Today Show: Best Things to Buy Now
With Labor Day around the corner shoppers can expect deeply discounted prices on many goods from cars to plane tickets, and in many cases the sales will continue the entire month. Today I stopped by the TODAY Show to share the best things to buy in September.
What’s On Sale: An iPhone 6
A new model is arriving. On September 8th Apple will be announcing the latest iteration of the iPhone, the 6s. Price cuts are expected to happen on the iPhone 6/6 Plus models (with a 2 year contract) in order to make room for the latest inventory.
Where’s The Deal: You may see deals from your phone carrier and major retailers like Best Buy, Target, etc. (with a 2-year plan)
How Much Will I Save: According to researchers at DealNews, they expect Apple to take 50% off the contracted price of an iPhone 6 once the new version is revealed. According to DealNews: On the day of the keynote, Apple will shave $100 off the subsidized cost of an iPhone 6. In the weeks that follow, you can expect retailers to offer iPhone 6 Deals with prices cut ever further…by another $50 (with a 2-year contract).
What’s On Sale: Summer Clothes
Stores are making room for fall inventory and cleaning out summer stock with major clearance sales. Take this as an opportunity to save big on swimsuits, shorts and other warm weather clothes for next season.
According data from fashion deals website ShopItToMe:
• For her: Average discounts in September are 48%
• For him: Average discounts in September are 45%
Where’s The Deal:
• Athleta – Up to 50% Off Swimwear – Ongoing
• Roxy – Up to 50% Off Swimsuits and Cover Ups
• BCBG – Save 50% Off Select Sportswear Styles
And if the deals this year are anything like 2014, the savings could be significant. My team at Nerdwallet found markdowns at stores like Aeropostale and Old Navy boasted savings of 50% or more during this month last year.
Additionally, you can try a new app while you shop called Raise to save a little more. This free mobile app lets you buy and redeem discounted gift cards while shopping to save an average 16% from major stores and retailers.
And if you shop online, a new website called Paribus.co gets you an automatic refund if items bought online go on sale later. How it works: You shop at your favorite stores via Paribus’ website and if anything you buy goes on sale shortly after, Paribus looks into it and If the price drop happens within the store’s price adjustment window (usually 7 to 14 days), Paribus puts the savings on your credit card.
According to Paribus co-founder and CEO Eric Glyman, members have saved $100 in the past couple of months and some families have pocketed over $500.
What’s On Sale: A New Mattress
September is generally a popular time for people to move or get married, a relevant time to shop for a new mattress. Historically, Labor Day has been a popular day for consumers to shop, so many retailers offer sales and discounts to further entice shoppers. It’s a wise time to during the holiday since you can make the time commitment to search and test mattresses.
Where’s The Deal: At Serta.com, buy any Serta iComfort or iSeries mattress through September 14th and you receive either a free standard box spring or up to $1,000 off a qualified Serta adjustable foundation.
Sears will also have sales starting September 3rd throughout September 12th. With the purchase of certain mattress sets, customers will receive free gifts on the same day such as a $300 Sears award card, specialty pillows, a 32” LED HDTV, compact fridge, etc.
Sears is also advertising up to 60% off Serta Coralee Queen Mattresses (sale price $178, regularly priced at $449.99) and up to 60% off Sealy Talworth Queen Set Mattresses (sale price $387, regularly priced at $999.99).
What’s On Sale: Plane Tickets for Holiday Travel
September is wise time to book holiday flights – especially for Thanksgiving. Travelocity data shows that the best prices for air tickets are about 60 days out from the date of travel – so booking in mid to late September for the Thanksgiving holiday would be the ‘optimal’ window, the company says. That said, Thanksgiving (and the entire holiday season) is a busy travel time, so best to begin booking travel for popular destinations (and destinations with limited flight options) sooner rather than later.
Where’s The Deal: Check travel sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Kayak etc. to find the best deals. According to ARC data from Travelocity, the price of a ticket sold 50-100 days before the departure date saw an average savings of $85 off the overall ticket price.
What’s On Sale: A 2015 Car
August and September are the hottest months to buy a current model year car, according to researchers at Edmunds.com. This is because dealerships want to make way for the upcoming model year. The average discount in September (based on last year’s levels) is 9%. It’s slightly better in December at 10%, but by then you may be left with slim pickings.
“What makes August and September such a ripe opportunity for shoppers is that it combines strong incentives with availability of vehicles. While it may be possible to find great deals at the end of the year, the types of deals (especially leases) and the variety of models will have diminished dramatically,” says Jeannine Fallon of Edmunds.com.
Where’s The Deal: You can find a number of sales events including:
• The VW Model Year End Sales Event. This offers a variety of lease deals and 0% APR deals that also include cash back in the form of a reward card.
• Ford’s Free Ride Sales event that has 0% financing for 72 months (longer than Edmunds usually sees) and $1000 cash back.
Average savings is 9% but remember you should always look to negotiate the price. A great time to mention other offers you’re seeing elsewhere as you negotiate prices with various dealers.
“There are so many deals out there on such a wide variety of models that as long as the shopper is interested in outgoing model year vehicles, there should be attractive lease, finance, and cash offers,” says Fallon. You can find a list of current auto incentives and rebates at Edmunds.com/car-incentives.