August Is the Worst Month To Buy These 8 Things

August is a big month for shopping. End-of-summer clearance, back-to-school sales, and Labor Day deals are starting to crop up everywhere. 

In those weeks between summer freedom and the beginning of school, storefronts are packed with people nabbing deals because it’s a great time to save money shopping.

But, while August is a great month to grab some deep discounts, it’s not the best time to make a variety of other purchases. Here are eight of the worst things to buy during August.

Early in August, avoid the purchase of all major appliances. While end-of-season sales are something to consider, the biggest discounts will come toward the beginning of September as we approach Labor Day clearance events. 

Washers and dryers — singles and sets — will be at some of the best prices you will see all year once September rolls around. Most stores will also have prepared an expanded inventory for that sale. So, keep your eyes peeled at the end of the month for sales announcements so you can price compare.

August is not the time to buy jerseys, pennants, or fan items for most professional sports teams. Your favorite NFL team is about to start their season, so merchandise is at a start-of-season high. 

Baseball teams aren’t quite at the end of their season, so their sales won’t start until around October. The NBA has already stocked full-price new jerseys for their draft picks, and the WNBA will most likely run end-of-season sales at the end of September.

Not only that, but college sports are unveiling their rosters and starting to train again. No one will be running sales on those items, and you are probably paying full price for high school sports merchandise as well.

While back-to-school is certainly associated with kids, and kids play lots of video games, their gaming consoles are not likely to be on sale during this time of year. Even the Microsoft and PlayStation stores don’t run as many digital offers this month.

Look, instead, toward Black Friday deals. As stores start to rev up for the holidays, they are more likely to have deep discounts on digital items, limited edition skins and accessories, and more.

Pots, pans, kitchen utensils, and other cookware do not historically experience a dip in price during August. Families are beginning to prioritize afternoon and evening activities, making time in the kitchen often feel a little scarce. 

Even then, it is the holiday season that will find most of our good kitchen-related discounts.

Cookware of all materials and price levels finds its best deals during the Black Friday season — smack dab in the middle of high-traffic, high-volume, high-intensity, historically cooking-heavy holidays.

Fall clothing is just now hitting the racks. This means it will be available for a higher price point now — while you are looking for autumn styles — than later in the season. 

Wait until a few weeks into the school year to take a shopping trip and find more than your fair share of fall fashion in the clearance racks.

While end-of-summer sales would normally produce an array of deals on small kiddie and pet pools, 2024 has been the summer of hot, hot heat. 

Everyone I know has purchased a “patio pool,” running stores out of their regular supply quicker than I had imagined. I wouldn’t expect many options up on the sale rack this year.

If you are ordering pools or pool accessories, it might be better to wait until cooler months. When items are less in demand, stores are more likely to add their online options to clearance.

While you might be spending your time looking at Apple products like laptops, desktops, and earbuds during August’s best sales, iPhones are not likely to be on sale right now. 

If you're looking to up your phone game, September is historically the month Apple announces upcoming releases. So gear up for the new model — and start seeing deep discounts for older options — in the autumn months.

iPhone Android competitors like Motorola have similar release schedules, while Samsung and Google specifically release around October. No one is running sales right now.

Thanks to Labor Day sales, you can grab great prices on mattresses and bedding in September at places like MattressFirm, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Walmart, Target, and beyond. 

However, August isn't the time to invest in a more comfortable setup. While there may be discounts to be had this month, prices will most likely dip lower in September.

August is a great month to find some deep, deep discounts on many items. But it just isn’t the time to invest in some things. 

You can keep more cash in your wallet by paying attention to upcoming ads and sale schedules. Planning your purchases a little bit in advance could save you hundreds.