South Carolina Tax Free Weekend is August 3-5 (Update: This Weekend! Green tips too)

photo by flickr user freestylee

Update July 31, 2012: The South Carolina Tax Free Weekend is fast approaching.

Besides the standard pencil boxes, laptops, backpacks, clothes, and of course, a Mead Trapper Keeper (those are still cool right?) you might want to consider going green this 2012-2013 school year. The Weekly Surge has a great write-up by Jennifer Sellers about some eco-friendly school supplies you might want to pick up for the kids or for yourself when you go off to college. 

In the piece, Sellers writes about reusable alternatives to plastic sandwich bags, buying recycled paper, recycled tech and thrift stores and second hand shops (thank a hipster for making those kewl). Sellers has a bunch of other tips and for some of the hard to find items that we might not have locally, links to some online sources.

So hop on over and give it a read. Make sure to check out the first report below for all the details about this weekend's Tax Free extravaganza. 


First Report: Mark your calendar and grab your credit card.  It's time to stock up on those "school supplies" during Tax Free Weekend in South Carolina.  This year it runs from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 3 to 11:59 on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

The weekend was designed to give those getting ready for school or heading off to college a break on necessary purchases and boost business.  You can find the full list of what is included and what is not on the Department of Revenue site.  Things you'd expect like clothing and computers are it.  Among the more unique things exempt from sales tax, and specifically named on the DOR list are antique clothing, beach capes and coats (???), bonnets, corsets and corset laces, elastic ponytail holders, and ponchos.  Items, sadly, not exempt include music tapes, records, and compact discs, roller skates not permanently attached to the boot, sheet stretchers, and wigs. 

On a serious note, the folks over at the About.com Single Parents blog make a good point.  Just because there is no sales tax charged that weekend doesn't mean you're getting the best deal.  Know exactly what you want, comparison shop, use coupons, and be aware that some retailers jack up the prices for that weekend.. 

Don't forget to patronize the fantastic local businesses around the Grand Strand!