We are officially kicking off the back-to-school season at News4JAX, and whether you have a child going to kindergarten or college, over the next few weeks, we are here to help you with information you’ll need to not only prepare your family but also cut costs.
First off, don’t miss out on tax-free shopping to get the things you need to prepare for the start of school. Florida’s 2023 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is now underway and will last until Sunday, Aug. 6. During this time qualifying items will be exempt from tax including school supplies, clothing, personal computers, and so much more. See the state’s full list of tax-exempt items and price limits here.
Year-round discounts for college students
And while you can shop for school tax-free for two weeks in Florida, Consumer Reports did some digging and found there are student discounts for those in college that are good year-round.
“Students can get at least 10 to 15 percent off everything from retail to entertainment to food -- unlocking hundreds of dollars in discounts,” said Consumer Reports Money Expert Margot Gilman.
Food: Some food stores and restaurants offer 10 percent off. But delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash also have deals.
Tech: Looking for tech items - Apple and Samsung offer discounts on certain smart products - while the Adobe Creative Cloud Plan gives 60 percent off to students for the first year. And check out savings from AT&T and Verizon, too.
Entertainment: If you need a study break hit the entertainment deals with HULU, Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify and Pandora all offer savings, some between 50 and 75 percent!
And for $7.49 a month, head over to Amazon Prime Student for video and music along with free delivery and deals on flights and hotels.
“Keep in mind students normally have to verify their status with an academic or dot-EDU email -- or with proof of enrollment,” Gillman said.
Clothes: For discount on clothes look no further than Levi’s, Madewell, J.Crew, Nike and Target.
Car insurance: It pays to do well in school in more ways than one. Many car insurance companies offer a discount if you maintain good grades -- a “B” average or better.
And if you’re a student staying 100 miles or more away from home, you may be eligible for even more discounts.