5 Creative Ways to Save Money in August
Summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t make it any less expensive. (Between the long weekends, alfresco happy hours and good weather beach days, there’s no break for your wallet in sight.) These spending hacks put a priority on saving but still make room for all that end-of-season summer fun.
RELATED: 6 Things That Always Go on Sale in August
Upgrade Your Patio Furniture for Next Year
Sure, there’s still a good six weeks left for picture-perfect outdoor lounging weather remaining, but most retailers are already moving on to fall. That’s why it’s the ideal time to head to places like Lowe’s, Home Depot or Target to score savings—sometimes as much as 50 percent off—on patio furniture you can put to use now or stow away for next year. (Patio decor like indoor/outdoor string lights or throw pillows are also heavily discounted this month.)
Treat Yourself to a New Bathing Suit (or Two)
PSA: Sizes *might* be limited, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t troll the web—or visit the mall—to see what type of savings you can snag on a new swimsuit. Just like with the patio furniture, you’ve still got a good six weeks to put it to use. (Even longer if temps stay this way.) You could save as much as 75 percent at stores like J.Crew or Boden, especially if you’re open to a range of colors.
RELATED: 10 Crazy-Flattering Swimsuit Trends for Every Body Type
Take Advantage of Tax-Free Weekend
So, it doesn’t apply everywhere (New York and California, we’re talking to you), but August is the time of year when a slew of states across the U.S. dedicate an entire weekend to tax-free shopping. (Pretty good timing with back-to-school, no?) A list of participating states can be found here. A list of all the pricey items you’d rather not pay tax on can be found…on the to-do list on your iPhone we’re guessing?
Buy All Your Tomatoes at the Farmers’ Market
We wait all year for it: Heirloom tomatoes are finally in season, which means you can buy them in bulk for a fraction of the typical cost. Most farmers’ market stands offer you to select your own, then pay a flat rate. (Think all the heirloom tomatoes you can fit in one of those blueberry baskets for $5.) Or you pay by the pound. Either/or, it’s still much less than buying them in the off-season.
Book Labor Day Travel Mid-Month
You hemmed and hawed about whether or not to go away for the last official weekend of summer, and now it’s a definite: You want to get out of town. The good news for savings is this: Since Labor Day falls on September 3, it’s most likely the eve of back-to-school for a lot of kids and their parents. As a result, hotels and airlines may find themselves with unexpected inventory and a last-minute need to fill those spots. (Hello, discounted rates.) At the very least, it’s worth peeping sites like Kayak or downloading an app like Hopper to see what type of savings you can score.