Some states offer sales tax holidays to buy certain school supplies. Check out http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html to see if your state gives you this savings. Each state offer this in different dates. You are exempted from sales tax up to certain amount, for example $50 is the limit in Alabama for school supplies.

If you don’t live in the state that offers sales tax holidays, look for discounts from retailers that are normally available in the mid-August.