The heat is gaining momentum and so are shopping prices, but this August doesn’t have to be a money pit for you and your family. Between back to school sales and trying to keep up with household needs, you may find August to be a bad month for your spending budget. Luckily, there are a few items that will make your home more comfortable without forcing you to spend a small fortune. These ten shopping items will ensure you get the retail therapy you love without forcing you to buy into the hot prices of August. So, run to your favorite air conditioned store and take advantage of the low prices in these categories as August takes over your world.
1. Tax Free Days
Most states will host a tax free day in the month of August to help out families who are trying to gather up all of the school supplies and clothes that the children will need for the new school year. This can be tough on many families, so adding a tax free weekend to the mix is a great way to cut down on the price. Different states offer different discounts though, so you may want to look around to see when your state will be offering the tax free day. You might want to plan on hitting up the back to school sales as the already discounted prices will mix well with the tax free purchase. Shoes and clothes are another must during this weekend, so don’t forget to shop for those items if you can too. Some things will still be taxed, so make sure you know everything that applies to the rule before you end up going on a shopping spree.
2. School Supplies
Tax free days aren’t the only time to jump into the school supply shopping mode. Items should be hitting the shelves at a low price in late July and early August to suit the late August and early September school re-openings. Most school supplies should be offered at a discounted price during this time, which is great for families who are trying to save some money on school supplies that can run you a fortune if you’re not careful. Of course, you may want to shop with your child’s school list so you’ll know exactly what to get and what not to get. Following your child’s teacher’s guidelines and enjoying the back to school sales, is sure to keep you right on top of your budget before the school year is over. This will be a huge burden off of your shoulders as well as your wallet.
3. Shoes
August is a great time to buy shoes. If you pick out sandals then you can show them off for at least another 6 or more weeks. If you buy boots then you’re prepping yourself for the cold winter that is supposed to be heading our way. No matter what shoe you buy, you’re to be getting a good deal too. Many stores put a wide variety of shoes on sale for a variety of reasons. For instance, children’s shoes should be hitting the sales rack to help move them for the upcoming school year. You might find a whole lot of “Buy One—Get One” sales during this time simply for the back to school season. Summer time shoes will be hitting the clearance rack because people will be more interested in suiting their autumn needs. Winter shoes from last season will also be on sale, because most stores will want to make room for the new popular looks. So, shopping around for shoes in August can be one of the best ideas you’ve ever had. You’ll be reminded of your brilliance and shopping savvy every time you admire your new closet full of shoes.
4. Travel Arrangements
Although it may be too late to consider booking a last minute summer getaway, you might find that planning a quick autumn retreat may be right up your alley. Right now, you can get an amazing price on autumn airfare and other travel arrangements, but you’ll have to act fast. Many other people are booking these low cost getaways too, so make sure you get ready for a little fun before others beat you to it. If you can’t get the time off for a little autumn adventure, then don’t let the holiday seasons slip through your fingers either. If you can already confirm you have time off during the holiday season, then jump on the vacations as soon as you can. Make sure you grab your airline or other transportation tickets, as well as book a hotel and a rental car if need be. Doing it now will ensure you don’t end up rushed when the season gets really busy. You also won’t have to worry about not booking in time to get a spot. You may even consider making a reservation for anything you may want to do during your holiday getaway.
5. Jeans
Your whole family probably wears jeans, so you may not want to miss out on the sales. Usually, you can get a pretty good deal on jeans during the month of August because of all the fantastic back to school sales. This is the perfect time to stock up for the whole family, so you may want to consider putting back some money to make such a purchase. If you have young kids, then you may want to be careful about the jeans you buy. Purchasing jeans a little too big can give your child plenty of room to grow into them. Not to mention, you can always hem the jeans for a short while and let them out as your child’s growth spirt takes over their wardrobe. Make sure you try on all of your jeans though to ensure they are a good fit for your body, so you won’t buy a pair you feel uncomfortable in. You might also want to buy a size or two larger for your child if they are in a stage in which they are growing frequently, which will help with expenses later in the school year.
6. Organizers
If you like to keep a clean shop, then you’re in luck in the month of August. Usually shopping during this time can help save you a small fortune, because many stores will put organizers on sale with the other back to school items. These items can be used for just about anything though. Many people grab them work on their office, while others pick them up for the home or dorm. Of course, since dorm rooms are entirely different looking, so you can find them for a wide assortment of rooms. You can also find incredible organizers for the desk too, which should help keep many things in your life in order. Of course, if you love to follow DIY tips then you probably already know you can use a lot of these organizers as other things, which can help you sort your kitchen and bathroom, as well as many other clever ideas.
7. Ceiling Fans
For most people, August is still incredibly hot, which may leave you running your air conditioning on full blast most of the time. This can be a huge problem for your bills. There is a great solution to the problem though! You can always pick up a ceiling fan to help cut down on the bills. Normally, ceiling fans won’t cost a lot in regards to electricity, especially if you find an Energy Star fan and you use ecofriendly lightbulbs. Fans are easy to install too and more often than not improve the value of a home. The best news is ceiling fans will be on sale during the month of August, which is sure to help out your budget. Ceiling fans aren’t just perfect for keeping you cool in the summer though, they can also help distribute warm air in the winter too, which is sure to help cut down on your heating costs.
8. SPF Makeup
When it comes to shopping for must-have items, you may want to jump on the sales for SPF Makeup during the month of August. These items usually go on sale during this month because many people feel they don’t need SPF makeup year round. This can be a huge mistake though, because UV rays can do damage to the skin all year long, so you should always have the protection from the sun even when the sun isn’t out. If you buy this makeup in bulk, then you can rest assured that you will be prepped for looking good all year long. Of course, you may not want to buy too much as makeup does have a shelf life.
9. Outdoor Play Gear
Most people have already bought everything they wanted to buy for the summer months, so the items will be hitting the clearance shelves in the month of August. This is the perfect time to start working on your kids a playground, complete with a sandbox, playset and other large toys. You should also consider grabbing some sports equipment like basketball hoops. Items like croquet and other sports are great too because you can use them throughout the autumn and set them up for spring time fun. Apart from that, you may be able to find a huge deal on swimming pools and accessories, which is sure to make the rest of this summer as well as next summer amazing. Before you know it, you won’t have to worry about prepping for next summer in the slightest bit.
10. Mattresses
If your bed is feeling a little bit lumpy then you might want to jump on some of the mattress sales that will be coming up this week. Although it may be a little unusual, as mattresses tend to be on sale during Memorial Day sales, many retailers are jumping on the early Labor Day sales too in order to move more stock. This works out to your advantage though as you will be getting a new mattress to help you sleep sounder as the weather begins to get incredibly cold. This is sure to make you feel a lot better about spending money and will help you get rid of such a huge purchase before the holiday season kicks in.
The month of August is a great time to hop on board some pretty amazing deals. These ten categories should leave you jumping for joy over the amazing sales happening in the month of August. Before you know it, you’ll end up ready to take on the rest of the year, simply because you managed to suit your budget and get some pretty awesome items that will leave your family happy and well-supplied.
