Best things to buy in June

Every month of the year, certain items are discounted due to overstock, holiday sales, or transitions from one season to the next.

The items listed below are typically offered during the month of June. Shopping may be limited to online purchases. But there are still deals to be had.

Remember to not buy more than you need. Washington State’s supply chains are operating normally, yet consumers are overstocking and clearing store shelves of some items that sick neighbors, doctors, dentists, and emergency response personnel need to stay safe. Health experts emphasize the best way to protect yourself from infection is through washing your hands frequently and limiting contact with others, not by overstocking certain supplies. Please leave some for the folks who need them most.

For status of individual events, check the Greater Seattle on the Cheap virtual and live event calendar to find out what’s happening every day.
For information about stores, check our list of What’s open and closed due to the WA stay-at-home order.

June Holidays & Special Events

June 5, 2020 National Donut Day
June 6-7, 2020 Free fishing weekend
June 19, 2020, Juneteenth. Find local events on our calendar.
June 21, 2020 Father’s Day
June 20, 2020 Summer solstice
June 21, 2020 Worldwide Make Music Day
June is Pride Month
Seafair continues all summer

Seasonal items to buy in June

Graduation gifts: For grads, look for laptops, luggage or travel accessories (including duffels and toiletry bags), business accessories (business card holder, quality pen, or briefcase), digital cameras, Amazon Prime (which just increased its price), or Blue Apron. Most young people will tell you they just want cash. That’s okay, too. Gift cards and cash always work if you’re not sure of your recipient’s tastes or specific needs.

Father’s Day Gifts. Ahead of Dad’s Day June 17, you will find sales on dad-able gifts including recliners and easy chairs, power tools, fishing gear, and meats for the barbecue grill such as steaks and ribs. Local and national stores from Filson to Dick’s and Cabela’s, Walmart and Target will be competing for your dollars.

Party supplies. In additional to Dad’s day deals on meats for the grill, June is a good time to stock up for summer holiday parties for Fourth of July, Seafair, or Labor Day. Look for deals on picnic and party supplies, disposable paper goods, party foods such as hamburger or hotdog buns and accompaniments or other related groceries.

Gardening supplies. Now that the spring season is ending, some gardening supplies start to go on sale in June, such as hoses, sprinklers, and hand tools.

Outdoor gear. If you need any summer toys or outdoor gear, you’ll find good supplies and some deals. Of course, the steepest markdowns come at the end of the season, but that’s also when the choices are fewer. So, if you have fishing, camping, hiking, or other outdoor gear on your wish list, this is a good time to shop and compare.

Off-season travel. If you’re itching to get out of town on a budget, head to the mountains, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, or check Caribbean destinations. These off-season locales are likely to have deals on hotels and travel packages. Check out what they have to offer and weigh the downsides (no snow, blazingly hot, and hurricanes a-comin’), then throw some caution to the wind.

Sunglasses. National Sunglass Day is June 27, so late June might be good time get some new shades.

National Dairy Month. Since June is National Dairy Month, look for grocery specials and coupons for yogurt, cheese, ice cream treats, and other dairy products.

Seasonal produce. Local fresh fruit begins coming to market in June. Fruits in season this month include apricots, cherries, and strawberries. Local vegetables at their peak in June include lettuce and greens, all varieties of peas, pea vines, radishes, fresh herbs, and zucchini flowers. Asparagus and rhubarb will be winding down soon. So stock up if you haven’t had your fill. You may also want to freeze or pickle some asparagus to enjoy later, or freeze some rhubarb and strawberries for pies, or put up a few jars of strawberry jam.

New products to buy in June

Home Goods & Gifts: It’s wedding and graduation season, so you’ll find deals on all kinds of kitchenware, cookware, barware, and home décor, such as picture frames.

Laptop computers. While June may not be as good a time to buy a laptop as August, September, November, or December, it is a good time to comparison shop. Sometimes you find a good deal on outgoing models (my preferred choice when buying a new computer). Unless you are gaming or programming, you don’t usually need the latest greatest computer speed and storage capability. for most of us, last year’s model will do just fine and cost much less.

Lingerie & Clothing. Victoria’s Secret holds semi-annual sales in December/January and June/July (aka Secret Summer Sale). The details and dates vary each year, but each sale lasts about two to four weeks. Look for deals on multiples, and don’t forget to check for available store coupon promo codes at LivingontheCheap.com. Unless you want a specific item, hold off purchases until near the end of the sale to get the deepest discounts and markdowns on what’s still left. Nordstrom has an annual half-yearly sale in June. It’s a good time to shop for discounts on a variety of apparel, shoes, and accessories. If you are not a fan of Victoria Secret or Nordstrom, you can often find lingerie and clothing deals at your favorite major retailer during these, since other stores want to capture some of your business. So, start with your favorite places to shop and see what they have to offer, including major retailers such as GAP, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Old Navy, Ross, Target, and others.

Designer and luxury goods. Amid the other lingerie and clothing sales, if you like designer wear, be sure to search out deals on luxury goods. I always check my favorite vintage stores before heading to any retail sale.