As the summer draws to a close, you may be lamenting the end of long evening barbecues, languid hammock naps and trouble-free beach days.
But summer’s end marks the beginning of the fall — a time for warm, woolly sweaters, spiced apple cider and blossoming pumpkin patches. Families look forward to the new semester, digging out backpacks and shopping for sparkling notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils.
The final weeks of summer are particularly busy for retailers, who become increasingly eager to stock their shelves with fall fashions and seasonal merchandise. Impatient to clear their stores, businesses begin offering summer clothes, equipment and other seasonal goods at a discount.
For shoppers, this means huge savings on everything from playful dresses to colorful beach umbrellas and shiny new lawn mowers.
This August, bid summer a fond farewell by shopping the late season sales. Maximize your end-of-the-summer savings with our list of 10 things to buy at the end of the summer.
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
1. School supplies. With the new semester fast approaching, retailers are launching sales to catch the eye of back-to-school shoppers. If you can haul your kids out of the swimming pool and shuttle down to the stores, you’ll be rewarded with savings on school essentials. Expect deals on school supplies and backpacks, as well as uniforms and late summer styles.
2. Dorm furniture. When students begin to pack their cars and slip on school swag, stores beginning promoting sales on dorm room gear. If you want to deck out your dorm room without blowing your summer job savings, snatch up the deals on seating, bedding, desks, bookcases and more.
3. Laptops and electronics. Tech companies are also kicking off their own back-to-school promotions, releasing deals on laptops, software and tablets. During end-of-the-summer sales, many electronics retailers offer bundle deals, pairing laptop purchases with free headphones, printers and other tech goodies.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
4. Outdoor furniture. Summer may be winding down, but you can still squeeze in plenty of barbecues on warm autumn afternoons. Furnish your yard for Indian summer shindigs by shopping outdoor dining sets, lounges, cushions and hammocks. In late August and early September, you can find patio furniture for as much as 80 percent off.
5. Grills. During the final days of summer, the grill prices can drop by as much as 70 percent. Expect to see solid savings on gas, electric and charcoal grills from brands like Kenmore and Weber.
6. Outdoor gear. When the weather grows chilly, retailers begin slashing prices on recreational and outdoor equipment. As summer fades away, you’ll discover deals on bikes, camping gear and lawn mowers.
7. Summer clothes. Make your way back to the clearance section of your favorite clothing store, and you’ll find summer apparel at anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent off. Now is the time to stock up on eye-catching sundresses, flattering bikinis and stylish sandals. Come next summer, you will be grateful you did.
8. Appliances. During September and October, many manufacturers release newer models of stoves, cooktops and other large appliances. You can often score solid deals on major kitchen appliances during late summer, when retailers begin trying to push last year’s models out the door.
9. Vacations. Late August through November is sometimes referred to as shoulder season, a period when travel is slow. When the vacation crowds head home, you can land flights and hotels at some of the lowest prices of the year. During shoulder season, you’ll find especially good deals on trips to Hawaii, the Mediterranean and the South Pacific. And bonus — you’ll get to enjoy uncrowded beaches, restaurants and resorts.
[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]
10. Sales tax holiday exempt items. In early August, certain states celebrate sales tax holidays, when shoppers can purchase qualified items free of sales tax. This year, 16 states will participate in the holiday:
— Alabama
— Arkansas
— Connecticut
— Florida
— Georgia
— Iowa
— Maryland
— Mississippi
— Missouri
— New Mexico
— Ohio
— Oklahoma
— South Carolina
— Tennessee
— Texas
— Virginia
If you live in a participating state, you can buy a variety of products without paying sales tax. Depending on your state’s rate, you could save anywhere from 5 percent to 9 percent, approximately. Qualifying items typically include back-to-school gear, such as office supplies, clothes and computers.
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Save Big on These 10 End-of-Summer Shopping Deals originally appeared on usnews.com
