Best End-Of-Summer Sales

Laptops and desktop computers usually come at a discount at the end of summer.

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t the end of the summer, the most common sales you'll see are the obvious back-to-school sales. And while notebooks and pencils are, uh, great...there's plenty of other things that go on sale towards the end of the summer that are probably more up your alley. July, August, and September are the time to buy bigger things like computers and home appliances, as new models are often released late in the year and manufacturers want to get rid of old stock, but what about a month-by-month breakdown of things you should shop for if you're looking for a bargain? With a little intuition and some help from Lifehacker.com, Apple's release schedule, and sales papers, we've compiled this list.

It should come as no surprise that computers are sold at a discount at the end of summer, since every prospective college student is clamoring to take a laptop with them to the dorms. Businesses bank on this trend and you win—laptops and desktops alike can be found at great prices, simply because the stores know they'll be selling more of them and can afford to lower prices.

Things like washers, dryers, ovens, and refrigerators are also sold at lower-than-normal prices at the end of the summer, thanks to new appliances hitting the market close to the holidays. Out with the old, in with the new.

House paint is usually on sale at the end of summer, as no one really wants to paint when its that hot out.

Past that, tech toys like phones and mp3 players are often sold at low prices, thanks to companies' new releases. For example. the new iPhone is rumored to be released in September, so purchasing one now-ish will save you a bundle—Sprint just knocked their price of the iPhone down to $150.

As for everything else, there are some things that may come as a surprise. For example, paint is sold at a lower price during the dog days of summer. Why? Who wants to paint and keep their home well-ventilated (read: no air conditioning, windows open) when it's in the high-90s? No one, that's who. Take advantage of the low demand. You can always buy the paint and wait a couple months for a cool-down before painting.

Grills also go on sale, as it's the end of the summer and most people have already made their mad rush to get their homes "Fourth-of-July ready." Likewise, camping equipment goes on sale because people have already bought everything for their summer trips, and businesses want one more push of profit.

Pick up a bike at the end of summer, not at the beginning.

Naturally, school supplies and kids' clothing goes on sale, but you already knew that.

At the end of September, new bicycle models hit the market, so if you want one on the cheap, wait until the beginning of September, as stores will be looking to make a buck on the old ones. Cars are also starting to be cleared out in September, since new models will be hitting dealerships soon. It should be easier for you to haggle down to a better price when dealers are scrambling to make room for the 2013 batch. Wait til the end of September for this deal, though.

Finally, some of our favorite recreational activities enjoy discounted pricing in September. Holiday airfare is the lowest it will be in September, as is wine, since it's harvest time and vineyards will want more room for the new stuff.

Now that you're armed with the bargain-hunting knowledge you need, go forth and spend!