This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
August is a great time to boost your food storage and emergency supplies. It is still summer, but the back to school sales are upon us. With the warm weather, it is also prime yard sale season in many areas across the country.
Now is the time to shop end of summer sales on camping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, outdoor lighting, outdoor cooking accessories, summer clothes and footwear, and backpacks.
Summer deals
Condiments: Ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, relish and other condiments, salad dressing
Outdoor cooking: Barbecue accessories, charcoal
Snacks: Potato chips, canned dips (Don’t forget comfort food!) Back to school items such as pudding cups, canned lunch meat, juice, hot and cold cereal are all on sale since school is starting in a few weeks.
Seasonal Produce: If you can or dehydrate foods, take advantage of plentiful and inexpensive fruits and vegetables such as pears, berries, corn, garlic, grapes, onions, peaches, bell peppers, plums, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, green beans.
Toiletries such as insect repellent, sunscreen, hand sanitizer
Other supplies: Paper plates, cups and disposable utensils, Clorox wipes. Even though I do not normally use disposable dishes and wipes, these supplies come in handy in an emergency such as a hurricane, when water may be scarce.
Don’t forget to check out the weekly flyers at discount stores such as Walmart or Target, CVS and Walgreens so you can combine the weekly sale items with coupons from the paper or found online.
Clearance Isles
Many supermarkets also have a clearance isle or shelf where they mark down items that are discontinued or slightly dented by 50-75% off. Just be very discerning and check the packaging as well as expiration dates carefully.
Tax Free Days
Some states have a “sales tax free day” where many items including backpacks, clothing and school supplies are exempt from sales tax. The dates may fall on different days, but 17 states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia will be having some form of tax free day soon. In Texas, these items (value below $100) such as clothes and footwear, backpacks and school supplies. Check what items are allowed under your state’s tax free day before going shopping.
Take advantage of good deals while they’re available.
© Apartment Prepper 2016
For more tips on prepping on small budget, read my latest book:
In NW Oregon where I live few if any of these things are on sale except at stores where they are marked up and then put “on sale”.