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Summer, here we come! With the warm months fast approaching, I’ve put together my list of the best things to buy this month. Be sure to stock up while you can before prices go up. Let’s get to it! Here’s my top ten:
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1. Celebrate National Pet Week with bargains on pet food, toys, health screenings, and more.
May 2 – 8, 2021 is National Pet Week. You’ll see lots of savings on pet food, toys, health screenings and pet-grooming discounts.
Last year, I scored deals like Purina Beneful Incredibites for $1.26 each, when you bought three.
Also, keep in mind that many pet-product manufacturers want to win your loyalty by offering free samples if you buy one of their products. I received a free can of new Friskies cat food when I bought cat litter. Look for coupons attached to the product packaging.
Even if you don’t own a pet, animal shelters and rescues will gladly take food and supply donations.
Find deals and printable coupons for pet food.
2. Enjoy National Salad month with savings on salad and salad dressings.
May is National Salad Month, thanks to all the fresh produce coming in season. You’ll find lower prices along with special promotions on all things salad.
When you can get bottles of dressing for $0.50 or less, buy enough to last you several months — but don’t overstock! Unopened salad dressing has a “best by” date that’s usually six months out, so only buy what you can consume in that time.
Find deals and printable coupons for salad dressings.
3. Score all kinds of seasonal produce in May.
Look for cheap seasonal produce in May like:
- Apricots
- Artichokes
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Beets
- Blackberries
- Broccoli
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chard
- Corn
- English peas
- Fennel
- Grapefruit
- Green beans
- Honeydew
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mustard greens
- Peas
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Radish
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Vidalia onions
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
Save even more when you use rebate-app offers on top of sale prices. For instance, Ibotta and Checkout 51 often have fresh-produce offers. Sometimes you can even get a piece of fruit or vegetable free!
Find deals and printable coupons for produce.
4. Stock up on paper plates, towels, napkins, cups, and plastic silverware.
Between Memorial Day and graduation parties, paper products will be on sale all month long. Look for deals on plates, paper towels, napkins, utensils, and cups.
Pay close attention to a coupon’s fine print. Some coupons (like those for Bounty paper towels) don’t have size restrictions. In 2020, single rolls of Bounty were $1 at Dollar General, and I used a $0.25 off coupon and an Ibotta offer to get a roll for $0.50.
Find deals and printable coupons for paper towels.
5. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with specials on Mexican food items.
Look for sales on salsa, tortillas, taco kits, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, canned beans, and frozen Mexican entrees. Find specials in stores’ weekly flyers — some may even include tasting events in stores.
Last year, I found a $0.50 off coupon for Ole or La Banderita tortillas that were on sale for $0.99, so I only paid $0.50.
Freeze excess tortillas, chips, and shredded cheese for future use.
Find deals and printable coupons for tortillas.
6. Grab grilling must-haves like charcoal and lighter fluid.
Buying enough charcoal and lighter fluid to get you through grilling season can save you some bucks. In 2020, I bought a 16-pound bag of Kingsford Charcoal for $9, regularly priced $12.99. With my 5% RedCard savings, I saved $4.44, which was like getting half the charcoal for free.
7. Stock up on allergy medicine.
May means allergy season. Look for allergy meds on sale this month, and use coupons with rebate apps to pay next to nothing on name-brand products.
In 2020, I used a manufacturer coupon and a CVS store coupon on top of already discounted allergy medicine to pay $20.99 for a 70-count bottle of Claritin. I also received $5 in ExtraBucks and ended up with a final price of $15.99.
Find deals and printable coupons for Claritin.
8. Scoop up potting soil, flowers, weed killer, and other yard supplies in May.
As you get ready to spend more time outdoors, May is the perfect month to go shopping at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Look out for specials on potting soil, outdoor plants like three for $12 Mandevillas, and other yard supplies like weed killer and turf builder. If you don’t use all the supplies in one season, you’ve got a head start on next summer.
9. Prepare for Memorial Day with summer food specials.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31 this year, and you can expect all types of party and BBQ foods to be on sale. Find products like BBQ sauce, condiments, charcoal, potato chips, dips, and hot dogs for low prices.
Don’t forget to stack coupons on top of sale prices! Last May, I scored packages of Oscar Mayer hot dogs on sale for $1.99 each when you bought four and used manufacturer coupons. The final price came out to $0.47 per package of hot dogs.
Find deals and printable coupons for Oscar Mayer hot dogs.
10. Protect yourself with plenty of sunscreen.
With summer right around the corner, all types of sunscreen products will be on sale — so don’t stick to just one brand.
Always compare unit prices to get the best deal. Surprisingly, smaller bottles often cost less per ounce. Store sunscreen in a cool, dry place so the active ingredients will stay effective for three years.
Find deals and printable coupons for sunscreen.
