Connecticut’s tax-free holiday started Sunday and shoppers didn’t waste any time taking advantage of the savings. The program eliminates the state's six percent sales tax on clothing and shoes under $100.
With two kids in tow, Jennifer Makula of Bristol went back to school shopping as soon as the stores opened.
“I think it's a big savings. I mean if you're spending a couple hundred dollars each child it just ends up costing so much money and I think anything where you could save something, take advantage of it,” she said.
Visiting Connecticut on business, Mary Stevens got a double dose of the savings having already taken advantage of a similar tax break in her home state of Florida.
"I think it's a good time of the year anyways, where a lot of people are going back to school shopping and just shopping in general,” said Stevens.
Many stores also plan sales at the same time, to give shoppers even more bang for their buck.
"I see especially a lot of online shops as well do a lot of different sales just to bring people in,” Stevens said.
Our neighbors to the north, Massachusetts, ended their tax-free holiday this year, and with a billion dollar budget shortfall looming, and argument has been made that Connecticut should do the same.
"The state gets all of their money from the consumer so the consumer should get a break wherever they can,” said Makula.
Connecticut's Department of Revenue Services estimates the total tax savings, or money that won't be collected into state coffers this week, to be around $4.5 million.
"A lot of people are struggling and if they need the break, if they have more than one or two kids it's worthwhile for them to have that. It's one week that can benefit a lot of people that could use it,” said David Engel of Avon.
The tax free holiday runs through next Saturday.
