It is one of the hottest months of the year, but July is only lukewarm when it comes to great shopping deals. So says Mark Di Vincenzo, author of New York Times bestseller “Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon.”
A former journalist known for his aggressive reporting and his ability to simplify complex issues, Di Vincenzo says a smart shopper armed with the right tips can make the most out of what is typically a slow shopping month.
“There are terrific deals to be had in July. You just have to know where to look,” Di Vincenzo say
1. Swimsuits and summer fashions
Chances are most people have already bought their swimsuits by now. New inventory starts arriving in January, so department stores start marking down their inventory in July. The same goes for summer apparel.
Stores are looking ahead to the fall, so they’re making deep cuts on clothing that you can wear right now while it’s still hot outside and the fashions are still hot as well. Try the major chains – Target, JC Penney – or look around at sites such as Soma, which is boasting select swimwear for up to 30 percent off.
2. Furniture
“July is one of two great months to buy furniture,” Di Vincenzo says.
“Furniture stores lower prices in July to make room for new models, which typically arrive in stores in August. The newer models often have the same frames as the older ones, just with different upholstery and different colors.” (January is the other best month because new furniture arrives in stores in February.)
Di Vincenzo offers a bonus tip here: “Saturday is the busiest day in a furniture store. With all those potential buyers in the stores, many managers will offer better deals (if pushed) than they will on other days of the week. They desperately want those potential buyers to leave with furniture.”
July is one of the six “non-gift-giving months.” The gift-giving months are February, May, June, October, November and December, when prices go up in advance of Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas and weddings.
“These months are when jewelers tend to make the vast majority of their profits. The other months– the non-gift-giving months — are when you’re more likely to see real sales, as opposed to the jewelry that gets marked up and then put on sale. During the non-gift-giving months, you’ll be in a better position to negotiate with jewelers, who are more eager to make sales,” Di Vincenzo says.
According to shopittome.com, online retailers drop their prices up to 48 percent in July. Check out jtv.com for some truly amazing deals this month.
Di Vincenzo says hotels that typically cater to business clients slash their prices in July, when corporate demand is low. The hotels know they need to lower their prices to fill their rooms. And there are plenty of reasons for you to take advantage of this because July is also one of the cheapest months to travel to certain destinations.
“July is one of the cheapest months to go to Vegas, where it is blistering hot. Vegas often lure tourists with low airfares and inexpensive hotel rooms. The Florida Keys is a place where people want to escape to in the winter for mild weather, and that’s when it’s most expensive to go. You can find a place to rent for $750 a week in the summer, compared with $1,500 and up during the winter. And the locals say summer is the best time of the year to go boating and snorkeling there.”
5. Computers
If you’re in the market for a computer, it’s best to buy now before the deals dry up in August. The middle of the summer is typically a slow time for computer sales, but things heat up in August when the school year looms and students are looking for new computers. This is an especially good time to buy older models, as new models are usually released in the fall.
