What to buy (and skip) in July
July is nearly here, and as temperatures rise, you聽can expect prices to drop on popular products.
Make the most of mid-summer sales with our guide to what you should buy (and skip) during the month of July.
Buy: Patriotic items
Each year around July 4, stores pledge allegiance to the red, white and blue with sales on just about everything that has stars and stripes on it.聽Expect clothing discounts at department stores聽and decoration discounts at party supply stores. Wait until closer to the holiday to buy your items at the best possible price.
Some stores extend their sales to other聽products. Last year, we located Fourth of July deals on food, appliances and more 鈥� and a few retailers have gotten a head start on the celebration. At聽, some Sealy Posturepedic and Beautyrest mattresses are already up to $300 off in honor of the holiday.
Skip: Back-to-school supplies
We know: While you鈥檙e working on your tan, school is the last thing you want to think about. And you don鈥檛 have to. Retailers begin their back-to-school sales as early as July, but you鈥檒l save more if you don鈥檛聽buy your backpack or laptop just yet.聽School-oriented deals historically reach their peak in late August and early September, when stores are more motivated to clear shelves.
Buy: Summer apparel
By July, tank tops, shorts and flip flops have been on display for several weeks 鈥� and in some cases, several months 鈥� so it鈥檚 finally time to stock up.
By this point聽of the season, don鈥檛 settle for anything less than a sale price on summer apparel. Look for storewide discount events and聽coupons specifically for聽clothing departments. Designer brand聽, for instance, has already launched its Summer Sale, as have apparel and accessory shops聽听补苍诲听. And聽July 22 marks the beginning of聽.
Skip: Lawn mowers
July isn鈥檛 an ideal time to purchase large, outdoor items,聽such as lawn mowers. After all, you aren鈥檛聽the only one thinking about tending your yard, and higher demand traditionally means higher prices.
By the time August and September roll around, outdoor items will see steeper discounts, so hold off for another month or two.
Buy: Travel
July鈥檚 a great time to book your travel 鈥� as long as you鈥檙e planning a聽trip for later in the summer. In general, airfares get cheaper as the season winds down. The best deals apply to travel聽in August and September, according to a 2016 report of expected daily flight rates by聽, an online travel agency.
If you absolutely have to fly this month, CheapAir聽recommends traveling on Tuesdays instead of Sundays.聽And July 4聽flights are expected聽to be more affordable than flights on the days before and after.
Bonus: Black Friday in July
If last year is any indication, expect聽Black Friday-esque deals this month in an assortment of categories, such as聽apparel and electronics. Retailers offer these discounts聽in an attempt聽to boost their sluggish summer sales聽鈥� but they聽can also spell real savings for consumers.
Last year, Amazon hosted its first annual Prime Day on July 15, with limited time deals on products across the site. Wal-Mart held a similar blowout on the same day.
Target, too, had a summer installment of Black Friday with buy-one, get-one-50%-off discounts on select clothing, shoes and fragrances. And Forever 21 took up to 70% off select styles midway through July last year.
And 鈥� ice cream
July 17 is National Ice Cream Day. Use it聽as an excuse to indulge in your favorite sweet dessert. And if you work it right, you can get your cone on the house.
Last year, some聽ice cream shops offered free or discounted treats. PetSmart PetsHotel locations even gave dog-friendly ice cream to four-legged friends.
Courtney Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email:courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter:聽.
This article first appeared at .
