What to Buy in August
Wondering what the best sales are in August? Here’s a complete list of all the August grocery deals to help you save money.
Curious what all the best deals are in August? Let’s talk about all the sales you can find this month to stretch your grocery budget a little further.
I work hard at stretching our family’s $525 monthly grocery budget. One of the easiest ways to save money is to shop sales—and August has some of the best ones!
So let’s get right to it and talk about all the sales to watch for in the month of August.
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Back to School Sales (Even If You Don’t Have Kids)
The biggest category of sales in August is back to school. And even if you don’t have school-aged kids, these sales matter! A lot of pantry and household staples go on sale this month, and it’s a great time to stock up.
Here are the top items to watch for:
- Peanut butter
- Jelly or jam
- Lunch meat
- Bread
- Pudding cups
- Applesauce cups
- Fruit snacks
- Chips (especially individual bags)
- Juice boxes
- Breakfast cereal
- Frozen waffles
- Crackers
- Clorox wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Ziploc bags
- Kleenex
- School supplies
- Underwear and socks
Yes, even underwear and socks! Whether you need them for your kids or yourself, it’s worth checking for deals this month.
Back-to-school sales run all month long, so check your local stores weekly—especially Kroger, Meijer, WinCo, or any store that regularly runs grocery sales.
Early Labor Day Sales
Toward the end of August, we start seeing early Labor Day sales. These are especially good for stocking up on meat for your freezer.
Look for sales on:
- Ground beef
- Grilling meats
- Hot dogs
- Soda
Ground beef is one of my favorite things to stock up on this time of year. There are really only two times a year we see excellent sales on ground beef—Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you see a good price, buy extra and freeze it.
Don’t forget to look for sales on premade ground beef patties, too. Sometimes those sales are just as good—or better—than buying ground beef by the pound. You can always crumble the patties up for recipes if you don’t need hamburgers.
Seasonal Fruit on Sale in August
There’s still plenty of delicious fresh produce to enjoy this month. August is the tail end of berry season, so grab them while you can.
Here are the fruits to watch for on sale:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Honeydew melon
- Lemons
- Limes
- Mangoes
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
I love freezing berries to use later. It’s so easy and a great way to enjoy summer fruit throughout the year. You can also use berries to make homemade jam—my personal favorite is blackberry jam. Here’s my easy recipe for how to can blackberry jam every year.
August Vegetable Sales
Lots of fresh veggies are in season and on sale this month. If you’ve planted a garden, you probably already know that zucchini and tomatoes are everywhere right now!
Here’s what to watch for:
- Avocados
- Basil
- Bell peppers
- Sweet corn
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Lettuce
- Green beans
- Hot peppers
- Okra
- Onions
- Peas
- Summer squash
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
This is a great time to make zucchini bread and freeze it. Tomatoes are perfect for making homemade salsa, which is one of my favorite things to can. If you’ve never canned before, I have a super simple salsa recipe that’s perfect for beginners.
Summer Clearance Sales
As soon as August hits, stores start marking down summer items—even though it still feels like summer outside.
Watch for clearance deals on:
- Bubbles
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Swimsuits
- Beach towels
- Water toys
- Sand toys
- Chalk
- Inflatable pools
- School supplies
Even your grocery store might mark down summer items. This is a great time to grab extras for next year or to pick up fun gifts for your kids to enjoy later.
As school starts, you’ll also see school supplies go on clearance. You may not find a lot left by the end of August, but it’s worth a quick look.
Final Thoughts
It might seem like a shorter list this month, but August is full of really great sales—especially if you’re looking to stock your pantry with items like cereal, snacks, and lunch supplies. And don’t forget those meat sales! And if you’ve spotted another great deal this month, leave it in the comments so others can benefit too.
