Kat’s Money Corner: Stock up on summer sales
Kat Hnatyshyn
Labor day is looming. The kiddos are back in school. Temperatures are decreasing ever so slightly each week. These are all signs that another summer has come and gone. Another sign? All the great deals on patio furniture, lawn mowers, pool essentials and summer clothing this month! This week I am going to share some different ways you can take advantage of these deals and stock up for next summer.
The Great Outdoor Deals
As pool owners and frequent patio party hosts, my husband and I tend to get a lot of mileage out of our seasonal items. With an understanding that floaties and towels aren’t made to last forever, we take inventory of these kinds of items at the end of each summer. After we’ve separated stuff into piles labeled “toss,” “donate” and “keep,” I like to make a list of the items we need to replace. http://www.kcdonationpickup.org/ After I’ve cleared away the clutter, I decide how much money I’m realistically willing to spend. Once I have a list and a budget, I’m ready to see what kind of deals I can get.
For bigger-ticket items, such as patio furniture, I recommend setting alerts for yourself to check on deals. If you can’t find anything you like locally or it isn’t in stock when you need it, check out online retailers like Hayneedle http://www.hayneedle.com/. There’s a lot to be said for the convenience of having large items delivered directly to your home. Don’t forget to search for promo codes before you order! http://www.retailmenot.com/
Keep on Giving
September is the best of time year to buy cars, airline tickets and mattresses. It’s also the optimal time to stock up on clothes and toys (for children of all ages) for next summer. If you have kids in your life, you are well aware of how quickly they grow. Snagging necessities like sandals or raincoats at half price can save you a bundle. As for toys and other gadgets, if you can, scoop up great seasonal items such as yard games or grill tools, wrap them in festive paper and save this stuff for the holidays.
Don’t forget to stock up on items for yourself, too. Savvy shoppers understand the art of layering and know this is a great time of year to pick up transitional items, such as sleeveless button-downs or capri leggings you can wear in the spring as well.
So what are you waiting for? Start pulling together your donation piles and printing your lists of replaceable items. These end-of-season deals won’t last long!
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little ones, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens.
This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Kat’s Money Corner: Stock up on summer sales."