be discounted. For example, the sales tax holiday in Tennessee only covers clothing, school supplies and computers.
Retailers decide if they want to participate, but big-box stores like Walmart, Amazon and Target usually do. Even Apple is getting in on the action with a sales tax holiday for nine states, starting with Florida (July 25 – Aug. 7) and Tennessee (July 29 – 31), while the others are a few days after.
Here are the sales tax holiday weekends for the rest of the year (note that some states have several):
16 state's tax-free holidays will save you money on tech purchases
The new school year is quickly approaching, and for many, this is a very exciting time of year. It’s time to stock up on school supplies and all of your tech gear. All these purchases can add up rather quickly unless you can get everything you need during your state’s tax-free weekend. Tap or click here for 15 summer tech gadgets you didn’t know you needed.
The state of our country: Scumbags are selling merch glorifying the UnitedHealthcare CEO killer. Amazon had the decency to pull “Deny Defend Depose” shirts, but they’re still on eBay, apparently because they don’t break any rules. Really? Trolls review-bombed the McDonald’s where the guy was caught, too, calling workers rats and snitches. What is wrong with people?
Import worth of neckties in the U.S. market. It was a record-low $61.4 million in 2020, when most people worked at home. Now, ties are totally back. Gen Z guys and gals are ushering in a tie renaissance (paywall link). I had a joke about ties, but it’s knot funny.
Now that the holiday season is upon us, it’s time to crack out the cards. Sure, you can send your loved ones digital messages — but those aren’t nearly as heartfelt or personal as a hand-written note that comes in the mail.
How to clean clothes, gloves and coronavirus masks (Hint: Avoid the microwave)
One thing has become evident during the COVID-19 pandemic: People are desperately searching for information. Whether it’s about symptoms, where to buy essentials or how to protect oneself from contracting the virus, knowledge is in high demand.
The agony of de feet: Scientists have created robotic shorts that help people walk farther using less energy. WalkON wraps around your waist with a harness and has artificial Kevlar tendons that attach to your legs. As you walk, the shorts analyze your movement patterns and help take the strain off your hips. So many people will benefit from this cool tech.
I had a joke, but someone stole it: I thought this was interesting. Radio-emitting threads could replace metal tags to stop shoplifters. A company called Myruns is behind the tech. The threads are five times thinner than a single human hair. Special ink inside the threads would transmit signals to set off alarms.
💦 I’ll tumble for you: Forgetting about clothes in the washer is the worst. GE’s new Profile Ultrafast washes and dries. It’s super energy-efficient, saves space and can finish a load in two hours. Hey, look! It’s on sale on Amazon. I have a similar machine on my boat, and I’m lucky if I can get three towels in it.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
‘90s party at Polly’s: New to Airbnb, a life-sized Polly Pocket house in Massachusetts to celebrate her 35th birthday. You can try on clothes, make bracelets, and glam up with press-on nails and butterfly hair clips. The catch? Just like Polly’s house, there’s no roof, shower or blankets. You’ll be roughing it on a pullout couch.
American tourists are big targets abroad: You can thank Hollywood stereotypes that paint us all as wealthy. In some countries, you could be robbed, drugged or worse. If you’re traveling, keep your voice down (everyone knows an American accent), ditch USA-branded clothes and if something feels off, get outta there.
📸 Sayonara, snoops: A Japanese sportswear brand just launched infrared-blocking fabric to protect athletes from creepy photographers looking to take naked pics. Clothes already block visible light, but this new material stops thermal cameras from capturing heat signatures. Neat, right?
Play to pay: At 22, Kyasia Watson is raking in over $100,000 a year from Roblox. Nope, she’s not streaming; she’s a digital fashion designer who collabs with big brands to craft in-game items, clothes and accessories for player avatars. Roblox has 77 million daily active users, btw. Cha‑ching!
👕 Toxic threads: Millions of clothing items from cheap Chinese retailer Shein are packed with toxic chemicals linked to cancer, autism and infertility. They’re sold on Amazon under different names, too, with some containing over 400 times the safe levels. Check your clothes: Drop a bead of water on the fabric. If it stays beaded up, rolls around and leaves no residue, you have a problem. Return or trash it.
5 online auction websites to try if you love buying and selling on eBay
Everyone likes saving money and finding ways to put some extra cash in their pockets. Who couldn’t use a few extra bucks?
Maybe you have kids or grandkids you’re helping with college tuition. We all know how expensive that can be! Or maybe you’re just retired and living on a fixed income. If so, every dollar counts.
