My kids and school shopping do not

[Cindy B]

wow, you should all come to PA... its tax free on clothes all the time, and shoes as well. Same with grocery items (necessities), but not luxuries, like soda.



NJ has tax free on clothes, shoes, and I think groceries as well.

Delaware is a tax free everything state....



I've never paid tax on clothes...but the high house prices, I think make up for it...

 

[Kitty 34]

I know, it seems like school clothes shopping gets more expensive each year!!!

My oldest (the one in college) is so big being 6'6, his clothes seem to be super expensive!!

My middle son loves to go shopping and is pretty good about going for the "sales"

The youngest detests shopping but yet is the pickiest about what is cool to wear!!

By the time I'm done with them, there's little $$ left over for my teaching clothes!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Thank goodness DS is in uniforms and has been since kindergarten. The only thing we may disagree on are which sneakers for PE.

 

[iluvorlando]

Cindy B. - do you pay state or other taxes? As far as plain pants, I have been real lucky at Old Navy or even ordering from Land's End.

I hope the uniform thing works. DD #1 said she doesn't care if someone (who wouldnt be wearing the uniform) made fun of her. She would just walk away. Not bad for a 7 yo, I thought.

 

[poptartlette]

I do not buy anything until after school starts
So we know the fads and styles that are "needed".

No sense buying the shoes with 1 stripe when they should have had 2 or 3.
Or Flares when they should have been bootlegs and so on.

If my child ever complained or moaned while clothes shopping,
well that would be the end of shopping.
No Ifs Ands or Buts.
Logical discussion is acceptable, but moaning complainers get nada!
Ha Ha, no room for unappreciative children on my boat.

 

[tiggerlover]

I am lucky that my DS (6) still could care less about school shopping, so I usually do it on my own.

 

[Cindy B]

What do you mean by state tax?


There is a 6% on purchases, but not for clothing or groceries or shoes...

It would cost 6% if I went and bought a lamp for example, but NOT milk or a pair of shoes...

I do have state tax taken out of my paycheck... if that is what you mean...

I can't imagine paying tax on clothes, I never have in my life!

 

[ellyn2000]

We have a state SALES TAX in addition to the state tax taken out of my paycheck. It is 6 1/2% on all purchases. Now there is also a luxury tax on items like cell phones. The FOOD TAX is 3 1/2% if I'm not mistaken. On my grocery receipt it's divided by food and non food items (band-aids, paper towels, soap) Our state is so broke it's sad, but a lottery is out of the question according to the legislature. I would love to move to a state with lower taxes, but hubby will never go for it. Our county property taxes on our home are $125.00 per month and then we have taxes on our vehicles that are about $175.00 annually on my vehicle alone.

 

[browneyes]

Cindy, just be glad you don't live in TN, the taxes there would make you They have the highest sales tax in the country, I think it's like 11% or so. Outrageous! Sales tax in my area of Georgia is 7%. Tennessee doesn't have a state tax taken out of their paychecks though. And the state political people wonders why they have money problems.

Ellyn2000, we have the Georgia lottery. It doesn't really affect our tax system, I don't think. A large portion of the lottery proceeds go towards education.

 

[zurgswife]

I was discussing this the other day with somebody....I must be the worlds worst parent....Other then new shoes....everybody's feet have grown....I don't do traditional new clothes shopping for school....

If there clothes still fit then they still wear them...

PS we have no sales tax on clothing here in PA

 

[Cindy B]

Kim--

Thats exactly what I told my son about his clothes... some pants had holes/worn spots in the knees so that was green light for new jeans...If they still fit, you can wear it...



11% that is outrageous!


The PA Sales Tax is ok, I guess. Now here is where it gets really confusing, in some portions of NJ.. have a lower sales tax 3% versus the usual 6%.

My parents live near a 3% town, so they do most of thier shopping there.

 

[Lars624]

I always make sure that each of the kids has a brand new outfit for the first day. They wear shorts for the first month so there is no rush for new jeans. My mom & dad also take all three of them shopping every year. They are given $50.00 each to spend any way they want by my parents.
MI has a 6% sales tax on all non food items. We don't have any no tax days for school shopping yet. There is also state tax taken out of our paychecks. We have lottery and that $ is supposed to go directly to the schools but there are a lot of questions about wether it actually goes to the schools at all.

 

[Boots]

Well I miss back to school shopping! I always thought that new clothes, pencils, notebooks, etc. just looked so fresh and all. You know what gets me is now it seems like everytime you turn around they are wanting money at the schools. When DD and DS were in school they only had individual pictures made in the fall and group pictures in the spring. There was one fund raiser. The kids across the street had three sets of individual pictures made, about three different fund raisers, and their mother says that they can buy ice cream for an afternoon snack now. My goodness how do your parents afford it all! Their mother was telling me too that now the more the children sell the better a prize they get. My children didn't get prizes for fund raisers!

 

[Fire14]

I am no longer in School and I'm sure I was/am far from being my parents worse nightmare. I like plain and simple.
One thing that I always treasure and still look forward to is the day my mother and I go out shopping just the 2 of us. For us it was usually Christmas shopping, I mean my mom came with me to shop for my wedding dress but when you have a dream dress it makes that simple too. I found my dress on the sae rack 15 min and i found dress of my dreams

 

[cotye]

Well at this point, I'm avoiding the malls... just the sight of hundreds of kids and teens fighting over the last pair of hip hugging jeans makes me cringe. LOL...

 

[ellyn2000]

I realize a large portion (if not all) of the proceeds from the lottery go to education, but a large portion of our state taxes also go toward education. If education were largely funded by a lottery, there would be more money to fund other needs in our state. We're operating in N.C. under a deficit of millions of dollars and there are still people who freak out at the thought of an education lottery. I work for the state and I've lost longevity pay, annual performance raises, cost of living and a cut of 2 hours pay per paycheck. In addition my health insurance will now start paying less and cost me much more. According to state and federal standards, I'm also doing the work of three employees. Now there's talk of more layoffs of state/county employees. I'd be happy to have the chance to have a lottery in our state just to shift the money around a little. Thanks for letting me vent a little.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

One word of advice: the clothes on the new JC Penney commercial would not make our dress code! At the school where I teach there is no belly showing allowed, or tank tops.
We bought 14 items at the resale store for $70! 3 sweaters, 4 pair of jeans, one nice outfit, and 6 tops. So that's a good start.
Robin M.

 

[ZPT1022]

! At the school where I teach there is no belly showing allowed, or tank tops.

Out of curiosity, do you mean those little tiny tank tops or just any sleeveless shirt?

 

[iluvorlando]

Cindy B,

In FL we pay sales tax, but no state tax. I was really bummed that they did away with the tax free this year. Oh well...

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by ellyn2000
Thanks for letting me vent a little.

You're welcome. I'd vent too. I hope something changes for your state soon.