This is my monthly series on What To Stock Up On In May. I started my monthly bargain tips in January a few years ago and now I add NEW stuff to them yearly. Here’s the deal, we all want to stock up on items when they are priced well below the regular price.
This year is probably the first year that we may not be able to get everything we need on our want or need list. I have never seen so many grocery store shelves so empty. I believe the shelves will be even more sparse in the coming months.
If you see something you need, please grab it, you may not see it next week, or the week after that. What shortages have you experienced, or what items are you having trouble getting this year? We can’t get Ball/Kerr canning lids here in Utah, and canning supplies have doubled or tripled in price.
The price of gas to fill our cars or trucks is through the roof, literally. Bacon, my beloved bacon, is so darned expensive. Please tell me your shortages and items where the prices have gone up more than ever before.
Every month, stores have sales based on items coming in or going out. This is a perfect time to buy items you may have listed on your “needs” list.
If you think about it, the stores are continually buying new stock to beef up their inventory. It could be some new popular colors, new styles, or new and improved designs.
What To Stock Up On In May
Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables
Watch for the best strawberries this month!! And don’t forget to watch for raspberries, rhubarb, artichokes, spinach, garlic, and snap peas. Don’t you love fruit and vegetables that are in season? They taste the very best, right?
Mexican Food
Oh, my gosh, it’s the Cinco de Mayo celebration early this month! Watch for sales on taco shells, salsa, taco sauce, corn husks, tortillas, and your favorite Mexican seasoning. It’s a great month to stock up for the year so you can enjoy Taco Tuesday every week at home! You may see coupons in the mail or online to save 20-30%. I literally could eat Mexican food every night.
Picnic Supplies
I absolutely LOVE the month of May because it’s party time. So that means I can stock up on party supplies that go on sale for the summer activities almost every week this month.
This is the time to buy red, white, and blue plates, cups, plasticware, tablecloths, and holiday decorations. Life is awesome when we have a festively decorated table, and at a discount, too!
Don’t forget that Memorial Day is in late May each year and tends to be the holiday to set the stage for outdoor activities all summer. I’ll never forget the Memorial Day holiday Mark and I left home for a week and traveled to Durango, CO. We saw so many different and new things, but the highlight was the train trip up the canyon to Silverton, CO.
Just think about beach parties, pool parties, lake parties, and backyard get-togethers. You can have plates, trays, cups, and candles in just the right colors priced below retail.
You can stock up the day after Memorial Day to get paper plates, cups, and plasticware at up to 75% off at some stores. Score! This makes them cheap enough to stock up for emergencies when we don’t want to use water to wash dishes or fuel to heat the water.
Barbecue Supplies
It’s a great month for buying a barbecue grill because the stores have just discounted the snow blowers and snow shovels. If your barbecue grill has seen better days, this may be a great time to pick one up when they discount them during the month.
The prices go up just before July 4th and then go back down again after the big holiday.
Outdoor Furniture
May is a great month for outdoor furniture. The box stores have just sold off their space heaters and want to sell as much of their outdoor furniture as possible. This is when the sales prices will show up in your mailbox, emails, and newspaper ads.
At the first of the month, they want to get you excited to paint your deck, replace your patio railings, and deck your patio with the finest new colors in outdoor furniture.
The replacement pads, pillows, and chair pads will be advertised at discounted prices to entice you to have barbecues outside and enjoy your family and friends around the pool or picnic table.
If your lounge chairs are broken beyond repair, this is the month to replace them at drastically reduced prices. If your glass top table has broken one too many times, grab a new table at bargain prices.
Home Decorations
I love finding some deeply discounted home decorations for my home. It’s amazing when one or two little potted plants sitting on my living room side tables bring me joy, or at least they make me smile.
I’m not a big knick-knack person because I don’t like to dust. Thank goodness Mark has taken on that job.
Anyway, this month is great for looking at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Ross Dress For Less, or HomeGoods. Some stores have merged together, but you get the idea. You can get gifts for mom to give her on Mother’s Day at huge discounted prices at these stores this month.
Memorial Day Artificial Flowers
This month we honor those who have died protecting our country and the freedoms we enjoy. It’s a great day to thank the Veterans we have lost in the various wars over the years.
Mattresses
I have to laugh because it seems like mattresses are always on sale, right? Well, when a holiday weekend comes around you will see deep discounts on regular mattresses, foam mattresses, twin, queen, or king size.
Watch for coupons in the mail, online, or in the newspaper. If you have time to check out the mattresses before you decide to buy one, go scope them out. Then wait for the best price. I have seen them drop 50%. You can do it, I promise.
Houses
May is the best month to look for a house. Most people want their kids to finish out the school year and want to find another home to move into when the summer starts. They want their kids to settle into the new neighborhood before they start school in August or September.
Sellers may be more willing to negotiate the sales price this month. May is a perfect time to buy or sell before vacation time starts. The weather is good and many kids are out of school, or close to being so. Some people are buying bigger, or they may be downsizing, depending on their family situation.
All indications are that homes will be priced higher this year. Who knows when things may return to more normal pricing, but you may want to talk to the real estate gurus to see if now is the best time.
Vacuum Cleaners
Watch for flyers in the mail this month to purchase vacuums at deep discounts. You may also see ads online for the vacuum you have been wanting for a very long time. We know we have these babies for years, so why not get one that is discounted significantly? A clean house is an awesome house, right?
Here again, go look at vacuums at different stores after you have done some research online. See if the weight is okay for you to push and pull around, and how well it cleans. Then look for the sales. You can see discounts of 25-40% off some brands.
Refrigerators
You may think Black Friday has the best deals on refrigerators, think again. Often on holiday weekends, people tend to go stroll through furniture stores or large box stores. I have seen them marked down close to or below Black Friday prices.
It’s a really good idea, to scope out the stores or go online to find the refrigerator you may want. THEN watch for the best price. If the new models are coming in, consider opting for last year’s models to save some money. It’s all about saving money on the one you want and not just purchasing based on a low price. I always tell my readers to buy right the first time rather than settling for cheaper products.
Cookware & Kitchen Tools
We all know someone getting married or graduating in June, right? This is why you will see 20-40% off some small kitchen appliances, as well as some really good name-brand cookware.
It’s great to give a gift that will last many years to a young couple getting married and starting out on life’s journey. We’ll see kitchen tools, toasters, toaster ovens, stand mixers, can openers, and more marked down drastically.
Office Furniture
Office furniture typically goes on sale this month because the new colors and designs will be coming into the stores around July and August. You’ll find swivel chairs for pennies on the dollar this month.
The stores usually stock up on these for the previous year-end purchases. Now, they want to unload them as soon as possible. If you need a new padded office swivel chair this is the month to buy it.
Thrift Stores
Okay, thrift stores are overloaded in May because people have done their spring cleaning and decluttering big time. Therefore, your local thrift stores will have clearance prices on the “new” items people just dropped off.
It’s a great time to find some even better deals on some slightly used items at thrift stores in your neighborhood. I found some really cute plates the other day at a fraction of the original cost. Yay!
Athletic Apparel
This month the stores will discount their athletic apparel because they know people are back to walking after a cold brutal winter in many locations, or the beautiful summer days are just around the corner.
Bring on the exercise clothing and let’s strengthen our bodies. Look for shorts, airy slacks, lightweight jackets, and sweaters. Don’t forget the walking shoes.
Summer Clothes
Here’s to buying some new fresh colors in summer clothes at huge discount prices. You may see great buys on Memorial Day and July 4th clothing to celebrate the holidays!
Check for leftover Easter dresses, hats, shoes, and gloves. You may find just the right Sunday dress for you or your children at deeply discounted prices.
May is perfect for shopping for summer clothes when you see the ads in the paper or online specials. Every dollar we save can be put in the bank or saved for a rainy day.
Star Wars Products
May 4th is Star Wars Day and celebrates George Lucas’ Star Wars series of great movies. It’s a super month to pick up the Star Wars memorabilia you’ve been waiting to buy when it goes on sale.
You can pick up costumes, hats, mementos, one-of-a-kind items to be ready for that special day.
You can also pick up party favors, plates, cups, and plasticware at a discount to celebrate your Star Wars party. I’m sure you may have heard: “May the Force be with you.” Sometimes you can see autographed items at 50-60% off.
If you want to give a special Star Wars gift for Christmas or birthdays grab them in May to save money. May the Force be With You!
Swimwear
May is one of the best months to buy your swimwear because the price soars in June and July. If you think about it, the best ones start coming into the stores this month and then become scarce.
Well, when people are still going on vacation and swimming in June and July they need swimwear. Plus, if your little ones have outgrown their suits from last year, they need a bigger one this year. Sometimes the beach towels get a little ratty from wear and tear. It may be time to replace them too.
Mother’s Day Gifts
Mother’s Day is this month, so watch for things other than chocolate, flowers, or jewelry because they will be priced at a premium. Look for other things that are more personal like pictures, artwork, pretty notepads, or boxes of notecards.
The closer we get to the holiday the higher the price goes up for those most wanted items. Once we get past the holiday, look for a number of “mother” related gifts to go on sale.
Unique May Holidays
- May 1: Herb Day
- May 2: Baby Day
- May 3: Garden Meditation Day
- May 4: Star Wars Day
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- May 6: Beverage Day
- May 7: National Day of Prayer
- May 8: No Socks Day
- May 9: Lilac Sunday
- May 10: Clean Up Your Room Day
- May 11: Eat What You Want Day
- May 12: School Nurses Day
- May 13: International Hummus Day
- May 14: Dance Like a Chicken Day
- May 15: National Chocolate Chip Day
- May 16: National Sea Monkey Day
- May 18: No Dirty Dishes Day
- May 19: Plant a Veggie Garden Day
- May 20: Pick Strawberries Day
- May 21: National Bike to Work Day
- May 23: World Turtle Day
- May 24: Victoria Day in Canada
- May 25: National Brown Bag It Day
- May 26: World Otter Day
- May 27: Sun Screen Day
- May 28: National Hamburger Day
- May 29: Learn About Composting Day
- May 30: Water a Flower Day
- May 31: Memorial Day
May is also Date Your Mate Month and National BBQ Month!
Final Word
Thanks for stopping by today, it means the world to me. I hope this post about What To Stock Up On In May encourages you to buy only those things that you really need.
It’s all about saving money for the unexpected. Thanks again for being prepared. Hard times are coming my friends, we must be prepared. May God bless this world, Linda
What to Stock Up On During Other Months:
- What to Stock Up On In January
- What to Stock Up On In February
- What to Stock Up On In March
- What to Stock Up On In April
- What to Stock Up On In May
- What to Stock Up On In June
- What to Stock Up On In July
- What to Stock Up On In August
- What to Stock Up On In September
- What to Stock Up On In October
- What to Stock Up On In November
- What to Stock Up On In December
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