Tax-free shopping tips if you travel out-of-state

Texas is not the only state to offer sales-tax holidays for their residents who shop for school or who buy energy-efficient systems.

However, don't plan a vacation to Hawaii thinking you can snap up bargains.

A surcharge of up to one-half of one percent on excise and use taxes went into effect in the Aloha State on Jan. 1.

If you're really motivated by shopping the "tax free" way, consider New Jersey or Pennsylvania. There is no sales tax on clothing the year around.

Or consider Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire or Oregon. Those states have no sales tax on any item.

But experts say the best deal is in Alaska, where people receive checks just for living there for a year. Last year's check was more than $1,100 per person.

More than a dozen states like Texas provide annual sales-tax holidays, which may generate savings of a few dollars to several hundred dollars.