Summer’s a good time to bag a bargain, if you know what to buy. We’ve got the lowdown on what goods cost less over summer.
We’re not talking bargains to pack in your holiday suitcase, but all the stuff that can actually cost less in the summer than in the winter. After all, who needs to buy a new tumble dryer when it’s hot and sunny outside?
So this is the time to bag a bargain and if you hold off buying that convertible till autumn you’ll spend less than if you splashed out at the start of the summer.
So what should you buy now?
Small electricals
Kettles, toasters and microwaves all tend to be on special offer come summer as stores are keen to entice students to buy ahead of their university term, so you’re more likely to get discounted combo deals, particularly on the budget brands.
New ranges of tumble dryers hit the stores in autumn according to consumer group Which? so summer is the time to snap up a bargain as stores discount old stock. And if the weather’s good, chances are they’ll be harder to shift so you can get an even better price.
Double glazing
Most of us don’t think about getting draughty doors and windows fixed till the cold weather kicks in. Get this sorted in summer when you can knock 20–25 per cent off the bill according to DIY experts www.home-jane.co.uk
And on a practical basis, in summer there’s less chance of wind and rain playing havoc with your installation.
Stationery
Stores stock up with stationery, printers and ink from June onwards ahead of the new school year so there’s plenty of deals and discounts as they all compete for sales.
Right now you can buy kids’ Stabilo school pens with over 60 per cent off at Staples and bulk buy replacement cartridges or refills which can be harder to find once term starts.
Bikes
New models hit the stores around September time ready for the Christmas season. Hold off buying till the end of the summer months for the best deal or, if you can, wait till the January sales as bike sales really slump post Christmas.
New sofa
Summer and winter are when the furniture stores sell off old stock with deals of around 50 per cent off right now.
For the chance of an even bigger discount, wait until the closing days or sale extension period when staff may be under pressure to meet sales targets.
Seasonal stuff
Wait till the end of July or early August for discounts on all the seasonal stuff like patio furniture, BBQs, paddling pools and summer clothing. But if the weather’s good you may need to wait longer for those sale bargains as stores will only discount them once sales start to slump
Buys to save till autumn
Spring and summer are the most popular time of year to buy convertible cars but for the best price, wait until autumn.
Buying out of season means you’ve more chance of negotiating a discount as dealers will be keen to shift them; plus you’ve a better chance of checking how waterproof that roof is.
For those of you looking to take a glamorous staycantion, postponing your beach hut purchase from summer to autumn can save money, although you may not get much use from it over the winter months.
Beach hut prices vary around the country with some topping £100,000 so if you do snap one up hang on to it as it can be a lucrative investment.
We all know that feeling when a week before payday you're already out of cash, and often it's the little things that add up and sting us. With our cost calculator tool you can get an idea of how much you might be spending on bits and bobs.
