Best Things To Buy In August
August may signal the end of summer but it’s usually the hottest month of the year! And, just like the temps, there’s plenty of HOT deals to be had! There aren’t any major holidays this month but there are some lesser known holidays or events that can be a reason to save some money! Besides the fact that it’s back to school month, there’s National Chocolate Chips Cookie day on August 4th and National Waffle day on August 24th! You can also check to see if your state participates in “tax free” weekend. There are some great opportunities to find a ton of deals, if you know what to look for! So, like I do every month, I’ve done a little research and have come up with a great list of the best things to buy in August as well as what you need to skip this month.
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Best things to buy in august
back to school items
School supply sales are plenty in August, so everyone from kindergartners to college students can get everything they need to head back to school in the fall. Expect to find the best deals on everything from school supplies to kids clothing this month. In addition, many states will be having a tax free weekend in August, so take advantage of that for some of the best deals of the year.
Additionally, prices will only go down in the coming weeks as retailers attempt to get rid of extra inventory by putting items on clearance. The longer you can hold off buying things like pencils and folders, the better. So, get what your child absolutely needs now and wait on the rest for even bigger deals at the end of the month.
related post: How To Save Money On Back To School Shopping
dorm room essentials
College students in need of dorm room essentials can also expect to find sales, especially on linens. Everything from sheets to towels will be discounted in August as retailers offer up some great deals for back-to-school shopping right before fall semester.
Summer apparel
Retailers will dramatically mark down summer apparel as they try to make room for fall clothes. Look for discounts of at least 40% to 70% on shorts, tank tops, summer dresses & sandals. And you’ll likely be able to find coupons, too, that will help you get an even lower price.
Summer apparel also includes swimsuits and retailers will be clearing out just about ALL of their swimwear inventory in August. It may be end of the swimming season, but look for dramatic savings of up to 60%. You may not get much wear out of it now, but you’ll be ready to go with a brand new suit next summer!
lap tops
Laptops will see some of their best prices of the year (besides Black Friday) this month. Many newer models will be coming out this fall, so most companies are trying to push out older models to make room for the new. Not to mention, many stores include laptops…and even some desktop computers…in back-to-school sales just before school begins.
luggage
For the most part, summer travel is over by August and retailers will take advantage of lower demand by offering great savings opportunities off individual pieces and sets of luggage. You should be able to snag some awesome deals on Amazon, at outlet malls, discount stores and most department stores.
air conditioners
You may be scratching your head on this one and thinking it’s still too darn hot! After all, August seems to be the hottest month of the year, but to retailers, air conditioners are taking up valuable real estate in the stores. Keep an eye out for some great deals on A/C units this month and if your A/C has seen better days, go ahead and upgrade! There’s still plenty of time to get your money’s worth out of it.
patio furniture
August is a great month for buying new outdoor furniture because deals are at their lowest prices of the season. and any furniture you buy today you’ll still be able to use throughout August and most of September & October, when temperatures are cooler and less humid. Last August we saw major clearance sales from Target, Pottery Barn, and even Sears with discounts that ranged from 50% to 75% off.
garden tools
While shopping for new patio furniture, you might want to also check out the discounts on garden tools. Everything from lawn and garden sprayers, leaf blowers, garden implements or just about any outdoor power tools. With summer coming to a close, you probably aren’t planning on doing much more work yard work (unless you live in the south). That’s exactly why outdoor maintenance products tend to go on sale in August. Grab these items now so you’ll be ready to go next spring when you’re needing them most. If you need to upgrade your lawn mower, take advantage of some of the great deals you’ll find over the next few weeks.
perennial plants
If you’re wanting to spruce up your yard on the cheap, the best time to buy plants is in August & September. Home improvement stores and nurseries are eager to clear out all remaining summer plants (perennials, trees, shrubs and bulbs.) to make room for incoming fall plants and holiday merchandise.Perennials are plants that come back year after year and grow and bloom during the warmer spring and summer months. They do die back when it cools down in the fall and winter, but they return when temperatures warm up. So if you have a spot for them, now would be a good time to grab them. This will ensure that they have time to take root before temperatures begin to cool. Be sure to check what zone you’re in and ensure you’re only planting items that can thrive in your neck of the woods.
in season produce
There’s still a plethora of fruits that are in season and a great buy in August. This includes apples, apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, and figs. Also, kiwi, mangoes, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelon.
As for veggies, there’s plenty to choose from here, as well. Veggies like acorn squash, butternut squash, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, kohlrabi and lettuce. Don’t forget okra, peppers, summer squash, Swiss chard, winter squash, and zucchini.
Some (or most) of these fruits and vegetables freeze well, so take advantage of the sales and stock up!
You can also check out this Seasonal Food Guide to see everything that’s in season in your area.
“Holiday” Deals In August
August doesn’t have any major holidays, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to celebrate! Here are a few non traditional “holidays” that you can take advantage of this month and save a little:
- Tax-Free Day/Weekend – About 17 states offer a tax-free day or weekend during the late summer. This is meant to help parents with their back-to-school shopping, but anyone can take advantage of these events. Check here or the link at the top of this post to see if/when your state is participating.
- Root Beer Float Day. – August 6th is national Root Beer Float Day, so you might find a good deal on these sweet treats!
- Garage Sale Day – The second Saturday in August is National Garage Sale Day. Take a cruise around your neighborhood and see what kinds of bargains you can scoop up!
- Waffle Day – August 24th is National Waffle Day. Check out your favorite breakfast place to see if they’re offering any waffle-related discounts to celebrate.
what not to buy in august
In addition to the best things to buy in August, you know there’s a ‘worst things to buy’ list, too and here they are!
mattresses
Smart shoppers know the best mattress deals are found over three-day weekend holidays. Save your mattress shopping until the next one up…Labor Day, a holiday famous for its excellent mattress sales.
Jeans
Fall inventory arrives in stores in August and September, but you’re going to pay top dollar! Try to wait a few weeks, if possible. October will be the best time to buy a new pair of jeans.
fall apparel
Although you will see fall clothing appear in stores for the new school year, it’s better to wait until spring to buy. As with most things, it’s always cheapest to buy things out of season. So avoid temptation if you can wait until the end of the season to get some new wardrobe staples.
tv’s
You can get a much bigger bang for your buck if you can wait until November’s Black Friday sales. You might find some retailers offering dorm room or back to school specials, but none will be as deeply discounted in August as they will be if wait for the real deals in November.
major appliances
Most major appliances go on sale Nov-Jan. So if you’re looking to upgrade, wait a few more months to score the best deals.
the latest iphone/tablet
Amazon, Apple and Google historically release new products in September, or sometimes in November. If you really want to save, hold off on any new smartphone or tablet purchases until then.
ONLY BUY IF YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE MARKET…
Like I always say in each of these “Best things to buy” posts…don’t rush out and spend money on these things because they may be on sale. But if you’re in the market for some of these items or you know you may be needing them next season anyway, now may be a good time to go over the “best things to buy in August” list and save some money!.
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