Retailers and manufacturers aren’t that creative when it comes to deals. They pretty much run the same deals, year after year. Once you start doing this bargain hunting regularly, you recognize patterns. I still get surprised once in a while, like the “free” backpacks at Office Max & Staples this week, but by and large it’s the same old deals.

What you should be on the lookout for now:
Summer clearance: anything summer–clothing, swimwear, swim diapers, pool toys, sunscreen, BBQ tools, patio stuff, grills & grilling accessories, beach towels, insect repellent, sandals, flip flops, self-tanners, sunglasses, hats, beach totes and outdoor play items like kiddie pools, swing sets and sandboxes.
As the summer winds down, these items are only going to get cheaper and cheaper. They’re cheap now and will really be marked down after Labor Day. You have to decide how long you’re willing to wait out an item or how badly you need it.
The plastic melamine dish items are as low as $0.38 each now at Target. I’ve gotten swim diapers for a dollar or two a pack at the end of the season. And remember, most stores allow for coupons on clearance items.
Also, most of your big drug stores like CVS and Walgreen’s do two cosmetic floor resets each year-one in the summer and one right after the holidays. Look for clearanced cosmetics.
Other stores like Kmart, Target and Walmart will also be clearancing out toys to make room for holiday merchandise.

Back to school-
Retailers and manufacturers will be offering many promotions on back to school items. This includes–backpacks, school/office supplies, some cleaning items like anti-bacterial wipes for the classrooms, paper and ink/toner. Your grocers will be offering deals too–think lunch boxes. Anything that goes in a lunch box-prepackaged snacks, granola bars, peanut butter, juice boxes and pudding cups. And every year Kellogg’s does a big “fuel for school” promo on their breakfast items. Look for special displays that usually contain rebates and coupons in your local store. Also, for the big names like Kellogg’s, look for “specially marked packages” that contain deals like movie passes or Playstation points. If you’re going to buy X number of something anyway, might as well get a rebate or movie pass as part of the deal. Both Kellogg’s and Keebler have these going on right now.

You may want to read up on freezing and canning and make the most of the summer produce that is available now.

In August, all the office stores–Office Max, Staples, Office Depot, Rubinstein’s–they all will do their teacher days as well as lots of promos with 100% return on your investment. This week Office Max and Staples are both offering 100% back on the purchase of a backpack. Office Max allows you to get two. Remember, the rewards you get back, while it will be 100% of what you spent, it is only good in that particular store. Not a good deal if you don’t need anything. But a great deal if you need paper or ink anyway.

Lastly–sad to say, but Halloween and Christmas are right around the corner, at least as far as retailers are concerned. So unless you absolutely need it, don’t buy candy or baking items. Those things will be cheap very soon.

As always, remember the rule: is it a great price or a great deal? You’ll see lots of things at a great price, it’s only a great deal if you need/use the item!