Consumers go out in full force every summer. Barbecues, vacations, beach trips – you name it. After all, the season of summer is an exciting time reconnecting with family, getting outside, and creating memories.
Many people end up busting the budget during these few months, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are five items to avoid splurging on this summer season:
1. Airline Tickets
Historically, the best time to purchase airfare is during the off-season (October thru April). Unfortunately, airline companies know the demand is high during the summer season and they jack up the price accordingly. It’s like the airlines are trying to make back all the money they’ve missed out on during the pandemic all at once.
But what can you do? Family is family. That reunion has to happen at some point, so sometimes it’s impossible to avoid the spending. If you’re only a 6-8 hour drive away though, it’s worth the time to consider making a fun road trip out of it instead.
2. New Cars
Car prices moderated quite a bit. You no longer see crazy asking prices over MSRP anymore. While we are far from going back to negotiating prices around invoice and still stuck with prices around MSRP, we are also not forced to pay a crazy amount over MSRP. A year ago, dealerships around my side of town were asking as much as $20,000 over MSRP for cars. At least we are coming back to our senses these days. Still, car dealerships know that summer means splurging a little bit. Maybe it’s the extra sun, or the extra margarita, but splurging over the summer seems to be a trend.
Avoid the temptation on a new car during the summer because that’s when the new vehicles are coming out soon and rarely does the “I gotta have it” pay off for you in the long run.
3. Outdoor Equipment
If you enjoy a great steak or just loving a good ol’ fashioned cook out with friends, consider planning ahead to make sure you have everything ready for the summer. Stocking up on coals, lighter fluid, playground equipment and that grill you’ve been eyeing will save you in the long run.
The best time to backyard goods are usually when the Labor Day sales hit. Remember that when the time comes.
4. Smartphones
If you’re an Apple fan, you hopefully know by now that roughly each September the new and improved model drops for consumers to grab. If you’d like to try to get an iPhone at its cheapest, consider holding off in the summer and grab the second newest model when it drops $100 like it does every September.
This has been the pattern of Apple for years, so it’s safe to bet that holding on to that old phone for a few more months could save you nicely in the long run.
5. Televisions
Upgrading your TV is something you can totally time to save you the most money. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are the way to go if it’s time to upgrade your set.
Interestingly enough, the summer is a great time to get a new laptop if you need one because companies are fighting for consumers to purchase them for the new school year.
As you approach your summer, consider ways you can save. Summer this year doesn’t have to be spelled splurge. Cheers in advance to a fun summer!
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{ read the comments below or add one }
A 6 to 8 hour drive makes so much more sense than flying. It won’t take you any longer after factoring in security lines and getting to and from the airport. Plus you have more flexibility and can bring whatever you want.
A road trip is so much easier than flying, especially when you have kids like us. Like you said, there’s no lines and packing is so much more convenient.
And plus, we can stop whenever we want when we drive. Try that when you are 10,000 feet in the air 🙂
Wow, this is super interesting. A lot of people don’t realize that the time in which you purchase something actually matters in terms of price! We agree with the airline ticket purchase point. When you buy airline tickets can change the price a lot! Thanks for sharing!
Airline tickets sure fluctuate quite a bit. If you can avoid the high season, then you could be saving as much as 50% on the same routes.