Staying Fit
Getty Images
June marks the official start of the summer season, but retailers are hoping that consumers will cool off with some shopping between their barbecues and beach visits this month. To get their attention, stores mark down prices on a wide variety of items, with many department and chain stores hosting “semiannual sales” this month.
“Lots of retailers focus on June for their semiannual sales because in-store traffic can be spotty during that month,” says Brad Godwin, head of retail partnership at Shopkick. “Retailers do a lot of marketing during the month to try to increase traffic during that time.”
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
June also sometimes benefits from spillover deals from the Memorial Day and July Fourth, the big shopping holidays that bookend the month. Toward the end of the month, you might see summer-themed items with additional price drops as retailers start thinking about how to move inventory before back-to-school shopping season.
That means you may find deals on smaller summer supplies like sunblock or beach toys ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, says Lisa Thompson, with the savings app Shopmium. But Thompson says to hold off until the end of next month for larger discounts on bigger summer goods like barbecues and patio furniture.
One extra date to keep in mind: June 2 is National Donut Day. Dunkin’, Duck Donuts and Krispy Kreme have historically distributed free treats in celebration of the day. Here’s a look at five additional categories where you shoppers might find better-than-usual pricing this month:
Lingerie
Category leader Victoria’s Secret hosts its semiannual sale this month, marking down items for much of the month. To capitalize on increased interest this month, other retailers often also discount undergarments, sleepwear and bathing suits.
Where to find deals: Victoria’s Secret, Frederick’s of Hollywood, Soma
Potential savings: Up to 60 percent off
Workout clothing and gear
It’s been six months since many consumers made their New Year’s resolutions to get back in shape, but as bathing suit season arrives, that resolve often resurges. Retailers are happy to help, offering discounts on outdoor-focused workout clothes like running or biking attire as well as smaller-ticket gear such as hand weights, resistance bands, and yoga mats. You typically won’t, however, see sales on big-ticket workout equipment like stationary bikes or treadmills.
There are semiannual sales in this category in June as well, with retailers like Athleta and Under Armour hosting such promotions in the past.
Where to find deals: Nike, Reebok, Target
Potential savings: 20 percent to 30 percent off
PC Games
The biggest discounts on computer games will be on titles that have been out for a while, but newer games see smaller price cuts, says Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with DealNews, a comparison-shopping website.
“The summer sales tend to yield historically low prices on a variety of PC game titles,” Ramhold says. “If you’re shopping for games for your computer, June is definitely a good time to do it.”
Where to find deals: Steam, Gog.com, Epic Games
Potential savings: Up to 80 percent off
More From AARP
Some Home Buyers Are Losing Everything to Wire Fraud
Learn how to protect your money from cybercriminalsIs My Money Safe?
Insurance protects many investments, but not all
10 Ways to Cut Your Budget by $100 a Month
Little spending changes can make a big difference in your bottom line