'Christmas in July' is not just hype

We've all seen TV commercials shouting out that it's "Christmas" in the middle of the summer. And you may have shrugged your shoulders, saying it's just marketing hype.

But it turns out there is some truth to the ads: The dog days of summer are a great time to snag a bargain!

Summer is the perfect time to find great buys on just about everything from seasonal items to cars, computers and TVs.

HDTVs

Stewart Bonham told us he just bought a desktop computer for himself and is looking for an HDTV for his son to furnish his apartment.

Bonham said "I will probably shop around, because that is a pretty big-ticket item. So, I will check out Best Buy, hh gregg and online and places like that for sales right now."

He should have no problem finding one.

2010 Cars

Need a car? You are in luck. Manufacturers are prepping for next years models by selling 2010 cars at big discounts right now.

BBQ and Patio Items

The end of summer is soon approaching but the urge to barbecue hasn't ended. Nor have the sales to clear them off the store floors.

Buy grills and deck furniture now for next summer.

Laptop Computers

Laptops and accessories are on sale right now. High school and college students need them, obviously, and great deals can be found on PCs and Macs.

Dell is heavily advertising laptops in the $500 range.

Apple has a promotion for college students: When you buy a new Mac with its "education" pricing from now until September 7 you will get a free 8 Gig iPod Touch. Great back-to-college bonus.

Speaking of college, at amazon.com , college students can get a year's worth of free shipping through Amazon Prime if they buy something now. That's a $70 value.

Summer Clothing

Also, be on the lookout for semi-annual clearance sales in malls and stores.

Chase Oliver told us "I'm purchasing some summer clothing for my daughter for next year. I buy up a size for the following season. If you buy summer things now, go up a size and use it next summer for the kids. It's a lot less expensive!"

Back to School Deals

Finally, back to school sales have already begun (to the dismay of every 10 year old).

But don't ignore them because your kids are grown. That makes this a great time to buy spiral notebooks, markers, dry erase boards and printer paper, even if you don't have schoolage kids.

The Bottom Line

Remember: Anything with a warm weather connection is being slapped with a markdown right now: From T-shirts and swimsuits to grills and outdoor furniture.

So if you can think ahead to next spring, this is a great time to grab a deal, so you don't have to pay full price next May.

That way you don't waste your money.

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