June kicks off BBQ weather, boating, and summertime fun — including a dad-focused holiday. While we’re itching to indulge in warm-weather revelry, be careful. June can be a spendy month.
There are “Sale” signs everywhere, but for most so-called deals, it’s best to walk on by. Here are the worst things to buy in June. Avoid these purchases to keep your money in your wallet and your deal-seeking reputation intact.
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School supplies
![school supplies and pencil case](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/school-supplies-and-pencil-case.jpg)
If your kiddo is doing summer school, hopefully, you stocked up notepads and pencils earlier in the year because June is not a cheap month to buy. Holding off until July can save you big bucks, as that’s when back-to-school season starts.
Depending on where you live, kids go back to school anywhere from late July to Labor Day. To prepare, national retailers kick off their deals mid-summer. Additionally, you can take advantage of tax holidays on back-to-school supplies that many states offer in July and August.
Grills and BBQs
![barbecue flaming grill](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/04/26/barbecue_flaming_grill.jpeg)
While hardware stores push new grills and BBQs hard for Father’s Day, June is not the cheapest month to buy. Memorial Day sales have passed, and deals get better closer to the Fourth of July. Many deal experts say you can score great deals into August and then score big again from Labor Day to Black Friday.
TVs
![buying a flat screen tv](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/buying-a-flat-screen-tv.jpg)
If you’re jonesing for a new TV in June, holding off for a month or more can save you big bucks. The best times to buy a TV are Amazon Prime Day (in July, but specific dates TBA per my Alexa device), Black Friday, or close to Super Bowl Sunday.
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Patio furniture
![patio area with garden furniture](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/patio-area-with-garden-furniture.jpg)
While Memorial Day through the Fourth of July may seem like the obvious window to buy patio furniture, it’s not the cheapest. Retail savings analysts recommend buying in early spring (March and April when many places still have snow or at the end of the season in August
Air conditioner
![outdoor unit of the air conditioner](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/outdoor-unit-of-the-air-conditioner.jpg)
While June might be when you remember you need AC to survive the summer, it’s not the best time to buy. In fact, HVAC experts at Comfort Monster say that June is the most expensive time of the year to buy a new unit, followed by July and then August.
Cruelly, the best time to buy is when you don’t need it. A new HVAC is cheapest in February and March, followed by September, October, or December.
Sandals
![female legs in flip flops](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/female-legs-in-flip-flops.jpg)
Your pedicured nails are open-toe ready, but sandals are relatively spendy in June. Early spring and late summer are the best times to score a deal.
Bikes
![man early morning with bicycle](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/man-early-morning-with-bicycle.jpg)
Experts have varied opinions about the best time to buy, depending on the type of bike you are looking for and your price range. Still, many retail insiders and avid riders contend that autumn is the right time to go for it, noting that May to June is the worst time to buy.
European travel
![family enjoying vacation in paris](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/family-enjoying-vacation-in-paris.jpg)
Mid-June to August is peak travel time for Europe and a big drain on your wallet. Traveling in the off-season —- November to March — is usually the cheapest time, and in Europe-guru Rick Steves’ words, you can “Enjoy having Europe to yourself.”
High-end clothing
![woman with afro shopping for clothes in store](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/05/01/woman_with_afro_shopping_for_clothes_in_store.jpg)
While the month of June may have you itching to refresh your wardrobe with new Bermuda shorts and sundresses, it’s not the most inexpensive time to buy — especially for designer labels. The best time to economically splurge is in July during Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale. For 2024, the promotion runs from July 15 to August 4.
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Mattresses
![woman checking mattress in furniture shop](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/14/woman-checking-mattress-in-furniture-shop.jpeg)
June is a great month for warm weather and summer adventures, but not the best time to upgrade your mattress. You can find the best savings for mattresses at the bookends of summer: Memorial Day and Labor Day. Presidents’ Day, Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday also boast some competitive deals.
Amazon devices
![echo from amazon alexa](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/echo-from-amazon-alexa.jpg)
Amazon devices are at their cheapest during Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday sales. If it’s June and you want a new Kindle or Echo, you won't have to wait long. Prime Day is just a month later in July.
Laptops
![laptops for sale](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2024/05/28/laptops-for-sale.jpg)
The best time to buy a new PC or laptop is not in June. According to technology insiders, you’ll get the best deals during major, three-day holiday weekends (and Father’s Day does not count) and Back-to-School season.
Gas
![refueling car at gas station](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/02/10/pumping-gas.jpg)
While gas isn’t quite as pricey as it is in May, June is a very spendy time of year to fill your tank. You can blame it on warm weather. With sunny days and open roads, road trip season is in session. Inversely, the cheapest time of year to fuel up is usually February — which may be okay news if you live in parts of the country without snow and ice.
Wedding venues
![rustic wedding decorations with flowers and candles](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2022/03/21/rustic_wedding_decorations_with_flowers_and_candles.jpg)
June is peak wedding season. If you can push out your nuptials until the winter — December, January, or February — you can get an off-season venue discount.
Bottom line
![woman standing at mall holding shopping bags in hand](https://cdn.financebuzz.com/filters:quality(75)/images/2023/03/07/woman-holding-shopping-bags-in-mall.jpeg)
As the inaugural summer month, June is a pricey time to buy anything summer-themed, whether it’s sun wear, travel, or a new BBQ grill. So you might want to avoid wasting money and wait for a better time to buy that grill.
Luckily, prices start to drop for most seasonal buys around the Fourth of July, so you won’t have to wait long to score some savings. And if you can wait for the off-season or major shopping holidays, you can score a bigger deal yet.
In the meantime, relish the simpler, freer pleasures of summertime, like hiking, picnics, and playgrounds.
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