We can't believe that it has been so long since we shopped for school supplies with our daughter Meredith (not that notebook, Dad!).

Stressful!

But, with money so tight, back-to-school shopping this year may prove even more stressful than in years past.

As they prepare for their annual back-to-school shopping trip, parents this year will make children scour their closets before agreeing to buy any new jeans, pencils or backpacks.

According to the National Retail Foundation’s 2011 "Back-to-School Survey" conducted by our friends at BIGresearch, families with children in grades K-12 will spend an average of $603.63 on apparel, school supplies and electronics.  That’s within a few dollars of last year’s $606.40 average.

Total spending on grades K-12 is expected to reach $22.8 billion!

So it's a big season for retailers, but a tough time for many family budgets.  Finding bargains have never been more important.

Here are a few ways to find back-to-school bargains:

1.  Check the newspaper.   The newspaper circulars are stuffed with back-to-school pitches from retailers like Staples, Target and Toys "R" Us.

2.  Check magazines.  August issues of magazines such as Martha Stewart Living, Family Circle and Parents Magazine contain back-to-school ads from Lands' End Kids, Target and Wal-Mart along with brands like Frito-Lay, Kellogg's, Germ-X hand sanitizer ("A back-to-school necessity") and Microsoft (make a new PC "school-ready with Office 2010").

3.  Check the Twitter feeds.  Macy's recently even tweeted some back-to-school bargains!

Ah... technology!

4.  Take advantage of the TAX HOLIDAYS/TAX-FREE WEEKENDS many states offer for certain back-to-school merchandise. 

There are several different types of tax-free week-long/weekend events in the U.S.

Many of them apply to general merchandise including back-to-school supplies.

Others are limited to hurricane preparedness and/or energy efficient products, but those usually take place at different times during the year.

Most general sales tax holidays take place during August to help parents save money on their kids' back-to-school shopping needs.  

Here is a list of states offering a Tax Free Weekend (or Week) in 2011:
(this list is subject to change)

Alabama: Aug. 5-7, 2011
Clothing under $100
School supplies under $50
Books under $30
Computers/computer equipment under $750

Arkansas: Aug. 6-7, 2011
Clothing and Shoes under $100
Accessories under $50
School supplies

Connecticut: Aug. 21-27, 2011
Clothing and shoes under $300 per item

Florida: Aug. 12-14, 2011
Books, clothing, and footwear under$75
School supplies under $15

Louisiana: Aug. 5-6, 2011
Purchases under $2,000 (*exclusions apply)

Iowa: Aug. 5-6, 2011
Clothing under $100
Shoes under $100

Maryland: Aug. 14-20, 2011
Clothing & footwear under $100

Mississippi: July 29-30, 2011
Clothing and shoes under $100

Missouri: Aug. 5-7, 2011
clothing under $100
computers under $3,500
school supplies under $50

New Mexico: Aug. 5-7, 2011
clothing under $100
computers under $1,000
school supplies under $15

New York: Apr. 2011-Mar. 2012
Clothing and shoes under $55

North Carolina: Aug. 5-7, 2011
Clothing, footwear, and school supplies under $100
Sports and recreation equipment under $50
Computers under $3,500
Computer equipment under $250

Oklahoma: Aug. 5-7, 2011
clothing under $100

South Carolina: Aug. 5-7, 2011
Clothing
Accessories
School supplies
Computers
Computer equipment

Tennessee: Aug. 5-7, 2011
Clothing under $100
School supplies under $100
Computers under $1500

Texas: Aug. 19-21, 2011
clothing
backpacks
school supplies under $100

Virginia: Aug. 5-7, 2011
Clothing and footwear under $100
School supplies under $20

West Virginia
*Not yet released.  Although usually held in Sept, Oct and Nov.

Check with your state’s Department of Taxation for information on your state’s Tax-Free Holiday if it offers one!

If you have a great back-to-school bargain to share, please be sure to leave it in a comment below for your fellow Dolans.com members to take advantage of!