Shopping Savings: 4th of July

dealnews recently published two articles aimed to help shoppers save money for Independence Day and back-to-school. I thought you may find these articles interesting and relevant for your readers.

1. Independence Day Sales: A Good Time to Buy Discounted Summer Items

The Fourth of July is a time to bust out the fireworks, grill up some hot dogs, and celebrate our nation's birth — and, if you find the time, to do some shopping. In fact, Independence Day sales offer a rare opportunity to get discounts on items while they're still in-season.

2. How to Score the Best Student Discounts

While many adults say that their 20-something years were some of the best in their lives, being a student is rarely the best time in someone's financial life. Between tuition costs and living expenses, there are plenty of students who are surviving on Ramen noodles while they try to pinch pennies. Fortunately, there are numerous student discount programs from top retailers, so students can get amazing savings on groceries, travel, and computers.

I was able to interview Mark LoCastro, public relations manager at dealnews.com to get more information:

1) What are some of the best deals around the 4th of July?

The Fourth of July this year lands on a Thursday, which means that Independence Day sales will start early in the week and extend throughout the weekend. For those not at the pool, beach, or at a BBQ, that means more time to shop and more chances to save money. July is a great time to shop for in-season items like grills and summer apparel, but also there are deals to be had for tech items like laptops and TVs.

GRILLS

With summer officially started, so does the start of the BBQ season. If you've been waiting to buy a new grill, Independence Day may be the time to get a deal. Last year around the Fourth, we [dealnews] saw an average savings of $75 on grills, with the biggest savings appearing on on gas grills. You'll see the best discounts on grills at stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, Sears, and Walmart. 

SUMMER APPAREL

The Fourth of July is one of the savvy fashionista's favorite holidays because for many retailers, this holiday marks the official start of the summer apparel clearance season. This means shoppers can grab the best summer garb while it's still in-season. During last year's Independence Day sales, merchants like Express, Nordstrom, 6pm, and Gap took up to 62% off (on average). Plus shoppers should be on the lookout for stacking coupons, where you can get an extra 30-50% already marked down items.

LAPTOPS

Although July typically conjures up images of BBQs and picnics, this month expect to be bombarded with laptop deals. Last month Intel introduced its newest processor, Haswell, and as a result, July will see a flood of deals on "older" Ivy Bridge-based laptops, many of which are very capable machines. Combined with back-to-school sales, consumers can expect to see great laptop deals this month. Expect prices at or below $299.

HDTVs

The holidays are traditionally the best time of year to score deals on HDTVs, but this year we've noticed aggressive deals on many of 2013's latest sets. In fact, diligent bargain hunters can save up to 40% off a new 2013 TV. This includes models from name-brand companies like LG, Samsung, and Panasonic. Although prices vary by size and manufacturer.

2) Back-to-school seems early, but why is it a good idea to start thinking now?

The general rule of thumb when looking to save money on seasonal merchandise, is to shop when the demand is low…which for back-to-school means now. Despite the fact that students just graduated from school, there are back-to-school deals to be had. Students and parents should take advantage of Independence Day sales for BTS items, because the next shopping holiday isn't until September (Labor Day), which is already too late. 

3) Most people think of supplies for Pre-K-12 with back-to-school - are their deals for higher education?

Besides grills and summer clothing, college and post-college students should take advantage of the amazing tech deals that have been featured on dealnews.com. Students can get the following deals that are featured on dealnews.com:

** Ivy Bridge-equipped laptops at or below $300.

** Name-brand 55" 3D LCD TVs for under $800.

** Name-brand 46"- 47" LCDs are currently tied with our Black Friday mention at around $400. 

** Off-brand 46"- 47" TVs have also plummeted to a new low of $311. 

** Android tablets and refurbished iPads.

 

About dealnews

dealnews.com is the premier resource for the best online deals on consumer electronics, gadgets, computers, apparel, and more. Named one of the best services by PC World and best shopping site by MSN Money, dealnews’ mission is to inform consumers of the best online bargains offered by trustworthy stores. dealnews relies on a team of expert editors and proprietary research tools to uncover more than 200 of the web’s hottest deals every day. Founded in 1997, dealnews is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with offices in New York City and Dublin, Ireland.