Q: Do you have tips on the best months of the year to get the best buys? -- Darlene Dealmaker
A: Dear Ms. Dealmaker: With June 21 the official start of summer, let me offer the season's best buys, compliments of Kiplinger, one of the best personal finance resources around. Keep this list handy to shop for items at their lowest prices all year:
June
* Gym memberships cost much less during this season because fitness junkies head outside. Some gyms offer free membership while others reduce monthly fees.
* Lingerie can be a much less expensive purchase, particularly for high-end indulgences. Victoria's Secret, for example, puts in its big semiannual sale this month, and other lingerie retailers follow suit. Most undergarments are deeply discounted.
* Caribbean vacation deals are normally much cheaper this month because of the threat of bad weather. To help make your decision, remember that June is the beginning of the hurricane season and far less likely to have severe tropical storms that could plague the area later on.
* Father's Day promotions in the restaurant industry can be a find. Whether it's a free entree or a dessert, check around with your favorite spots to ascertain which is honoring dear ole' dad.
July
* Furniture stores provide clearance sales in both January and July to clear out inventory before new arrivals hit the sales floors. A lot of these stores offer zero percent financing and up to 60 percent discounts. And why not try consignment stores or thrift shops? Most folks who spring clean or renovate have placed their older furniture on the market, making way for some potential great deal grabbers.
2. Tools, while sales start before Father's Day, become even more discounted. Anxious retailers want to rid themselves of the tools that didn't sell the previous month. Kiplinger advises a gift card to a favorite tool-seller for Father's Day, but tell Pop to wait until July to make his purchase.
3. Bottled water goes outside so much more in the summer and it also goes on sale throughout July to lure us into stores. If readers drink bottled water year-round, then stock up this month to save time and money.
4. Grills are a super buy after July 4th (normally as much as 50 percent markdowns), as are grill accessories.
August
1. Jeans are a staple of many wardrobes; because yearlong demand remains high, popular brands aren't often deeply discounted. However, during back-to-school sales that begin in late-July to early-August, jeans do tend to get marked down and, sometimes, pretty substantially.
2. Laptops (again for those back-to-school sales if you don't want to wait until Black Friday to buy) often come with markdowns and even piggyback treasures, such as a gift card, printer, gaming console, etc. at a price not much higher than what we'd pay for a laptop alone.
3. Those ubiquitous school supplies are found at huge savings this month; in fact, if you live in one of the 16 states that offer tax-free holidays, those savings mount up even faster and in larger amounts.
4. Swimsuits that discount for 60 percent or more are available now. While we might not get too much use from them this season, next summer will surely arrive in the blink of an eye.
5. Patio furniture, particularly at companies like Home Depot, Sears, Target, and Walmart, can be discounted in August for up to 75 percent off.
6. Purchase linens for weddings, the college-bound, or simply to refurbish your own home; from sheets to duvets and towels to pillows - all are a hot buy this month.
7. Wineries all over the world put the preceding year's bottles on sale in August to make room for the new, as wine grapes are typically harvested in early through late fall. Stock up for gifts or for your own wine rack and stay apprised of special deals through subscription to local wineries' newsletters and Facebook pages.
Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. You may contact her at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com