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Save Big on These 10 End-of-Summer Shopping Deals

By U.S. News & World Report

As the summer draws to a close, you may be lamenting the end of long evening barbecues, languid hammock naps and trouble-free beach days.

But summer’s end marks the beginning of the fall — a time for warm, woolly sweaters, spiced apple cider and blossoming pumpkin patches. Families look forward to the new semester, digging out backpacks and shopping for sparkling notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils.

The final weeks of summer are particularly busy for retailers, who become increasingly eager to stock their shelves with fall fashions and seasonal merchandise. Impatient to clear their stores, businesses begin offering summer clothes, equipment and other seasonal goods at a discount.

For shoppers, this means huge savings on everything from playful dresses to colorful beach umbrellas and shiny new lawn mowers.

This August, bid summer a fond farewell by shopping the late season sales. Maximize your end-of-the-summer savings with our list of 10 things to buy at the end of the summer.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

1. School supplies. With the new semester fast approaching, retailers are launching sales to catch the eye of back-to-school shoppers. If you can haul your kids out of the swimming pool and shuttle down to the stores, you’ll be rewarded with savings on school essentials. Expect deals on school supplies and backpacks, as well as uniforms and late summer styles.

2. Dorm furniture. When students begin to pack their cars and slip on school swag, stores beginning promoting sales on dorm room gear. If you want to deck out your dorm room without blowing your summer job savings, snatch up the deals on seating, bedding, desks, bookcases and more.

3. Laptops and electronics. Tech companies are also kicking off their own back-to-school promotions, releasing deals on laptops, software and tablets. During end-of-the-summer sales, many electronics retailers offer bundle deals, pairing laptop purchases with free headphones, printers and other tech goodies.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

4. Outdoor furniture. Summer may be winding down, but you can still squeeze in plenty of barbecues on warm autumn afternoons. Furnish your yard for Indian summer shindigs by shopping outdoor dining sets, lounges, cushions and hammocks. In late August and early September, you can find patio furniture for as much as 80 percent off.

5. Grills. During the final days of summer, the grill prices can drop by as much as 70 percent. Expect to see solid savings on gas, electric and charcoal grills from brands like Kenmore and Weber.

6. Outdoor gear. When the weather grows chilly, retailers begin slashing prices on recreational and outdoor equipment. As summer fades away, you’ll discover deals on bikes, camping gear and lawn mowers.

7. Summer clothes. Make your way back to the clearance section of your favorite clothing store, and you’ll find summer apparel at anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent off. Now is the time to stock up on eye-catching sundresses, flattering bikinis and stylish sandals. Come next summer, you will be grateful you did.

8. Appliances. During September and October, many manufacturers release newer models of stoves, cooktops and other large appliances. You can often score solid deals on major kitchen appliances during late summer, when retailers begin trying to push last year’s models out the door.

9. Vacations. Late August through November is sometimes referred to as shoulder season, a period when travel is slow. When the vacation crowds head home, you can land flights and hotels at some of the lowest prices of the year. During shoulder season, you’ll find especially good deals on trips to Hawaii, the Mediterranean and the South Pacific. And bonus — you’ll get to enjoy uncrowded beaches, restaurants and resorts.

[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]

10. Sales tax holiday exempt items. In early August, certain states celebrate sales tax holidays, when shoppers can purchase qualified items free of sales tax. This year, 16 states will participate in the holiday:

— Alabama

— Arkansas

— Connecticut

— Florida

— Georgia

— Iowa

— Maryland

— Mississippi

— Missouri

— New Mexico

— Ohio

— Oklahoma

— South Carolina

— Tennessee

— Texas

— Virginia

If you live in a participating state, you can buy a variety of products without paying sales tax. Depending on your state’s rate, you could save anywhere from 5 percent to 9 percent, approximately. Qualifying items typically include back-to-school gear, such as office supplies, clothes and computers.

More from U.S. News

10 Ways to Shop Smarter at the Grocery Store

10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping

Do’s and Don’ts of Shopping for Skin Care Products

Save Big on These 10 End-of-Summer Shopping Deals originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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