What to Buy in August

Many parents are looking forward to the start of the school year, but as a frugal momma, I'm counting down to the great deals you find in August.  As homeschoolers & preppers, we make sure to replenish our stockpile to get us through until the next sale cycle.  Grocery items may go on sale multiple time throughout the year but for many other household purchases, you have to snag them during their once a year price drop. By knowing what these items are you'll be able to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! This month, we're going to set aside a little extra so we can stockpile all those school supplies while they are on sale. There's nothing more painful than paying $2.50-$3 for crayons when you can snag them for $0.25 for a box of Crayola crayons in August!

We all use copy paper & you'll see lots of opportunities to get FREE reams of paper at your office supply stores like Office Max, Office Depot and Staples. Speaking of office supply stores, be sure to join their Store Rewards programs and keep an eye out on opportunities to grab free items! Last year we saw free highlighters, back packs, lunch boxes and so much more!

Speaking of back to school, if you are sending a student off to college you'll be able to score fabulous deals on dorm type furniture and accessories! You want to be certain you purchase these items now because they will go back up in price and this is typically the only time we see items like futons, bunk beds and desks on sale.

If you are purchasing new clothing for your kiddos you'll see LOTS of summer clothing on sale! When you are out and about keep an eye out for those clearance racks. In addition, think layers. If you see a tank top consider throwing a sweater or jacket over the tank for the cooler months that are ahead of us. Your child can also wear a long sleeve shirt underneath a t-shirt. By layering you'll be able to stretch those dollars a little further and think ahead for next season on all summer apparel including swim wear and sandals. Hold off on purchasing electronic items until November. If your child isn't in need of a new laptop right away you'll score better deals on or around Black Friday. In addition, you'll score fabulous deals on televisions, iPods and tablets during the cooler months as well. Now is the time to grab that new gas grill or outdoor furniture you've been eyeing all summer! Keep an eye out at stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, Target and Walmart for sales and discounts on all your grilling and outdoor living needs.