The SCI Grocery Year
What goes on sale in August
One of those great overlap months.
August is one of those great overlap months. Stores are competing for back-to-school shoppers at the same time they are trying to clear out summer merchandise.
So while everyone else is thinking backpacks and pencils, we are also watching patio gear, summer clearance and some of the best produce of the year.
And no, you do not need anyone going back to school to take advantage of it. A cheap notebook is still a cheap notebook.
Worth watching
If you actually use these things, August is a good time to take a look.
Pens, paper and notebooks
Back-to-school promotions make August one of the better times to replenish the home office, craft room or junk-journaling stash.
Food storage and lunch gear
Look beyond lunch boxes. Containers, bottles and storage sets often get pulled into the same promotions.
Patio furniture and grilling gear
Stores want that floor space back. Selection thins out as the markdowns get better.
Sunscreen and summer supplies
The clearance aisle can be good here, but check expiration dates before stocking up.
Don’t get carried away
A 25-cent notebook is only a bargain if you need a notebook. We say this with love to everyone currently standing in Target wondering whether 14 of them might somehow be reasonable.
One thing to watch
Back-to-school ads are built to get you in the door with cheap basics, and that is where some of the best buys tend to be. The cute character version two shelves over? Compare before it goes in the cart. That is often where the bargain quietly disappears.
August is a good month for produce too
Depending on where you live, these are often abundant and especially good this time of year.
- Tomatoes
- Sweet corn
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Melons
- Plums
Worth doing this month
Check the junk drawer before you shop
Need pens, notebooks, printer paper, folders? August is a good time to replace the basics you have run out of. Just check what you already have first, because the only thing better than a 50-cent pack of pens is finding twelve perfectly good ones in the back of a drawer.
Keep your own prices
Seasonal patterns can tell you when to pay attention. But the best price for your family depends on what you buy, where you shop and what things normally cost in your area.
That is why keeping your own prices is so useful.
Start your free price bookBefore September gets here
Take five minutes on one thing
Check the pantry, the freezer or the household supplies for one thing you are running low on. That is it. You do not need to stock a bunker. Just notice what you will actually need next.
Next month we will be watching canned goods, apples and whatever the back-to-school rush left behind.
See what is coming in September