It’s finally time to be finished up with the heat and welcome the crisp autumn air to our lives. Many people tend to use this rejuvenating time to get in a lot of shopping, particularly around the Labor Day sales. More often than not, this can lead to overspending, especially with the holiday season right around the corner. If you really want to shop this month, there are a few things you should concentrate on in order to maximize your money and make the most out of your shopping experience. With these ten tips, you’ll be ready to grab your shopping bags and stock up without dipping into all of those holiday savings.
1. Summer Attire
Although there’s still a few weeks of summer to go, you can probably find some awesome deals on this past season’s fashion musts. Generally, most stores will move all of their summer stock into the clearance bin by the last weeks of summer because they need to make space for the fashion trends that will be dominating in the autumn. So, don’t think twice about swooping in and grabbing a few items to make your summer wardrobe thrive. If you have children to shop for then try to grab items that are one and two sizes larger, so you’ll be prepared for when the hot water makes its debut again. Your kids may even be able to finish out the next few weeks at school in these clothes, or they can use them for layering later in the year when the weather is cold. Try to think out of the box when it comes to shopping for these items though, because you won’t be able to find them this cheap again until next summer is long gone.
2. Text Books
For most, college is already in full swing, which means you should be able to swipe some major deals on text books. Since the big rush is over many college bookstores are ready to unload the rest of their stock as quickly as possible. Your school’s bookstore is sure to offer some fabulous deals if you wait until the last minute, but this may take a bit of working with your professors to ensure you don’t lose grade points for your lack of supplies. Even used book stores will offer a better price on these books, which will come in handy since most offer incredibly low prices anyway. Many rental companies will also cut down on the price of your rental since you will technically be renting for a short period of time. You may need to act fast though, because some books end up disappearing rather quickly from these services.
3. Coffee
With the cold weather brings lots of people flocking to grab a warm cup of Joe to make life a whole lot better. Luckily, the month of September is one of the best times to shop around for coffee. Since flavors like pumpkin spice and gingerbread will be stocked and ready for everyone’s cravings, retailers will try to move some of the flavors that aren’t as popular during the autumn and winter months. This is a great time for you to swoop in and grab some beans or ground coffee that will satisfy your coffee urges without forcing you to head to the local cafe. Apart from awesome sales, National Coffee Day is on September 29 which brings a wide assortment of some awesome deals. You may want to do a little research for this one as you should be able to find free or heavily discounted coffee from your favorite cafes in order to celebrate the joys that are coffee. So, don’t miss out or you may find yourself feeling a little less warm when the crisp wind blows in.
4. Cars
If there’s a good time to buy a car, it is definitely during the month of September. You have two things working for you. The first thing is Labor Day sales, which offer some huge discounts on cars. Many new and used dealerships will mark down cars incredibly low during this three-day weekend sale, which will help you find the deal you deserve. Some cars can even be marked down by 19% or more, which is sure to help you meet your budget needs. If you’re lucky you may even be able to get a few freebies thrown in, so make sure to negotiate even though the prices are being discounted significantly. The second thing working for you is the fact that new car models will be rolling onto the lot in October. This means that even after the Labor Day sales are over, you will be able to find a great deal on models from this year or older. With a little shopping around, you’ll find a match for you at a price that your friends won’t be able to believe.
5. Wine
The vineyards will finish up their harvest soon, which means a lot of wineries are trying to push out some of their older stock in order to make room for the wines that have been fermenting since last year’s stock. This is great for you because it means you will be able to buy some of the older stock in bulk or individually. This is pretty much the best time for stocking up for the holidays which are right around the corner. If you go to a winery you may even be able to get a better deal out of the shopping spree as many wineries will be able to recommend certain items while offering deals on the spot.
6. Above Ground Pools
With the heat gone, all of those awesome summer toys are going to wind up on the clearance shelves too. This includes above ground pools. You can find a wide assortment, from the small kiddie pools to the large family sized pools, at an incredible discount. This will give you the perfect way to start summer out when next year comes along. Of course, you can also go ahead and set it up for the rest of this year if you tend to live in a warmer environment. This will make it easier to get your pool started up again when the weather warms up more. Apart from the pool itself, you should be able to find extra liners, chemicals and toys to go along with your new amazing purchase.
7. Patio Furniture
There’s nothing quite like sitting out on the porch or lawn with friends and family when the weather is nice. However, with unpredictable autumn rain headed our way, patio furniture is in a lot less demand. Thus, many retailers will be putting it on the clearance rack. You should be able to find some amazing styles that will suit your personality as well as your home. Most of these items are already weatherized, so you could always go ahead and set them up and enjoy them for the rest of the season. If you plan on just storing them then you will have something to look forward to when the weather warms up again. Some patio furniture actually looks like it could belong inside the home, so if you feel like thinking out of the box you could always use this for a little extra decor in an empty space. Your patio furniture may also come in handy during the holidays when you need extra places for people to sit.
8. Bushes and Plants
You might wonder how buying bushes and plants would be a great idea when the weather is about to start freezing over. The quick answer is simply because they are on sale right now because many people don’t want to plant during the later days of summer. However, there are lots of fabulous bushes and plants that can survive throughout the year. If you love evergreens, then now is the time to get them and plant. You’ll have beautiful landscaping as the weather changes, which is also pretty low maintenance. Before you go shopping for plants make sure you do a little research though, so you find the best options for your lawn and the climate you’re in. You may want to consider keeping some plants inside to liven up the decor.
9. Stoves
Your stove is about to see a whole lot of action. Form whipping up warm meals for the family on a cold day to whipping up huge feasts for the holidays. Luckily, the month of September is a great time for you to invest in a brand new stove with many models seeing discounts as high as 20-30%. Generally, this is because newer models hit the floor soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find something state of the art that is going to knock your socks off. Shopping for a stove during September can be a great way to save on some power in your home. There’s lots of great Energy Star models on the market, which are great for keeping that power bill low, so your budget doesn’t skyrocket. There’s many great models that aim to add even more protection to the home. For instance, some models don’t conduct heat when touched by a human hand. This is perfect for homes with children who are often curious about what is going on in the kitchen. There’s even some models that will help you know exactly when your food will be ready so you can plan more efficiently. Better yet, there’s stoves that will cook your meals faster, which is sure to be a help when you’re whipping up lots of dishes for the holidays.
10. Produce
With the month of September hosting both summer and autumn, you’re sure to find some amazing foods that will make your meals taste delicious. As summer ends, you’re sure to find exceptional deals on corn and other popular summer feasts, like squash. You will also see some amazing autumn produce coming in too, which is sure to drive your taste buds wild. This mixture will allow you to stock up on foods you may not be able to get at a great price for a while, so you might want to stock up and freeze or can some of the items to enjoy all year round. You may be surprised by how many items will be coming in and leaving this month, so make sure to look around at a variety of stores in order to find the greatest deals around.
September is one of the greatest months when it comes to shopping. The sales happening this month won’t just help make your household look incredible and function efficiently, but it will also allow you to save some major money. Between appliances, vehicles and food, you should be ready to take on the rest of the year and begin a new one on the best foot possible.
