8 Ways to Snag a Summer Bargain
When the temperature rises, some prices fall
June/July 2013
-
Andrew DeCrocker/Istockphoto
1. Visit a National Park
On National Park Service Birthday, Aug. 25, there's no entry fee at the U.S. national parks that usually charge one.
1 of 10 -
Irina Pusepp/Alamy
2. Save on Home Goods
Household decor and dishware frequently go on sale in June (aka wedding season). Find deals on furniture in July. August brings back-to-school discounts on home storage bins and office supplies.
2 of 10 -
Juice Images/Alamy
3. Scrimp on Gym Fees
Health clubs often lower their rates in warm-weather months. When the heat index makes it unhealthy to exercise outside, you can hit the cool (and blissfully uncrowded) gym.
3 of 10 -
Getty Images
AARP Offer: Protect your money, grow your nest egg
Take advantage of great information and tools to help build your future and prevent your money from going down the drain. Join AARP and start saving for your dreams today.
4 of 10 -
Pgiam/Getty Images
4. Skip the Sales Tax
Many states have special shopping days in late summer when you can buy clothing and shoes tax-free. To check whether your state participates, visit the Federation of Tax Administrators website and search for "sales tax holidays."
5 of 10 -
Nick White/Corbis
5. Take a Cut-rate Class
Many colleges offer lower tuition for summer courses. Study up on anything from microeconomics to medieval literature.
6 of 10 -
Sean Justice/Corbis
6. Shrink Your AC Bill
Contact your electric company about its power-cycling program. In exchange for tolerating brief outages during peak usage hours, you'll get a credit on your monthly bill.
7 of 10 -
Mediacolor/Alamy
7. Catch a Train
Amtrak's latest deals include a buy-one, get-one-free offer on tickets to Ticonderoga, N.Y., and $150 off per couple on trips from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon.
8 of 10 -
Adrian Assalve/Istockphoto
8. Build a Log Pile
The weather may be hot now, but winter is coming, so stock up on firewood while it's cheap. Better yet, if you have fallen trees in your yard, saw them into logs or hire someone to do it for you.
9 of 10 -
Getty Images/Corbis10 of 10
You May Also Like
- Beware of con artists impersonating police
- Things you should never do again after 50
- Shopping for health insurance? The health insurance marketplace is now open
Join AARP Today — Receive access to exclusive information, benefits and discounts
Visit the AARP home page every day for great deals and for tips on keeping healthy and sharp