7 tricks for shopping summer sales
The days are getting hotter and so are the deals. Summer offers up some terrific sales, with deep discounts on apparel, groceries and even that last-minute vacation you’ve been daydreaming about.
Here are 7 great tips for shopping summer sales.
- Avoid the mall! Let’s face it, it’s summertime and you don’t really want to be cooped up in the mall, right? But, beyond the fact that when you shop online, you can do it from anywhere (yes, even from your mobile device, while lounging poolside), you can also save big by buying online. Becoming a ShopAtHome.com member is free and you’ll start getting Cash Back at the same stores you’d find in the mall.
- Shop for summer wardrobe essentials now: Your closet knows no more than four seasons. But, retailers have almost triple that many seasons — with everything from resort collections before spring to early fall lines that debut when it’s still scorching hot. If you shop in the season you’re in, you can save big on apparel. Start looking for deep discounts now on shorts, tanks, T-shirts, swimwear and flip-flops. By July, stores will start debuting their back-to-school collections (yes, already!) and your summer apparel will be in the sales sections.
- Save at the grocery store with easy-to-use coupons: Whether you’re hosting a Fourth of July bash or just making your regular grocery shopping rounds, you can get free printable grocery coupons from ShopAtHome.com to help you shave money from your grocery bill.
- Shop what’s in season: Coordinate your weeknight menus with what’s in season. When you shop produce that’s at its peak, you’ll get the yummiest flavors. But, those foods will also be at their lowest price point. You can check out Sustainable Table to see what’s in season in your state. Right now, avocados are in their prime in California (pass the guac!) and rhubarb and strawberries are faring well on the East Coast.
- Buy your outdoor gear: That awesome tent you’ve been eyeing at a sporting goods store or the grill you’ve drooling over since Memorial Day? It might be time to make the purchase. Summer gear, like outdoor essentials and patio furniture, starts going on sale in late late-June.
- Be on the watch for Fourth of July sales: Sign up to receive e-mails from your favorite stores. (Many will give you an initial discount in exchange for your address). You’ll get notified via e-mail of their upcoming Fourth of July Sales. Stores know to put on sales as grand as a fireworks display are Macy’s, Overstock.com, Gap, Old Navy, and JCPenney.
- Book a last-minute trip: Haven’t planned out your summer vacation yet? No sweat. You can get some great last-minute vacation packages and earn Cash Back through Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline, especially if you can be flexible with your dates. A new study found that because oil prices are nearing a 10-year low, the cost of airline travel is down by about 13 percent this year. Hop on a plane to some lesser-known summer destinations. Colorado’s ski towns, for example, are quiet in the summer, but offer great hiking and biking.
