The month of May usually brings brighter spirits with clearer and warmer weather that makes people get out and about. It’s also a time of fun holidays that will make you want to shop until you drop. From Mother’s Day to Memorial Day, you will love seeing the great deals that this month has to offer. Of course, the month of May isn’t exactly perfect when it comes to shopping for all items. In fact, these ten items will drain your budget quickly if you’re not careful. So, if you’re planning on looking for these items this month, you may want to hold off if you want to put your budget ahead of your wants.
1. Flowers
You may see a lot of fresh flowers popping up all over the place during the month of May. Since the supply is up, you might think that shopping for flowers is a wise idea. However, flowers tend to be a bit pricier in the month of May. This is largely because of Mother’s Day, which typically happens in the middle of the month. During this time, you’ll see some of the highest prices that you will see all year. So, you may want to look for an alternative giftwhen it comes to Mother’s Day. You might think that the price would decrease after Mother’s Day is over though, but you probably won’t have any such luck. Most people want to shop for flowers this month because it adds to the Spring season and makes the home feel fresher than ever.
2. Jewelry
Another option you will want to skip out on during May is jewelry. There’s a lot of great sales during this month, but you might find that they’re not as great of a price as you would find on any other occasion. As a matter of fact, you may see some of the highest prices you’ve seen since Valentine’s Day. This is largely because of Mother’s Day when many people want to spend money on new jewelry for their mother. Everything from birthstone jewelry to lockets will be hiked up so jewelers can make their most profit. May also happens to be one of the more popular months to get married, which means wedding bands will be in high demand. Classic wedding jewelry like diamond earrings or pearls will also rise in price due to this.
3. Cameras
Vacation season is practically here, which doesn’t work in your favor if you’re looking to buy a new camera in May. Many people begin to look for a new camera before heading out on their next adventure, so retailers hike up the prices to make a lot more money. The month of May, as stated before, is also a popular season for weddings, which is another occasion that many people want a new camera for. Apart from that, graduation season is upon. So, many proud parents are looking for a new camera to capture every moment of their child walking across stage. They also may be looking for a new camera for a graduation present as many students want to capture college life, their travels and so on. So, with all of this combined, you should probably try to hold off on your new camera. Luckily, you won’t have to wait long though because camera prices make a sudden drop in July.
4. Bikes
Many people love to take to cycling during the Spring and Summer months, especially when the weather is still nice. This will make it pretty hard to find a bicycle at a great price. From cruisers to mountain bikes, you will probably see a huge hike in prices whenever you go shopping in the month of May. If you really need to a grab a bike during this month, or during the summer at all, you may want to check out second hand stores. Thrift stores, yard sales and flea markets may be the best option when it comes to finding a bike, but be careful as you don’t want something you’re going to have to replace before the Summer is over.
5. Sporting Goods
Spring and Summer is a time to be active, which is why a lot of stores will hike up the price of a lot of their athletic gear. With soccer and baseball leagues starting up, you may not be able to find a decent price on cleats, balls, uniforms and more for quite some time. Usually, this period of time is especially bad for sports like soccer, baseball and tennis, so try to shop second hand if you can when it comes to these items. Usually golf, football and indoor sports are safe to buy for, but even some sporting goods stores will hike up the prices on these items too.
6. Grill
Summer time is just right around the corner, which means you may want to spend more time cooking outdoors opposed to indoors. This means you may want to check out a grill to make your meals taste out of this world. The only problem is that grills tend to go up in price during the hot season because everyone wants one. Usually, after Memorial Day hits finding a good price on a grill will be harder than ever. Some stores will even hike up the price of smokers and grill accessories, which will make it even harder to make up your outdoor meals. The price of the grill won’t drop back down until the weather begins to cool down, so you may want to stock up on everything you need then.
7. Boats
With the hot weather rapidly approaching, a lot of people want to find ways to keep cool while enjoying the great outdoors. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in a boat. However, boats tend to skyrocket in price during the month of May and stay high until the winter months. This includes everything from yachts to simple canoes, so if you don’t have a way to enjoy the water yet then you might want to consider a rental. These usually won’t cost you to spend too much money, especially when rental companies want to draw in business before their peak season begins. You should be able to find great clearance deals when the weather cools though, so hold out so you enjoy the summer more when it comes around next year.
8. Above Ground Pool
School is about to take a really long recess, which means you’re going to need to find a way to keep the kids entertained as well as cool. One of the best ways to do this is an above ground pool, which tends to be easy to set up and will allow the kids to have a lot of fun in your own backyard. The only problem is most stores won’t have these items on sale or at a convenient price for some time. During the month of May they tend to just be hitting the shelves, which means you won’t see a price break on them. In fact, they tend not to be reduced until around July. You will also have a hard time finding accessories on sale as many stores won’t even put out pool toys until we near the summer months. Finally, water begins to take a hike in prices because the summer months are approaching and people tend to use more water for pools and gardening.
9. Party Supplies
May is a month of partying which means party supplies will be a little bit higher than normal. During this month, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated so you may want to avoid any decorations that may be inspired by Mexican designs. Another big event happening in May is many schools host their prom. Thus, many students also want to host their own party, which means plastic cups and other supplies will take a price hike. Apart from that, preparations for graduation celebrations usually begin in the month of May too. This means you may not be able to buy banners, eating supplies and any other party accent. Memorial Day brings up the rear of the month, but it also signifies barbecue season so many people host parties then too. With all of the activities, you may want to avoid shopping at party stores all together until June arrives.
10. Gas
Memorial Day sparks the beginning of vacation season and with it brings a price hike in gas prices. During the summer months, gas is in higher demand all over the country because many people want to hit the open road in order to save some money on their vacation. Another cause of this price hike is the switch from winter blend to summer blend, which tends to cost more money altogether. The best way you can avoid this problem is to try to commute on public transportation or come up with a car pool to help you get to work. You can also walk more or ride a bicycle to get around. You will have less of a carbon footprint during this time, which may make you feel better as you save money.
May can be a great time to celebrate the beautiful weather and the multiple sales. However, there are just some items that you just shouldn’t buy during this month. With this guide, you may be able to save some money so you can enjoy the warm weather without having such a tight budget.
