COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Vicki McCay’s a lifestyle blogger and specialty couponer. She shared tips on how to save money when buying supplies for your hurricane list like a flashlight, sleeping bag and rain gear.
She uses an attachment called Price Blink that’s embedded at the top of her Google Chrome web browser. It automatically compares prices when she clicked on items she liked on shopping sites like Walmart and Amazon. She explained how it worked for a rain poncho she selected.
“It’s showing this one is $13.79. And it’s showing at Price blink for 12.99 with free shipping. We can compare that price,” she said.
She also said you could save a lot of money starting Friday thanks to the Disaster Preparedness Tax Exempt Holiday.
Qualified items include flashlights under $20, battery-powered radios under $50, batteries that cost less than $30 and portable generators less than $750. You can use retail coupons and discounts in addition to the tax exemption as well if they’re below those prices.
If you miss the tax exempt week, McCay said you can still combine different kinds of coupons.
“So, you can use a store coupon, along with a manufacturer’s coupon and stack those together to get awesome deals,” she said.
Dan Summers director of Collier County’s Department of Emergency Services said there’s more you should add to your hurricane kit this year. A mask, gloves and hand sanitizer. He’s trying to get masks at hurricane shelters for people who won’t have them.
“They will not be turned away from shelters without a mask. We are working with sate and FEMA to try to build some supplies,” he said.
He added it’s on you to gather all the supplies you need and rely on public shelters as a last resort.
“We’re not going to be able to put as many people in shelters by any stretch of the imagination like we did during Irma because of the social distancing,” said Summers.
McCay also said read the fine print on coupons and special discounts before getting your hopes up. You can find tax free items on floridarevenue.com. The tax exempt holiday starts Friday and runs through June 4th.
