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Hi there,
Moving to Florida may be my favorite move yet.
And that is saying something.
Over the years, I have lived near Seattle, Phoenix, Atlanta, Amherst, and even Papua New Guinea.
Now I am in the Tampa Bay area, and Florida has truly felt like home.
One more reason I love it?
The long back-to-school sales-tax holiday.
But this opportunity is not limited to Florida. Many states offer tax-free shopping periods for clothing, school supplies, computers, or other qualifying purchases.
And with families expecting to spend an average of $922 on back-to-school shopping this year, every layer of savings matters.
College costs are not limited to tuition.
They also show up in the laptops, calculators, books, supplies, and other purchases families make long before the first college bill arrives.
This week’s College Cost Hack is simple:
Before you buy, look for the price underneath the price.
Here is the three-step process.
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💸 STEP 1
CHECK YOUR STATE BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT
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Search:
“2026 back-to-school sales tax holiday + your state”
Then confirm:
• the exact dates — because “tax-free weekend” may be longer than a weekend
• which purchases qualify — the rules can get oddly specific
• the price limit — one dollar over may change everything
• whether online purchases count — the best deal may not be inside the store
A qualifying $1,000 computer in an area with a 7% sales-tax rate could mean approximately $70 in savings.
But that is only the first layer.
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🛍 STEP 2
STACK THE SAVINGS
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Before you buy, check for:
• student pricing — ask even when you do not see it advertised
• price matching — the identical item may already be cheaper elsewhere
• trade-in credit — especially for computers, tablets, and phones
• membership pricing — sometimes the real value is the bundle or warranty
• open-box or certified-refurbished options — inspected, discounted, and often protected
• cashback or receipt rewards — small amounts count when you are buying a lot
One rewards app I personally use is Fetch.
Since 2023, I have redeemed 18 gift cards ranging from $10 to $50 simply by scanning receipts from purchases I was already making.
It is not one enormous discount.
It is another savings layer—and those layers add up.
Using my referral link costs you nothing. We may both receive bonus points after you scan your first eligible receipt, and using it is also a simple way to support this free newsletter and the resources I create for families.
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🔍 STEP 3
COUNT THE COST OF BUYING TWICE
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The cheapest item is not always the least expensive choice.
A $300 laptop that lasts one year may cost more than a $500 laptop that lasts five.
Before buying, compare:
• the warranty — who helps when something goes wrong?
• the return policy — “final sale” changes the risk
• included accessories — keyboards, chargers, and cases add up quickly
• expected useful life — one school year or all the way through college?
The better question is not:
“What costs the least today?”
It is:
“What is most likely to cost us the least over time?”
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⏱ YOUR FIVE-MINUTE WIN
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Choose one expensive school-related item your family expects to buy.
Before purchasing it, find:
One tax break or discount
One alternative place to buy it
The warranty and expected useful life
A red sale tag is not the end of the research.
On Tuesday, I will share the complete Before You Buy It process I use before making a major purchase for one of my five children.
Because sometimes saving money is not about buying the cheapest thing.
It is about knowing enough to buy once.
Until Tuesday,
Angela
Smarter choices. Lower costs. More possibilities.
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NEW HERE?
There are many ways to prepare for college costs—and tuition is only one of them.
Start with my free guide: