Every cent counts when it comes to saving money and cutting costs during these tough economic times.

To that end, the sixth annual Alabama sales tax holiday will take place Aug. 5-7 and provide some relief for parents’ pockets while stimulating the local economy.

The Clanton City Council approved the city’s participation in the state’s annual sales tax holiday again this year.

Clanton has participated every year of the holiday, which this year will last from 12:01 a.m. Aug. 5 until midnight Aug. 7.

The holiday allows shoppers to purchase clothes, school supplies and computers without paying state sales tax.

Thorsby, Maplesville and Jemison will not participate in the tax-free holiday.

Each municipality in Alabama decides if it will waive local sales tax, collect a portion or not participate in the sales tax-free weekend.

The 1-cent county sales tax is reserved for education, and other city leaders have said in the past they didn’t waive sales tax during the holiday because of a lack of stores that sell the type of merchandise the holiday covers.

The following items are exempt from tax during the holiday:

•Most clothing, $100 or less, per article of clothing including school uniforms, shorts, skirts, dresses, jeans, pants, socks, shoes, underwear and most other articles of clothing. It does not include makeup or most accessories, jewelry and sunglasses.

•Most school supplies are included with a sales price of $50 or less including binders, book bags, calculators, markets, lunch boxes, paper, pencils, pens and more.

•Computers and computer software with a single purchase price of $750 or less are also exempt. Keyboards, mouse, speakers and other peripherals not included in a PC tower bundle will be taxable.

•Books must be bound materials with an ISBN number and a sales price of $30 or less. Magazines, newspapers, periodicals and non-bound printed documents are not exempt.

•Jewelry, barrettes, bows, handbags, furniture, band instruments and many sporting goods are taxable.