Best things to shop for in August

NEW YORK (WABC) -- August marks the end of summer and the beginning of some hot deals. Here's some of the secret places to shop to save you hundreds, even thousands.

August is back-to-school season and also summer clearance season, said Mark LoCastro, of DealNews.com

LoCastro said discounts on summer apparel will range up to 50 to 70 percent off.

"The summer clothing, they put it on clearance, and they're (giving) big discounts to make room for the fall apparel," said LoCastro.

That means even more deals on back-to-school items - including backpacks and denim.

For students going back to college, LoCastro said, "stores like WalMart are offering great deals on futons, bean bag chairs and small desks."

Outside of Black Friday - it's also the best time of the year to buy a laptop.

"You can get a 15-inch mainstream laptop for almost $300 to $350," said Locastro. "That's a great thing for someone to take to school. absolutely."

One thing DealNews recommends holding off on purchasing a new iPhone or iPad; new ones are rumored to be rolling of the assembly block around September. "Just wait until the next line is introduced and the previous ones will be significantly discounted," said LoCastro.

For younger students, outdoor kids play sets are all deeply discounted in August to make way for fall and winter inventory.

August also brings great deals on patio furniture and grills, which are at the lowest prices of the summer.

"They're looking to slash prices. You can get great deals 50 to 60 percent off patio furniture," said LoCastro.

The absolute rock-bottom prices of the month for seasonal items are at the end of August at the front end of some Labor Day sales.