RALEIGH -- Let the savings begin. The sales tax holiday weekend got underway Friday. The three-day event, which started back in 2002, let's shoppers save on back to school items and much more.

Whether you're shopping for back to school items, clothes, shoes or a laptop, this is the weekend to get it all without having to pay any sales tax.

Thursday, stores stocked the shelves and got employees ready for the sale. State officials say people will save a total of more than $13 million this weekend and parents say they're ready for the sale.

"I'm going to be buying all of his back to school clothes, even through winter hopefully, all of the school supplies on the list, and maybe a few extra things here and there," said shopper Tegra Dodge.

Exempt items include clothing, footwear and school supplies less than $100. Computers and some tablets less than $3,500 are also included. Furniture, jewelry and all other electronics are not tax exempt.

The sale ends on Sunday.