In June, we celebrate summer, Father’s, graduations, weddings and Flag Day. It marks the halfway point of the year and on the 25th, it will only be six months until Christmas! Maybe this is the month to start making a holiday gift list and begin looking for bargain-priced gifts, well before the shopping rush begins.
There are loads of great June sales and bargains. Here’s what we’ve tracked down for you.
Food sales
June is National Dairy Month, which means there will be sales on ice cream, cheese, butter, milk, cream cheese, yogurt, and popsicles. Most of these freeze very well, so it is an easy thing to stock up on. June is Turkey Lovers Month, so there should be sales on turkey deli meat (whole turkeys are cheapest to buy around Thanksgiving).
Cookout supplies are also on sale, such as hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, and charcoal. If a charcoal grill is one of your alternate cooking options, it would be a good time to stock up on it. Soda, iced tea, and bottled water also go on sale. Bottled water is a great thing to have on hand for almost every emergency. I keep a case in our vehicle during the summer months for when we are out and about.
Watermelon goes on sale during June, and there will be good deals on lots of seasonal produce. Consider going to farmer’s markets or researching what u-pick farms are near you to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. It can be preserved by canning, freezing or dehydrating.
TIP: Think about what desserts you might want to have in the winter months and get the fruit for it now. Canned cherries would be delicious in a pie or over vanilla ice cream in the middle of December! Here are instructions to do that.
Here is what is usually in season in June:
- Corn
- Lettuce
- Apricots
- Watermelon
- Peas
- Strawberries
- Onions
- Cantaloupe
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Honeydew melons
- Berries
- Tomatoes
June Household Sales and Bargains
Tools, tools and more tools: with Father’s Day, the typical gifts for dad are on sale. Cologne and menswear will also be on sale for this occasion. Dishes and kitchen appliances should be on sale to coincide with wedding season. Graduations start winding down in June, so the party supplies will be on sale, which can be used for future parties or for food storage supplies.
TIP: Paper plates are a very handy items in an emergency. They don’t need to washed, so you avoid wasting valuable time and water, and you can either shred and compost them or burn them in a campfire. The best thing is that paper plates from any past holiday or birthday party work just fine for this purpose!
For household items, some small electronics like camcorders and computers should be on sale. Both are good items to have on hand for keeping track of inventory for personal and insurance purposes. Carpeting and indoor furniture are usually on sale in June.
Women’s underwear, bras, and lingerie are a hot item in June since Victoria’s Secret holds its semi-annual sale in June. A set or two of undies/bra added to a 72 hour/emergency kit is a good plan and they don’t take much room, especially if packed in a vacuum sealed plastic bag.
And, as always, be on the lookout for gifts! Sooner or later, a birthday, bridal/baby shower, wedding, or some other holiday will surprise you, and when that happens, most of us usually go into the panic-shopping mode! That’s the mode where we don’t care how much something costs — we just need to get that gift today! Don’t be that crazy-eyed lady at the mall! Shop ahead and look for the bargains posted here in this article as well as the entire, monthly 52 Weeks Savings series on this blog.
Outside the home
Gardening items start going on sale in June. It is never too early to start planning next year’s garden. Stock up on seeds and gardening tools. Seed planters are handy along with organic fertilizer. June is Rose Month since most are in bloom. This can mean lower prices for roses and rose bushes in June.
Sports and Fitness
Summer sports gear and swim gear go on sale in June. Many people tend to focus their exercise outside in June, so indoor exercise equipment goes on sale and some gyms may offer discounted memberships. June is National Fishing & Boating Week and National Get Outdoors Day, so local parks and recreation departments may offer special and possibly free activities for those days.
Events                 Â
Taking a staycation this year? Check out this link for a list of blogs for fun things to do in different states:
June is also National Aquarium Month, so if you have a local aquarium, they may offer deals.
Some stores and restaurants like to participate in specific special days, so keep an eye out for deals on the following days:
- National Doughnut Day
- National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
- Iced Tea Day
- Go Fishing Day
- Ice Cream Soda Day
- Sunglasses Day
Flea markets and yard sales gear up this month and are a great way to find deals on almost any item. Here’s a list of 21 things to always be on the lookout for.
Activities for Children
Summer reading programs are in full gear in June as schools let out for the summer. Check your local library and local bookstores to see what they offer. For a list of stores, theaters and online programs, visit http://savingdollarsandsense.com/free-summer-reading-programs/.
Several stores also offer children freebies as a reward for a good report card. Ask your local stores if they do anything for report cards or, for a list, visit http://savingdollarsandsense.com/good-report-card-freebies/.
Check local hardware and craft stores for children’s make-and-take events.
Register at www.kidsbowlfree.com to get children up to 2 free games of bowling a day at your local bowling alley.
Some movie theaters offer discount movies during the summer. Check your local theater for prices and movie listings.
Money saving tips
In the summer, close blinds and curtains to keep the sun out on hot days to reduce cooling costs. If possible, dry clothes outside on a clothesline to avoid running the dryer. Take a different approach to summer meal planning and incorporate meals that are light, such as salads that incorporate fresh ingredients, or that involve cooking outside on the grill or over a fire pit.
If you have a solar oven, like a Sun Oven, or want to make a DIY solar cooker, this is prime season and a great time to learn this skill before a power outage or some other disaster happens. Using a solar oven will help keep your kitchen cooler and you won’t be using any electricity at all.
By the end of June, you should have $325 saved if you’re following the weekly savings plan (25 weeks). If you have extra right now, perhaps going to a higher week in the chart and putting that money away would be a smart thing to do. Take things one day at a time and focus on what you can do and what you can enjoy.
Saving money is a daily lifestyle and the key is having a good attitude. Take pride in what you have already saved up and learned from any mistakes.
Take advantage of June’s deals and start looking forward to a fun summer. Come back next month to see what deals July offers to help you save AND prepare!