As shopping events go, July brings one of the biggest.
"We are already seeing Fourth of July sales," says Brent Shelton, spokesman for FatWallet.com. "The Fourth of July happens on Thursday and a lot of people take the whole week off, so [retailers] have a broader captive audience."
Yes, there will be big July 4th sales, but it doesn’t stop there. Read on for the best things to buy this holiday weekend and the rest of the month.
Independence Day Sales
This is one of the few times you can find in-season items on sale. During July 4th sales look for patio furniture and party items; summer toys including pool toys, yard games and swing sets; outdoor equipment as well as consumer electronics and appliances, says Shelton.
Summer clothing will have price cuts averaging 62 percent off, adds Lindsey Sakraida, features director at dealnews.com.
Many of these deals on summer items will only get better in August, though the selection may be limited. Stack savings this month by searching for coupons, using mail-in rebates for big ticket items and taking advantage of cash-back promotions such as the post-July 4th sale on FatWallet.com.
One exception to July 4th shopping is bedding. Though you may see these sales advertised, the best discounts happen during Labor Day sales in September, Sakraida says.
Summer clearance sales
Summer has only just begun, but some retailers are already advertising summer clearance sales, says Shelton.
Retailers specializing in sporting goods or outdoor items are discounting merchandise now. Exercise equipment — treadmills, weights and workout gear — are also subject to big discounts. And look for deals on furniture, large appliances and miscellaneous items such as paint, jewelry and tools.
Laptop Love
Been waiting for the big drop in laptop prices? It has arrived. Last month, Intel released its newest processor. This month, expect to see a flood of deals on the older Ivy Bridge generation laptops, say expert at dealnews.com. Prices should come in at or below $300.
Laptop prices for older models will continue to go down over the weeks and months as the early back-to-school shopping season kicks in, but if you want a particular model or style and you can afford it, now may be the best time to buy, Shelton says. “If you jump on it early, you get your pick of the model and style,” he says.
Early Back to School deals
July will also bring the first round of back-to-school deals, says Shelton. School supplies, apparel and dorm furnishings will be marked down and well-stocked — an important factor if you have strong preferences for certain items. Back-to-school shopping now spans almost three months (July through September), he says, so start making your list early and set alerts to monitor prices so when they hit a low point, you’ll be ready.
