by Leah Ingram
Now the kids are back in school, you would think that the shopping deals would be over.
You would be wrong.
There are five areas where you can find great deals and savings in September. What’s more, if you want to get a jump start on your holiday shopping, read on.
- Save a bundle on travel.If your kids aren’t going to school full-time yet, now is an excellent time to take a family vacation. Theme parks have emptied out, and hotels, vacation rentals and airlines are looking to fill empty slots that families with students aren’t filling now that summer is over. If you like to shop via Priceline (my favorite way to book hotels), don’t forget to check out the new Priceline freebies offers.
- Stock up now for Summer 2011. Nearly every store I walk into these days has slashed prices on summer goods. Of course they have–they have to clear out space for Halloween and, soon enough — gasp! — holiday decorations. Last week, my local CVS had a sign at the front of the store advertising 50% of summer merchandise. Over the weekend, they upped the ante to 75% off.
- Pad your school supply closet. I’ve said time and time again how stocking up on school supplies when they cost barely anything is the way to save money when your kids actually need new supplies. Just like the penny deals over the summer, September is a great time to see how much stores, such as Staples, have slashed prices on school supplies. Our supply closet is running a little low on spiral notebooks and lined notebook paper, so now would be the right time to buy, if the prices are right–and low enough.
- Get your gardening gear on the cheap. Though the smell of freshly stocked Halloween candy tempted this Weight Watcher at Target this weekend, what really caught my attention were the amazing prices on gardening and lawn supplies. I could have had all the rakes and shovels I wanted for dirt cheap. Are your gardening and lawn care supplies looking a little worse for the wear? Now would be a good time to go out with the old and get yourself some new without spending a lot.
- Buy the back-to-school clothing you’d put off purchasing. If you waited until prices came down on those must-have items for back-to-school, your wait was well worth it. Stop in any clothing retailer this month, and you’re sure to find markdowns on many of the clothes your kids wanted for back-to-school which were full-price last month. I might buy a few items and stash them away for Christmas gifts. Hey, it never hurts to start your holiday shopping early, right?
Share, Share: What kind of bargain shopping or stocking up do you do in September?
Most mothers teach their kids to cook and clean. Leah Ingram’s mother taught her to compost. These days she’s passing along this green message to her own daughters as they all try to live a green and frugal lifestyle as The Lean Green Family. She’s the author of Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less“Suddenly Frugal:How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less.” Visit her blog, Suddenly Frugal.
Great ideas, Leah. My only caution would be that sunscreen, though deeply discounted now, may be out of code by next summer. I understand that sunscreen loses its effectiveness when it’s old.