This past winter seemed to last forever, which theoretically should have given us plenty of time to prepare for spring, and yet, now that the warmer weather has officially arrived, it somehow all feels so sudden. (Why does that happen every year?) Anyway, there’s more great news besides the season change: As the earth thaws, so do prices on many fun seasonal items. Stocking up on them may be just the thing to make the sunny days ahead even brighter.
Hit the road:
Nothing feels quite so good as a hefty dose of fresh air, and now that the days are longer, you’ll have even more time to enjoy the great outdoors. It turns out there’s one thing you want to do almost more than anything, and that’s biking. After swimming, it’s the number one-ranked fitness activity that kids (ages 6 to 12), young adults (ages 18 to 24) and older adults (ages 55 to 64) say they’d like to try, according to the Physical Activity Council, a trade association group. Luckily, there may be no better time to get equipped than right now.
Bike shops are making room for newer models, which means you can find some pretty good deals on last year’s wheels. If you need help with sizing, of course, try your local bike shop, which can fit you perfectly. (Many also offer free annual tune-ups, when you buy from their store.) If you don’t need a fitting, the REI Outlet (Rei.com/outlet) is offering members (there’s a $20 membership fee) 20 percent off one item (coupon code: 20REWARDS) until April 13.
Sports Authority has wheels on sale too, including kids balance bikes (no-pedal models, perfect for 3- and 4-year-olds). And for the absolute best bargains, especially on kids’ bikes, check if your town (or local sporting goods store) holds a spring bike swap, where you can trade in your old wheels and other things. And, remember, safety first! For helmets up to 60 percent off, try SierraTradingPost.com.
Get in the swing:
As pro shops prepare for the influx of summer golfers, they’re making room for the latest drivers, which means you can likely find some sweet deals on last season’s clubs. (Added bonus: While buying last season’s models will likely have no bearing on your game, it’s nice to have an excuse in your back pocket if you shank the ball, as in, “This darn club! It’s from 2014!”). Through April 12, Golf Galaxy is offering $20 off $125, $50 off $250 and $100 off $500 (coupon code: FIRSTMAJOR) and 50 to 75 percent off select apparel.
Many stores, including Golf Galaxy, Golf Smith, Dick’s Sporting Goods, TaylorMade.com and CallawayGolf.com also offer trade-in programs, where you bring (or send in) your old clubs for store credit toward new ones. Credit, of course, is not available if your clubs are bent or lying at the bottom of a lake somewhere off of the 15th hole.
Take a run:
Retailers don’t want to wait for the perfect time to sell you a new pair of running shoes. Instead, they want to sell to you as early as possible, which is why you can find some great deals in early spring when outdoor running season begins. (You’re supposed to replace your shoes every 300 miles or so, which, if you’ve been running regularly, means last summer’s kicks are probably shot.) Right now, RoadRunnerSports.com has hundreds of pairs of good running shoes (think, New Balance, Asics, Saucony) on clearance, some pairs over $100 off with the VIP membership, which is also currently on sale on the web for $1.99, down from $24.99.
FootLocker.com currently has thousands of styles on sale, including the women’s Asics Gel Kinsei-5 for $60 off. And if you have old shoes to recycle, consider sending them to KindRunner.com, which will not only pay for the shipping but also issue you a $10 store credit. (They’ll donate your used kicks to either Soles4Souls or the More Foundation, not-for-profits that outfit those in need.) Who knew that just getting ready to exercise could feel so good?
Get clean:
File this one under not-quite-as-fun-but-totally-necessary. It’s spring cleaning time, and if you’re going to do it at all, you might as well do it right. Luckily for you (and also any allergy sufferers in your house), you can find some excellent deals on new vacuum cleaners. Until April 18, Dyson.com is offering up to 25 percent off select machines. Macy’s has 70 models from Dirt Devil, Bissell, Shark and more on sale, up to $200 off. And Hoover.com is currently offering up to $100 off on select models. While all of these vacuum cleaners certainly suck, these deals most definitely don’t. Take advantage of them, and you’ll have just one more reason to celebrate spring.
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Say Hello to Spring Savings originally appeared on usnews.com