Summer Sales - What to Expect | Family Economics

By Erin

Do you know when discount retail stores mark down their toys up to 90%? Or what nights your movie theater offers discounted tickets? What about the best time to stock up on foil, or grab an extra plant from the garden center? Here’s what you can expect to find on sale this summer:

Discount Retailers Toy Clearance

The last week of July, discount retail stores across the country will markdown most of the toys in their department up to 90% off, in attempt to clear shelf space for their Christmas toy inventory. Stock up on birthday gifts and even Christmas gifts.

Movies – Find out the discounted days, reward programs

School’s out for summer … and that means that weeknight movies are “allowed.” Here in Dayton, our local movie theater offers $5 movie nights on Tuesdays or Wednesday. When you don’t have to wake up before the crack of dawn to catch the bus, a mid-week movie makes sense to me, especially when the tickets are half off! No need to wait for summer blockbusters to come to the dollar theater!

Also, find out if you theater offers reward programs or discounts for advanced purchased tickets. Look on their website, or call to speak with the manager.

Groceries – Foil, Saran™ Wrap, Berries, Peaches, Plums, Cherries

Stock up on foil and Saran™ Wrap, those picnic essentials, during the summer months. Get the best price by combining sale prices with coupons.

With all kinds of fabulous produce in season during the summer, you can stock up on berries, peaches, plums and cherries. Eat them, freeze them, or make fruity desserts from it all! You can enjoy those fruity desserts now, or freeze for when you are desperate for a sweet summer treat in the dead of winter.

End of Summer Savings – Summer Clothes, Swimsuits, Sunscreen, Lawn care equipment

For my littler kids, I can purchase the next year’s wardrobe at the end of the season because I can better predict what sizes they will be in 9 months from then. As they get older, that gets a little trickier as their size doesn’t change as consistently as when they were babies and toddlers. But thankfully I have all boys, so if it doesn’t fit one of them one year, it’s sure to fit another one as they grow up!

Look for deep discounts on lawn care equipment and even landscaping services at the end of the summer. As the rains slow and the grass grows at a snail’s pace, landscaping and lawn care companies are looking to fill some of their regular income and are more likely to offer discounts in August, September and October.

Also, don’t forget about flowers in the later summer months. They are often deeply discounted so the garden center can move the inventory. Look for healthy plants and take great care of them and they’ll brighten your patio or front porch until the first frost in the late fall.

When Are the Best Times to Buy?

If you’re curious when the best time to buy other products and goods is, check out this very thorough “When Are The Best Times to Buy?” Infographic from Savings.com. It’s making its way around Pinterest, for good reason. It’s chock-full of great information on the best times to get this, that, or those.

What deals and steals do you find during the summer months in your town?