HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GREAT
BUYS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY

MAY IS FILLED WITH SALES EVENTS:

Mother’s day sales start early in May and much of the rest of this month is filled with graduation and Memorial Day sales, highlighting the traditional start to Summer, which often produces the best sales of the year. A few items that often are great deals will be overpriced this month, so read carefully because this list not only gives some big bargains, it also has a few mentions of items that, though usually well priced, are not bargains this year.

MOTHER’S DAY AND GRADUATIONS: 

Want to have flowers sent to Mom for Mother’s day?  Get your orders in early in May for some great offers from online sources. The online sales go right up through Mother’s day. Are you a talk radio listener? From ESPN to Rush Limbaugh you’ll find advertisements for flowers, teddy bears, pajamas and edible arrangements. These advertisements often offer special radio listener codes which give a discount or special online price. Keep an eye out for excessive shipping charges. Sadly, some Jewelry retailers actually raise prices on jewelry right before Mother’s day, so purchase carefully.

With both Mother’s day and graduations on the horizon, you’ll find good deals on cookware, small household appliances, bedding and small electronics. Some stores with loyalty programs offer incentives for purchasing gift cards. If you need Mother’s day or graduation cards, your best buys will be found at the dollar store, and it’s a great time to stock up on PARTY SUPPLIES!

MEMORIAL DAY SALES:

Even though they traditionally have little to do with the start of the summer, Memorial day sales for mattresses and vacuum cleaners offer some of the very best prices of the year.  Not surprisingly, you can pick up great deals on picnic items, charcoal, soft drinks and grill supplies.  Camping equipment, pools, grills and patio furniture will have sales, but the very best prices will be available during July and August clearance time.

SPRING CLOTHING CLEARANCE:

GOOD NEWS! Major retailers are offering great markdowns on Spring clothing – at just about the time it is finally warm enough to wear them! Store ads often feature additional percent off coupons and other online coupons are available, so you may find some great  coupon stacking  deals at both clothing retailers and others.

TRAVEL BARGAINS:

If you haven’t already booked your vacation travels, there are still some good airline prices. Try to book about six weeks ahead for the best deals. To get the very best prices, a more recent study shows that Thursday, rather than Tuesday is the best day to book airline travel.  Avoid the weekend if at all possible.  Keep a watchful eye, as the price of gasoline remains lower than it has been for the last five years, possibly making road trips a bargain.  Amtrack still has some great travel deals.  You can save 25% on different routes each week by booking a week ahead. Children travel for half fare with a paying adult.

SEASONAL PRODUCE:

Fresh asparagus, radishes, rhubarb and spinach are readily available in most states.  It is mango and pineapple season, so this is one of the best times of the year to buy them. Strawberries are a good buy in the late spring. Be sure and check this handy peak season map for produce readily available in your area of the country.

MEAT PRICES:

Sadly, the price of beef is going to continue to rise due to severe droughts in the central part of the country, which deeply cut cattle production and will have a lasting effect for several years even though there may have been some recent drought relief.  With many choosing to replace beef with chicken, the price of chicken is likely to rise as well.  GOOD NEWS: Pork production is currently high, so the price of pork should be good in the month of May, 😀 which will make for some mighty fine ribs this summer on the barbecue!

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