It’s a big weekend of bargains coming up.

A lot of people are bracing for the annual Texas Sales Tax Holiday, which is Friday, Saturday and Sunday (August 20 – 22). Most items of clothing, footwear and school supplies under $100 will be exempt from the 6.5% state sales tax this weekend.

That’s excellent. But here’s something else that’s potentially a major money saver… and probably more fun than braving the tax holiday frenzy at the mall– the totally awesome Trash to Treasure Garage Sale on the UT campus.

It’s a giant garage sale with everything you might want for your dorm, or in the case of the good people of Mosaic at Mueller,  your lovely, well appointed apartment.

There will be furniture, area rugs, clothes, books, lamps, mirrors, electronics and other stuff, all in good working order. It’s an annual project that collects items UT students plan to leave behind when they move away for the summer… and then sells them to UT students– and the general public– as the students return to Austin for the new school year.

It helps poor students– and the general public– save some bucks, and it  keeps a lot of otherwise good stuff from ending up in the landfill. And all the money raised from the sale goes to the UT Campus Environmental Center to fund student-led environmental projects. Not bad, eh?

The Trash to Treasures Garage Sale happens Sunday (August 22) from 9am to 3pm at the UT Recreational Sports Center, 21st and San Jacinto.

The key is to get there early. Most of the really good stuff goes fast. Shoppers know this. However, to sort of separate the serious bargain hunters from the amateurs, there’s a small entrance fee in the early hours– $4 for regular people, and $2 for current UT students. After 10:30, it’s free to enter.

Have a good time, and here’s hoping you find that perfect lamp for the bed side table.

Photo used under  Creative Commons from bark.