I’m a Shopping Expert: 8 Top Purchases I Make Every August

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Summer is in full swing and that means a lot of outdoor time, pool and beach days and social gatherings such as barbecues and picnic parties. And when August rolls — while there’s still time to play — it’s also time to think about other things, such as saving for back-to-school supplies.

With this in mind, here are a few top purchases shopping experts say they make every August.

Also, here are 11 summer finds under $30 from Costco, Target and Sam’s Club.

Back-to-School and Office Supplies

The back-to-school shopping rush is the best time to stock up on school supplies as well as supplies for your own or basics for the home on everything from pens to tape to glue to print paper, said Andrea Woroch, consumer and money saving expert at Andrea Woroch.

 “Stick with store brands for the biggest savings from retailers like Target and Walmart which will mark down their own items for up to 50% off,” she said.

New Laptop

According to Woroch, the back-to-school and college season is the best time to buy a new laptop, with some sales from brands such as  HP and Dell reaching 30% to 40% off.

“If you’re in college, ask about a student discount for additional savings and find out if your state offers a sales tax holiday as this may apply to electronics like a laptop as well, offering additional savings on your purchase,” she said.

Summer Apparel

In addition, the end of summer is the best time to stock up on summer items such as clothing, swimsuits and footwear for an average of 40% to 60% off — while some clearance styles even reach 80% off, Woroch said.

“When it comes to kids, size up for the following spring and summer season,” she said. “Many summer clothing pieces will also work great for kids heading back to school so avoid the new fall fashion and stick with summer styles to save.”

Outdoor Furniture and Accessories

According to Todd Stearn, founder and CEO of The Money Manual, August is also a great time to buy outdoor furniture.

“With fall approaching and people preparing to spend more time outdoors, many retailers have serious sales on things like outdoor furniture, solar string lights, tiki torches, outdoor games and more,” said Stearn. “This can be a great opportunity to set up your ideal outdoor oasis for much less than you might have thought.”

Think of Tax-Free August Weekends

As Sarah Jankowski, director of user growth and integrated marketing at Shopkick said, many states offer tax-free weekends in August –such as Arkansas and Connecticut — allowing shoppers to purchase back-to-school items without paying sales tax.

“This can result in significant savings on clothing, school supplies, clothing and electronics,” she said. “Check out taxadmin.org and search ‘2024 Tax Free Weekends’ to see if your state participates!”

Subscription Services

Jankowski also said that August can be a good time to find deals on subscription services.

“Companies like Audible, streaming services (Netflix, Hulu) and even meal kit services often offer introductory discounts to attract new customers before the fall season,” she said.

Fresh Produce and Liquor

Local farmers’ markets and grocery stores often have sales on summer fruits and vegetables as the season winds down, said Jankowski.

“Look for bulk deals and discounts on seasonal produce like berries, peaches and tomatoes,” she said.

In addition, she said some liquor stores and supermarkets offer discounts on wines and spirits as they clear out summer inventory to make room for fall selections.

“Look for sales on rosés, summer ales, and other seasonal beverages,” Jankowski said.

Plan For Labor Day Deals

The final week of August kicks off a big round of seasonal clearance with deep discounting ranging from 20 to 50% off leading up to and through Labor Day sales, said Vipin Porwal, founder and consumer expert at Smarty.

“This is when I’ll look to upgrade my family’s summer activewear and gear during pre-Labor Day sales and shop for items early as the most popular brands and options will sell out quickly, especially with summer apparel, swimwear and outdoor shoes and gear,” Porwal said.

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Also in August, Porwal said he tries to take advantage of bundling items and buying in bulk — a smart money-saving tactic for bigger families and/or groups of friends. 

For instance, he said he looks for “two for one” promos for back to school supplies.

“And note on these larger purchases, it always makes sense to stack rewards, like cash back and promo codes, as the savings add up quickly when you’re buying for the whole family,” he said.

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