Fall sale season starts

Summer is almost over, but that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of some great summer sales. August means back to school for most and the fall shipments are in. It also means you can stock up on some great swimsuit sales and more.

Find your favorite bikini, tankini or one-pieces for under $100. August is one of the best times to shop because most retailers want their summer inventory sold by July.

By August, the sales are even better. You can get your favorite items up to 80 percent off. But there are some shopping tips, like, don't get caught up in spending just because the sale deal is a steal for the price. You should only purchase items that you know you're certain to wear. The best way to do this is to shop items that you can see yourself in all year round.

For starters, look for pieces in darker colors and fabrics that will work all year to avoid only being able to wear your great sale find for only a few more weeks. Another tip is not to assume that what you see is what you get. In most cases, with big sales, what’s on the floor aren’t the only items left in stock. Don't assume. Ask a sales associate for help to check if there's additional items in the back of the store.

Another thing, don’t get bummed out if you can only make it out to the final days of the sale. Many times your favorite pieces will continue to be marked down throughout the sales event. Sometimes, the later the better.

If you have your eye on a particular item, you can always ask someone in the store to keep an eye on it. Since most of us don’t have deep pockets to splurge on every sale that comes around, call your favorite stores to find out when their final markdown period begins so you can plan and save ahead.

D’Nieka Hartsfield writes for The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact her at [email protected] or find her Facebook.