Wondering what to stock up on in August? The big Labor Day sales will likely kick off in mid-August this year, and you'll find patio deals and gardening items on sale, as well as tech, furniture, and home decor.
It's also time to shop deals on back-to-school essentials for college students and teachers — it's not all about the K - 12 kids. You can expect to see rock-bottom prices on back-to-school supplies for all ages. It's also a great time to stock your pantry with easy back-to-school snacks and fill up the medicine cabinet to prepare for flu season (it'll be here soon). Here’s my list of what to buy in August.
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Labor Day Sales
Labor Day deals start early now, y’all. We’re predicting that sales will begin as early as Aug. 21, 2025. Here are the ones you should be shopping.
Home Depot
Some of the best garden deals will likely return in the Home Depot Labor Day Sale, like $0.25 pavers and $2 mulch. Plus, watch for deals on fall mums (I'm crossing my fingers the 2-for-$10 gallon mums deal returns).
You could see up to 60% off patio items and 50% off fire pits. Plus, check in-store deals for fall flowers as low as $0.98, over half off.
I predict the Home Depot Labor Day sale will run Aug. 21 - Sept. 3.
KCL TIP: Wait for Home Depot’s November sales, particularly Black Friday, to shop for large appliances.
Lowe’s
Along with patio furniture clearance, Lowe’s Labor Day Sale has discounts on grills and garden supplies, as well as up to $400 off outdoor power equipment.
My favorite deals in this sale every year are the $2 mums, 40% off planters (with prices as low as $2.98), and the Lowe’s BOGO paint rebate. I hope the paint rebate returns for its fourth year — you’ll get 25% off two cans from brands like Valspar and Sherwin Williams.
I predict the Lowe’s Labor Day sale will run Aug. 21 - Sept. 3.
Walmart
My favorite part about the Walmart Labor Day Sale is that it overlaps with their end-of-summer clearance. Plus, they’ve got deals on much more than just garden supplies and patio furniture. You’ll also see discounts on tech, home, apparel, and toys.
Watch for deals on tech gadgets like TVs, laptops, smartwatches, AirPods, iPads, and more. Plus, expect up to 70% off apparel and up to 60% off fire pits and outdoor dining sets.
I predict the Walmart Labor Day sale will run Aug. 25 - Sept. 1.
Kroger
The Kroger weekly ads will have deals for Labor Day cookout items all month long. I’m talking deals on all the necessities like burgers, buns, chips, and ingredients for your favorite sides.
Check our our weekly posts for the Kroger Weekly Ad and Kroger Digital Coupons to save through Labor Day.
Kohl's
Look for deals on towels, pillows, kids' apparel, and shoes in Kohl's Labor Day Sale, predicted for Aug. 28. Watch for 70% off beach towels, 50% off mattress pads, and 60% off dorm items like butterfly chairs and backrest pillows.
Plus, we usually see a $10 off $25 coupon, with $5 Kohl's Cash for every $25 spent.
Wayfair
We're predicting that the Wayfair Labor Day Sale will kick off on Aug. 26, 2025. Based on prior years' sales, you'll likely see furniture, patio, and home decor marked up to 70% off.
Also check this sale for fire pits and fire rings; you'll find savings of up to 80% on select items.
Kids’ School Supplies (Buy in Bulk to Save the Most)
Back-to-school shopping starts in June or July and runs through September, with many of the best deals hitting in August. I'm already seeing $5 back-to-school deals on backpacks and school uniforms in this month’s sales.
The Target Back-to-School Sale and the Walmart Back-to-School Sale are the big ones to watch since their prices are hard to beat, along with school supply sales at Staples and Office Depot.
But Amazon back-to-school deals are getting more competitive every year, with prices like $0.25 glue sticks and $0.55 rulers. You can also shop Amazon school supply deals by purchasing in bulk and splitting costs with other parents.
Back-to-College Deals and Coupons
Back-to-school deals aren't limited to K-12 kids. With students also going back to college, you'll see personal care, home, and laundry deals on brands you'd normally buy. Now's a good time to stock up, even if you're well beyond your college years.
My favorite back-to-college shopping tip: Never sleep on drugstores. Walgreens stock-up deals are some of my favorite every week. Use mobile coupons, rebates, and register rewards to get 60% off brands like Tide, Dawn, Gain, Febreze and more.
And if you're new to couponing, we've got a complete guide to couponing for beginners so you can start saving now.
Medicine Cabinet Essentials
Find stock-up pricing on deals for your medicine cabinet in August. Since kids of all ages will be heading back to school this month, expect them to bring home germs (ugh).
Whether you're a parent or teacher, prepare for the upcoming flu season with deals on throat drops, pain relief, and more this month. Look for rebates on Tylenol and Motrin, price drops on hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and discounts on kids' allergy medicine,
Pantry Snacks and Food Staples
Trying to stockpile snacks and lunch items? Now's a great time. There are deals and coupons on snacks, cereals, and lunchbox needs at grocery stores and the big box stores alike. Look for deals on Kraft Mac & Cheese, Capri Sun, and lots more mid-month.
Instacart's Back-to-School Week — Aug. 11 - 17
Instacart’s Back-to-School Week offers up to $8 off with their stock-up-and-save offers from Dawn, Bounty, Uncrustables, and more. Plus, get up to 20% off with select deals from Staples, Ulta, Home Depot, and more.
And you can get these daily Instacart freebies during the sale:
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Aug. 11: Free Cheerios Cinnamon Protein
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Aug. 12: Free Danimals Strawberry Smoothies, 6 ct
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Aug. 13: Free Welch’s Fruit Snacks, 40 ct
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Aug. 14: Free Land O Lakes® Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Chunk
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Aug. 15: Free Orgain Kids Chocolate Protein Shake, 4 ct
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Aug. 16: Free Pringles Mingles Cheddar and Sour Cream Puffed Snacks
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Aug. 17: Free Mott’s No Sugar Added Applesauce Pouches, 12 ct
Clearance Patio Deals
Alongside some of the Labor Day deals, you’ll see 50% - 70% off during patio clearance sales in late August. Prices typically hit 70% off by mid-month. Walmart and Lowe’s had the biggest discounts in August 2024, and we expect the same in 2025.
Last year, I saw a Mainstays Loveseat and Coffee Table Set (regularly $327) for $97 at Walmart — a 70% savings. And Lowe’s had an outdoor accent table marked down 75%, from $48.98 to $12.24, and patio cushions priced as low as $5.24.
Watch for 75% off clearance patio at Lowe’s around Aug. 14 and 70% off at Walmart around Aug. 20.
August Calendar Reminders
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day — Aug. 4
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is a yearly daylong event full of free and cheap cookie deals from restaurants like Insomnia, Crumbl, Mrs. Fields, Potbelly, and BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse.
Target Denim Take Back Event — Aug. 4 - 10
During the Denim Take Back Event at Target, you can trade in your old denim (yes, any brand) and get a 20% off Target Circle coupon you can use on new denim purchases.
National Bowling Day — Aug. 9
National Bowling Day is a daylong event where alleys offer free bowling and other specials. Deals often include reduced prices per game or free games, along with discounts on food, beverages, and event packages.
National Dog Day — Aug. 26
National Dog Day falls on Aug. 26 every year. Celebrate all month with Petco freebies starting Aug. 1. You'll also find deals on doggy subscriptions like BarkBox or SuperChewer, dog doughnuts at Krispy Kreme, free ID tags, and more.
Labor Day Freebies and Food Deals
Restaurants offer their own sales during Labor Day weekend. You might see deals like a free Firehouse sub, White Castle BOGO deals, or free ice cream with a cookie purchase at Insomnia Cookies. Plus, we're tracking all the best Labor Day grocery deals for your end-of-summer barbecues.
Wait until September for ...
I typically see sales in September with deep discounts on the following:
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Grills
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Halloween Items
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Camping Gear
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