Hoover - The cool back to school trend this year is finding a deal.

"Since the economy has gotten a lot harder, I've been thinking about it more," said Abby Parks, a Briarwood student.

"I am returning to college so trying to spend the least amount of money I can," said Markita Underwood, another student.

Fortunately this year, the stores fronts are covered with sale signs making the sales hard to miss. Couple that with the sales tax holiday Friday through Sunday and shoppers have a deal on clothing, school supplies, and electronics.

"I didn't have enough money to get it until then," said Kyle Ford, a student who estimates he saved 400 dollars on a usually unaffordable laptop computer and accessories.

"We saved over a hundred dollars and at JCPenney's alone," said a college student.

Stores, like Sears, have special hourly sales in the hopes of surpassing last year's sales.

"We need to pick them [the sales] up to make the quarter successful because it was a phenomenal day for us last year," said Shirley Jenkins, store manager at the Riverchase Galleria Sears.

Best Buy rolled out sales tax signs, savings on computers worth up to 750 dollars, and products for what retailers are considering another Black Friday.

"They are spending it more wisely, doing a little more research, making sure it's the right product. I'm hoping to see a big weekend this weekend," said Tyler Reinmiller, store manager at the Hoover Best Buy.

The National Retail Association estimates families on average will spend 548 dollars, a little less than last year.

But with the tax holiday alone, shoppers can get save up to 50 dollars on a 500 dollar purchase.

"Whatever it is I was going to save, I'm going to spend whatever it is," said Underwood.

The sales tax holiday goes through Sunday.

How much money you save depends on where you shop. Keep in mind that Jefferson County is not participating, so all stores in that county will still charge a two percent sales tax.

 

 

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