Back to school shopping can take a toll on your family's budget, and can be a stressful time for many parents. But these smart money saving tips can help ease the financial strain of getting ready for back to school.

Back to school shopping doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With a few simple tips and strategies, you can make back to school shopping more efficient, less of a hassle, and even easier on your wallet.

There are plenty of online dictionaries, but only a few cater to kids. Good kids' dictionaries have age-appropriate definitions and language. Here are three little gems to help your children with their homework.

Switch from buying college textbooks to renting college textbooks and save.

Looking for back to school supplies for special education students? In addition to the back to school supplies suggested by your child's teacher, your child may learn more effectively with items from this back to school list for use at home and school.

The transition from summer to school can be especially chaotic when there are multiples in the family. Don't board the bus without checking out our tips for saving money, staying organized, and making it meaningful

Is carrying heavy back pack to school causing health problems for your kids? It might if they are carrying more than 10-20% of their body weight in their backpack.

The first day of school is approaching and you want to make sure your little one has everything she needs to get through the day. So you back up her backpack with crayons, notebooks and other supplies. But there are some items you should avoid including. It's always a good idea to check with the teacher first, but here are some basic guidelines.

What school supplies will you include in your preschooler's backpack on the first day of school?

What won't you pack in your child's backpack?

Back-to-school sales tax holidays can save you money on everything from computers to socks. See which states are participating in sales tax holidays and print a list of eligible items to take with you to the stores.

Alabama has an extensive list of items free from sales tax during its tax free weekend. See what's included and when you can take advantage of the savings.

Connecticut's sales tax holiday runs for one week for back-to-school savings. The state is also offering a sales and use tax exemption for fuel-efficient passenger motor vehicles.

Florida's sales tax holidays cover hurricane preparedness and back-to-school shopping. Each year, the Florida Legislature votes to decide if the state will participate in a tax free weekend.

Georgia has a long list of eligible items that are free from tax during the state's sales tax free weekend. Find out what's covered and what's not before you hit the stores.

Iowa's annual tax free weekend helps you save money before the kids go back to school. Read the list of eligible items to make sure your purchases qualify.

Louisiana's tax free holiday has a generous price limit per item. Find out more about the state's sales tax free holiday.

Maryland has announced its sales tax holiday will return. Another tax free weekend will also be held for Energy Star products.

Mississippi's sales tax holiday is one of the earliest tax free weekends in the country. This printable list details the tax exempt items for easy back-to-school shopping.

Missouri now has two tax free weekends. One is for energy products and the other is for back-to-school shoppers. See a list of cities participating and eligible items.

New Mexico's sales tax holiday includes many types of items for back-to-school shoppers. Find out which of your purchases are eligible for the tax free weekend.

New York is now sales tax exempt all year. Certain limits apply in New York City for clothing and footwear.

North Carolina's sales tax holiday offers a variety of products that are free from tax. The state is offering two tax free holidays for both back-to-school shoppers and customers buying Energy Star products.

Oklahoma's sales tax holiday gets the kids to go back to school. Print a list of items exempt from sales tax for your shopping trip.

South Carolina's sales tax holiday gives back-to-school shoppers many ways to save money. Items for bed and bath are included, making this state's tax free weekend different from most other states.

Tennessee's state sales tax holiday offers many qualifying items beyond the basics of clothing and footwear. This printable list details the items eligible for back-to-school savings.

Texas' sales tax holiday runs for one weekend in August. See a list of qualifying items and special rules before you head out to the stores.

Virginia's sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping covers a variety of items. Find out what's tax exempt and what's not.

Washington, D.C. holds two sales tax holidays a year. Read the list of qualifying items and find out which days the sales tax holidays will take place.

West Virginia's sales tax holiday spans three months. Eligible items include computers, printers and scanners for back-to-school shoppers.

Tax free shopping for back-to-school supplies, clothes and computers saves money. Maximize your tax free shopping savings with simple tips on eligible items, store rules and dollar limits.

When back to school time rolls round and you start shopping for school supplies, does it feel like you just open your wallet and hemorrhage money? It does to me. The lists of school supplies kids bring home seem to get longer every year. But over the years, I've developed a few tricks for saving money on school supplies.

When it comes to outfitting the college dorm, you can ignore those glossy shelter magazines with the fabulous dorm layouts, plush couches, stacked lofts and framed prints hanging on the walls. Dorm rooms look nothing like that. Your teen's home away from home will likely be a shared 10x10 cell crammed with extra-long twin size beds, chests of drawers, desks and wardrobes. Extra furniture? That’…