With school starting in just 36 days, parents buying supplies begins earlier

TAMPA - In five weeks, the fun and leisure of summer vacation for students in Hillsborough County will come to an end. And in the days leading up to the first day of school, parents will launch their yearly trek to stores offering sales and discounts on school supplies.

Tampa's Lisa Schmiedeke is the mother of three school-age daughters, and has her own system when it comes to finding deals.

"I actually wait until the end, because I do notice the other parents start shopping earlier, so I wait until its a couple of days before they go to school," Schmiedeke said.  "Plus, this way, the kids aren't playing in their backpacks trying to use their crayons and markers.  But I will say the best part of school supply shopping is the lunchboxes."

Karla Shepherd gets a double dose of school supply shopping. She has been a teacher for eight years at Coleman Middle School and she also spends about $75 on her nephew to get him started.

Shepherd said it is a stressful time for many parents.  "Only because they can get the generic (school) stuff.  At least in middle school, each teacher requires their own supply.  To get the basics, it's great, but then it's like a mad rush after school starts to make sure you get everything for class."

And there's something else for parents to consider when they are buying school supplies.  And that is the Florida sales tax holiday begins August 12 and runs through August 14.