Getting ready for back to school.

Well, started the back to school shopping yesterday and all I can say is "YIKES!"

Wal-mart advertises some great bargains, but who said they were on things your children need for school? Mine want a special kind of binder $12.00, a special kind of jeans $20.00 a pair, and a special kind of shirt $15 to $20 a shirt (can't be bought at Wal-Mart). And, of course, when it's all said and done and those kids are on the bus....the kind of quiet that only "back to school" brings...PRICELESS!

Don't get me wrong, I love having my children home for the summer. We get to do a lot more things as a family because my husband and I own our own businesses. So we come and go as we please. But after 2 1/2 months of being a family, I'm ready to reconnect with my husband during the time the children are at school. I sometimes forget that he needs some "one on one" time with me to rejuvenate our marriage, even if it's just watching movies in the afternoon.

So the advice for today. Love you children. Make sure they have everything they NEED to get back to school (not just want). And, remind your spouse that as soon as the children are back in school, you will have a lot more time for them and that you promise to reconnect.

Have a great day!

Tax Free Weekend for School Shopping

State sales tax holidays for 2009 start now!
Tom Barlow
Jul 29th 2009 at 1:00PM Filed under: Shopping, Tax, School

Each year, some U.S. states hold tax holidays -- short periods where state sales taxed are waived on selected items. Most often, these items are school-related, and the tax holiday is timed for school-shopping season. For example, Missourians can spend up to $3,500 on computers on August 7-9 and pay no sales tax on the purchase, a potential savings of almost $148.

Other states use the tax holidays to entice residents to trade in their appliances for more efficient energy star models, or prepare for natural disasters such as hurricanes. Louisiana has the least restrictive holiday, waiving taxes on all non-business personal items up to $2,500 on August 7-8. The most unusual holiday? South Carolina's, which celebrates the start of winter hunting season with a two-day tax waiver on rifles, shotguns, and shotguns.

This year, many states are struggling to meet their budgets, and some have debated ending tax holidays. Washington, D.C. canceled its planned August tax holiday just a few weeks ago. We'll update our chart as quickly as possible in such an event, so check back before heading to the mall. Good hunting!


2009*
Dates

Information Links *
Alabama
clothing - $100
computers - $750
school supplies - $50
books - $30
August 7-9
http://www.ador.state.al.us/salestax/SalesTaxHol.htm

Connecticut
clothing and footwear - $300
August 16-22
http://www.ct.gov/

District of Columbia
clothing - $100
school supplies -  $100
August 1-9
http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/
Repealed

District of Columbia
clothing - $100
Nov. 27 - Dec. 6
http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/

Georgia
school supplies - $20
clothing - $100
computer - $1,500
July 30 - Aug. 2
 
Georgia
 
energy and water efficient products - $1,500
October 1-4
 
Iowa
clothing - $100
August 7-8
http://www.iowaccess.org/tax/

Louisiana
all TPP - $2,500
August 7-8
http://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/

Louisiana
hurricane preparedness items - $1,500
May 30-31
http://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/

Mississippi
clothing & footwear - $100
July 31-August 1


Missouri
energy star products - $1,500
2009
April 19-25
http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/

Missouri
clothing - $100
computers - $3,500
school supplies - $50
August 7-9
http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/


New Mexico
clothing - $100
computers - $1,000
school supplies - $15
August 7-9
http://www.state.nm.us/tax/


North Carolina
clothing - $100
school supplies - $100
instructional material - $300
computers - $3,500
other comp. - $250
sports equip - $50
August 7-9
http://www.dornc.com/


North Carolina
energy star products
November 6-8
http://www.dornc.com/


Oklahoma
clothing - $100
August 7-9
http://www.tax.ok.gov/


South Carolina
clothing
school supplies
computers
other
August 7-9
http://www.sctax.org/

South Carolina
energy star products
October 1-31**
Ruled unconstitutional by State Supreme Court, May 4

South Carolina
handguns, rifles, shotguns
November 27-28
http://www.sctax.org/



Tennessee
clothing - $100
school supplies - $100
computers - $1,500
August 7-9
http://tn.gov/revenue/


Texas
clothing, backpacks and school supplies- $100
August 21-23
http://www.window.state.tx.us/

Texas
energy star products
air conditioners - $6,000; other - $2,000
May 23-25
http://www.window.state.tx.us/



Vermont
Personal Purchase - $2,000
August 22
http://www.state.vt.us/tax/2009sth.shtml


Virginia
hurricane preparedness items - $60
generators - $1,000
May 25-31
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/

Virginia
clothing - $100
school supplies - $20
August 7-9
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/

Virginia
energy star products - $2,500
October 9-12
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/


West Virginia
energy star products - $5,000
September 1 - November 30
http://www.wvtax.gov/

(updated
July 27, 2009)

* dates are for calendar year 2009, as of March 19, 2009. Some state have not published 2009 information on their website; old information may be provided in the links for these states.

** Holiday will only be allowed in years where the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors certifies sufficient revenue growth.


Thanks to the Federation of Tax Administrators
Each state makes its own decision about what does or does not qualify for this program, so if in doubt check your state's tax web site for clarification. As an example, here is part of North Carolina's list:

In these days when every penny counts, how can you pass up a chance to beat the state sales tax? Time to stock up!

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For the Mom's Who Have Joint Custody

Doesn't it just chap your butt when you have to give your kids up for their mandatory "ex-spouse summer time"? I know it does mine. I have the children most of the year. They see their father 2 times a year, Christmas and the summer. The father pays for the children's cell phones, but does he call them? NOPE! He only talks with the children when they text him to find out what's going on where he lives.

Usually the children go to their father's for about 6 weeks during the summer, but this year, my son was in football camp most of the summer so the children only went for two weeks.

Those were the longest two weeks of the whole summer. I couldn't wait for them to get home. I don't like the time my children spend at their father's because their step-mother talks bad about me and their father doesn't make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be as far as staying active and staying away from the junk food (my daughter is diabetic and needs a strict diet and exercise routine). My ex spoils my daughter rotten while my son is asked to do all the chores and mow the grass while he's there. That's the story I get when they get home, so it's hearsay and can't be verified.

So, to end this rant....here's what I do when my children leave for the time they have to spend with their father.

I schedule time off from doing my marketing and real estate business and spend extra time with my husband. I make sure we go out to dinner and go to the movies and act like we don't have a care in the world. If I was single, I would still go do things I can't do while I have the children home. Go out with friends for some adult time. Make sure I had at least one hobby that needed to get done and finish it. And finally, sleep until I didn't want to sleep anymore (since I'm usually up at dawn to get my work done before the rest of the house wakes up).

So instead of fretting over your children leaving, look forward to it and plan your time away from the children. Remember to have your "understanding cap" on when your children get home because they are going to talk your ear off, show you everything under the sun, and tell you all about their time away from you. Just remember, that time away from each other is needed by all. It reminds us of how much we appreciate what we do have.

Hugs, Mom

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