knoxnews.com-Tennessee's annual sales tax holiday weekend is coming up the last weekend in July — instead of the first weekend of August in past years — so we need to get ready to do some super shopping!

The short version of Tennessee sales tax holiday rules is that three categories of merchandise will be tax exempt that weekend: computers under $1,500, school supplies and clothing priced under $100. 

But there is a lot more to it, and I say it is worth taking a minute to learn a little more about what is — and what is not — exempt, because your weekend of sales tax savings amounts to between 8.5 and 9.75 percent, depending on the Tennessee town you shop in.

Here are 10 things you might not realize are eligible for the three-day sales tax break:

1. Laptops and tablets

It is common knowledge that computers with a purchase price of $1,500 or less are exempt, but laptops and tablets also are tax exempt. Be careful, though, because computer parts such as keyboards and monitors are not included unless they are bundled with the computer. Also excluded are flash drives, CDs, printers, Kindles and smartphones. 

There are some gray areas, like Kindles and Nooks. Tennessee Department of Revenue officials say that if they are tablet computer equivalents, they are exempt, but if they are simply readers, they are not.

The law says, "No items used in trade or business are exempt under these provisions."

So while you could buy yourself a tax-free iPad on tax-free weekend, you could not use the weekend to buy 50 of them for your office.

2. Halloween costumes

Think ahead to Halloween because all costumes, including novelty kids costumes that are priced less than $100, are exempt. 

3. Backpacks, etc.

It is not just pens, pencils and protractors that are exempt, but also backpacks, lunchboxes, pencil boxes, poster board, markers, pencil sharpeners, notebook paper, scissors and more. The exempt list is large and very specific.  

4. All kinds of clothing

Most people think of exempt clothing to mean children's school clothes, but the tax-free deal is broader than you might think, including any clothing under $100. That includes underwear and socks, bathing suits, mittens, jogging bras, tennis outfits, graduation gowns, lingerie, tuxedos, neckties, galoshes and even prom and wedding dresses, if you can find them at the right price.

The rule is that as long as the price is $100 or less, you are good to go tax-free.  

5. Uniforms 

Yep, chef uniforms, Scout uniforms, lab coats and scrubs (purchased individually) are  exempt from sales tax.  

6. Shoes and boots

The exemption applies to hiking boots, formal shoes, running shoes and just about any kind of footwear from cowboy boots to rubber flip-flops — as long as they are priced under $100. But it does not apply to shoes with cleats or spikes.  And the Department of Revenue notes that "items that are normally sold together such as shoes cannot be split up to stay beneath the $100 threshold." Haha. I guess some savvy shoppers have tried that.

7. Baby stuff

If you or someone you know is expecting a baby, this is a great time to buy diapers, baby clothes, receiving blankets, pajamas and bibs — all tax-free.

And the diaper exemption applies to adult diapers like Depends too, so this could be a good weekend for young and old to stock up.  

8. Office supplies

You don't have to have school-age kiddos to enjoy the tax relief weekend, because many of the exempt items are not just for school use but are things you regularly use in your office or home, like index cards, copy paper, folders, notebooks, legal pads, pens, scissors, etc.

9. Art supplies  

Artists of all ages can rack up savings on supplies during the tax-free weekend, with sketch pads, all kinds of paper, including poster board and construction paper, clay, watercolors, acrylic, tempera and oil paints and paintbrushes all exempt. 

10. Shoe inserts and other random stuff

There are definitely some random items on the exempt list, like shoe inserts, corsets and girdles, ski masks, ponchos, shawls, "veils for general use," long johns, leg warmers, belts (but not belt buckles), suspenders, clerical vestments, altar clothing and vests, "except hunting and water."

For a full list of what is exempt and what is not exempt, see tntaxholiday.com. 

Biggest bang for your tax-free buck 

Computers are the biggest ticket items that get the break on tax-free weekend, giving you the largest possible savings. The exemption is on computers that cost $1,500 or less, so you could get a savings of almost $150. Plus, there are sure to be some great computer deals offered by retailers, giving you the double savings of a sale, plus no tax. 

Ms. Cheap's tax-free tips 

• Do your computer buying homework before the big busy sales tax holiday weekend, so you know exactly what you want ahead of time. Then on the tax-free weekend, you can simply go to the store and get it. The computer sales people are undoubtedly going to be swamped over the weekend and not able to give you their undivided attention as you make your buying decisions.