Kip Tips
Best and Worst Buys of July
Now is the time to pounce on some items, but other deals aren't as good as they're made out to be.
By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com
July 5, 2011
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Summer is here and the deals are as hot as it is outside right now -- or are they? Retailers often tout Christmas in July sales, but the discounts aren't always that deep.
Here's what you need to know about where you'll find bargains this month, and where you won't, according to dealnews, one of our 15 favorite sites for finding deals online.
Best buys
Airfare. Several airlines, including Southwest, JetBlue, United Airlines, Virgin America and Air France, offered deals last July. With gas prices dropping, dealnews expects to see some ticket price cuts again this July. Check Airfarewatchdog.com for flight deals from your city.
Sports gear. Baseball fans should be able to find good deals on caps (last year Kohl's and Lids.com had major sales). And golfers can find sales on golf clubs at Amazon.com, which has cut prices on sets by up to 60%.
Clearance sales. A variety of items, including swimwear and summer clothing, are put on the clearance rack in July. Some of the best clearance sales last year were at Abercrombie & Fitch, GraveyardMall.com and Finish Line, according to dealnews, so watch for good markdowns from these retailers again this year.
For more items that get marked down in July, see The Best Buys of Summer.
Purchases to avoid
Back-to-school supplies. Don't be tempted to start stocking up on notebooks, markers or other school gear. You'll find deep discounts from major retailers in August.
Laptop computers. You may see deals on laptops advertised this month. But hold out until August (or the fall), when retailers mark down prices even more.
HDTVs. You'll find solid deals on HDTVs during the summer, according to dealnews, but the best bargains appear in November in time for Black Friday.
Black Friday and Christmas in July sales. Target and Toys "R" Us were among the retailers that had these sales last year, but they didn't offer the same rock-bottom prices that consumers see on the real Black Friday in November.
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