Part of being a smart shopper is knowing what time of year you can get the best bargains. The summer months of June, July and August bring with them plenty of great deals if you know where to look. Remember however, that unless you actually need something, you’re not really saving money if you buy it on sale, no matter how steep the discount. With that in mind, let’s take a look at these summer best buys: 
Outdoor Gear
Sporting goods stores and traditional outdoor retailers like L.L. Bean offer good discounts this time of year on everything you need to enjoy the outdoors over the coming months.
Lingerie
The last half of June and first part of July are when you’ll see retailers like Victoria’s Secret holding semi-annual sales that often include deep discounts on discontinued styles, as well as BOGO offers that can help you stock up for the rest of the year. Shop online and look for coupon codes to save even more.
Furniture
If you’ve been wanting to replace a worn-out couch or add a new piece of furniture to your home, now is a good time to shop. Furniture stores hold clearance sales in June and July to clear the showroom for upcoming fall arrivals.
Tools
If stores didn’t sell through their extra inventory of tools for Father’s Day, they’re going to be on sale for the next few weeks.
School Supplies
It might seem like summer just started, but in some parts of the country, back-to-school can happen as early as the second week in August, which means shopping for it starts in July. You’ll start seeing back-to-school sales soon, but the longer you wait, the better the deals will be. If you’re lucky enough to live in a state that offers a sales tax holiday, you’ll save even more if you shop on those days.
Laptop Computers
Staying on the back-to-school track, it’s also the right time of year to invest in a new laptop. In addition to discounted pricing, many retailers offer add-on freebies such as high-quality headphones, gaming systems or high-value gift cards.
Summer Clothing
Start looking for discounts of about 40% in July and watch for them to steadily increase from there. If you live in a hot climate, you’ll be wearing summer clothing well into the fall, so it doesn’t hurt to stock up on everyday basics like tank tops and t-shirts.
Swimwear
Don’t pay full price for something you wear just a few months a year. If you wait to buy in August, swimsuits are typically marked down 60% or more. Even if you don’t get much wear out of it this year, it will be ready and waiting for next summer.
In addition to shopping these specific categories, you’ll also want to be on the lookout for Christmas in July sales that, in some cases, offer better-than-Black Friday savings on in-demand items. Be sure to do some research and comparison-shop before making a big purchase, though, as some stores inflate their pre-sale prices as a way to justify offering big discounts.
