This is from my segment on Atlanta & Company on June 22, 2009.

Get out your red, white and blue, Fourth of July is next week. Are you ready for hot dogs, fireworks and fun? With the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, you don’t get to take advantage of extra time off. But with all the sales out there you can at least take advantage of extra dollars off. So what should be on your shopping list?

Party Supplies

Backyard BBQ food – Most grocery stores advertise their hot dog, drink and chips specials to get you in door and then spend money on other items. But if you just stick with your party shopping list, you can get some good deals. Depending on your pantry or freezer space you may even consider buying extra.

Paper products – Plates, napkins and utensils are on sale. And they have no expiration date so this is a great time to stock up for your Fourth of July party and your future parties.

Grills & Patio Furniture

The best sales on grills and patio furniture are during Fourth of July. You can typically find savings up to 40% off. This is the perfect time to buy for the best selection and price. After Fourth of July, the clearance sales begin and while the savings my increase the selection dramatically decreases. So you will find it difficult to find a matching patio set or the grill you want without visiting four different Home Depot locations.

Appliances

like Home Depot and Lowe’s have big sales on appliances during holiday weekends. You can take advantage of store discounts and promotions combined with manufacturer rebates to multiply your savings. If you need a new appliance now this is a good time to buy. Otherwise the next big sale will be during Labor Day weekend.

Summer Clothes

Retailers don’t care about the thermostat, so even with temperatures in the 90’s as far as they are concerned summer is over. So swimwear, summer clothes and accessories are all heavily discounted. This is a good time to buy items you might have been eyeing but couldn’t afford or to stock up for next year. And with the long summer and warm fall weather we enjoy in Atlanta you can wear many items well into October.

Spring & Summer Home Items

Bed and bath items as well as other home items also get marked down based on the seasons. So if new sheets and towels are on your shopping list, this is the time to buy. Many times the only thing that changes between the seasons is just the color and pattern. Also many home décor items like candles and frames are also being clearanced to make room for the fall styles.

School Supplies

The beginning of July marks the beginning of the back to school shopping season. The earlier you buy, the better deals you can get. There are so many retailers from office supply stores to grocery stores competing for your business that many items are offered for free or a few pennies. Check out the weekly School Supply Deals on the ShoppingQueen.com website starting next week. Don’t wait until the tax free shopping weekend, most of the good deals will be over then.

With the kids out of school for the summer it’s tough finding activities to keep them busy. But don’t worry, Steve Jobs would like to help baby sit.

Well not exactly…

Apple retail stores are once again offering Apple Camp. These free workshops are recommended for kids ages 8 – 12. Each workshop lasts 3 hours. Students can learn how to make movies, music and more. For more details and to learn how to sign up check out the Apple Camp site.

Yes, at least that’s what the government believes is true. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) set to go into effect on February 10, 2009 will require all products manufactured for children (up to age 12) to undergo testing for lead and phthalates. Any item not tested will be treated as a “banned hazardous substance” under the Federal Banned Substances Act and can not be legally sold in the United States after that date. Thus second hand clothes and toys sold at thrift and consignment stores will suddenly be considered “banned hazardous substances.”

In light of last year’s widespread issue with toys manufactured with high levels of lead, Congress swept in and enacted this law. While I agree with the law in spirit, afterall I do have two small children, I disagree with the law’s application.

I am sure there are probably many toys on store shelves today that have excessive levels of lead; however, the vast majority of toys and clothing do not. Thus suddenly making all new and used clothing and toys on store shelves “banned hazardous substances” at the stroke of midnight on February 10th sounds ludicrous to me.

While sellers of used or homemade items seem to be the ones affected by the law. It actually has much more far reaching effects.

The law affects both new and used items. In essence this law is a retroactive law. While it goes in effect on February 10th, it actually affects products manufactured months or years before. All inventories are required to have testing in order to be legally sold. This could potentially throw thousands of consignment, thrift and small mom and pop shops out of business. Even large corporations can be hugely impacted. One large retailer which has remained anonymous estimates the value of its affected inventory to be as high at $500,000,000.

The cost of compliance with this law could make children’s products much more expensive. Not only will you not be able to purchase second hand items, there will be less new items to go around. Imagine if overnight you could no longer buy a used car. The prices of specially tested new cars would suddenly become more expensive. So whether you currently buy new or used items, the new law would cause prices to go up for everyone.

There has been little mention of this in the mainstream media. Futhermore, I have not been able to find clear directives to manufacturers and resellers as to what all the reuqirements are and how to comply with them.

Consider reaching out to your elected officials and asking them to step in with some changes and revisions.

References:

Los Angeles Times – New safety rules for children’s clothes have stores in a fit

BabyCheapskate – The End of Second-Hand Kids’ Clothes and Toys

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

Here are this week’s school supply deals:

K-Mart

50 cents: Designer portfolios and stretchable book covers
$1.50: Westcott scissors

Office Depot

These offers are valid only Sunday – Wednesday

5 cents: Eraser caps 12-pk and 6″ protractor
50 cents: Crayola markers 10-pk and Office Depot glue sticks 4-pk

Free After Rebate: Sharp Scientific Calculator

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $70 After Rebate ($95-$25)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $105 After Rebate ($130-$25)
Free with purchase of any TI Graphing Calculator: Protective calculator case in assorted designs

Spend $50 or more this week at Office Depot and you will receive a coupon at the register for $10 off your next purchase of $20 or more in September.

OfficeMax

1 cent: 2-pocket folder, 12″ wood ruler
15 cents: Office Depot filler paper
30 cents: 1″ and 1.5″ poly binders

Staples

FREE: Elmer’s glue, Free after instant rebate
9 cents: Filler paper 150-sheets
20 cents: 2-pocket plastic report covers
25 cents: PaperMate mechanical pencils 5-pk
33 cents: 3″ x 5″ ruler index cards 100-pk
75 cents: 1-subject notebook 100 sheets
79 cents: Crayola markers 10-pk
99 cents: Expo dry erase markers 3-pk and Staples highlighters 6-pk
$1.99: Staples copy paper 500-sheet ream

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $80 After Rebate ($100 – $10 instant savings – $10 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator: $90 After Rebate ($120 – $15 instant savings – $15 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $100 After Rebate ($130 – $15 instant savings – $15 rebate)

Target

27 cents: RoseArt crayons 24-ct
50 cents: Pencil box, stretchable book cover, vinyl pencil pouch and Mead Five Star folders
88 cents: Crayola colored pencils 12-pk, construction paper 96-sheet and drawing paper 40-sheet
$2: Crayola crayons 64-ct and Crayola watercolor paints 8-ct

Here are this week’s school supply deals:

K-Mart

25 cents: RoseArt crayons 24-pk
33 cents: PaperMate pens 10-pk
$1.50: RoseArt markers 10-pk
$5: Sharpie markers 12-pk

Office Depot

1 cent: Office Depot slider pencil box, pencil sharpener and wood 12″ ruler
5 cents: Office Depot 2-pocket folder with or without prongs, Scholastic crayons 16-pk
25 cents: PaperMate pens 10-pk
79 cents: Kids 5″ scissors 2-pk
99 cents: Bic mechanical pencils 5-pk, Sharpie highlighters 6-pk and Mead Five State 4-pocket folder

Free After Rebate: Child I.D. Kit

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $75 After Rebate ($100-$25)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $115 After Rebate ($140-$25)
Free with purchase of any TI Graphing Calculator: Protective calculator case in assorted designs

OfficeMax

OfficeMax doesn’t have any specific school supply deals this week. They are running their bag promotion. In the Sunday paper there is an OfficeMax brown paper bag and you can take that to the store and receive 15% off anything that fits into the bag.

Staples

FREE: 2-pocket folders with or without prongs (Free after instant rebate. 10 per customer.)
5 cents: 1-subject wide ruled notebook
25 cents: Composition book
50 cents: Graphing notebook

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $80 After Rebate ($100 – $10 instant savings – $10 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator: $90 After Rebate ($120 – $15 instant savings – $15 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $100 After Rebate ($130 – $15 instant savings – $15 rebate)

Target

50 cents: Target kids scissors, RoseArt colored pencils 12-pk and RoseArt washable 8 colors watercolors
85 cents: 1-subject notebook

Walmart

5 cents: 70-sheet notebook
15 cents: Twin pocket folders
22 cents: Crayola crayons 24-pk. Elmers 4oz. glue and Elmers 2-pk gluesticks
46 cents: 3″x5″ index cards 100-pk
50 cents: Composition book
88 cents: Crayola markers 10-pk and Bic pens 10-pk
97 cents: PaperMate No.2 pencils 24-pk and PaperMate pink erasers 2-pk

TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $94

Here are this week’s school supply deals:

K-Mart

25 cents: Crayola crayons 24-pk
33 cents: No.2 pencils 10-pk
$1.50: Bic mechanical pencils 12-pk, Westcott scissors, Scotch tape 4-pk

Office Depot

1 cent: Office Depot school glue
5 cents: Faux wood 12″ ruler
30 cents: Composition book
50 cents: Crayola colored pencils 12-pk and Wilson Jones 1″ poly binders

Free After Rebate: Dry erase markers 4-pk

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $75 After Rebate ($100-$25)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $115 After Rebate ($140-$25)
TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator: $135 After Rebage ($160-$25)
Free with purchase of any TI Graphing Calculator: Protective calculator case in assorted designs

OfficeMax

1 cent: 12″ ring binder ruler and Color crayons 24-pk
5 cents: Sharpie Mini highlighter
25 cents: Assorted erser value pak and ACME junior pointed or blunt 5″ scissors
99 cents: Index cards 300-pk, Microban 5″ scissors, pink erasers 5-pk and Avery 8-tab insertable dividers

Staples

1 cent: Slider pencil case
20 cents: 2-pocket plastic report cover
25 cents: Mini stapler

Free After Rebate
Pentel gel pens 4-pk
Staples electric pencil sharpener

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $80 After Rebate ($100 – $10 instant savings – $10 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator: $90 After Rebate ($120 – $15 instant savings – $15 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $100 After Rebate ($130 – $15 instant savings – $15 rebate)

Target

10 cents: Twin pockets portfolios with or without prongs
50 cents: Composition book 100 sheet wide ruled
$1: Elmer’s glue sticks 6-pk

Here are this week’s school supply deals:

K-Mart

9 cents: Notebook 70 sheet
20 cents: Elmers 4oz glue and Elmer’s 2-pk glue sticks
50 cents: book covers and plastic school boxes

Office Depot

1 cent: Translucent 2-pocket poly portfolio
15 cents: Notebook filler paper 150 ct
25 cents: Scholastic crayons 16-pk
50 cents: 1″ vinyl binder

Free After Rebate: Sharp Scientific Calculator

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $75 After Rebate ($100-$25)
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator: $115 After Rebate ($140-$25)

OfficeMax

1 cent: 12″ flexible ruler
10 cents: Sharpie Mini pen
25 cents: Poly binders, glue sticks
50 cents: Compostion book 100-sheet

Target

20 cents: Elmers 2-pk glue sticks, wood ruler, 2-ct pink erasers and pencil sharpener
50 cents: Designer portfolios
88 cents: 12-pk Crayola colored pencils

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $89

Wal-Mart

5 cents: Notebook 70-sheet
15 cents: 2-pocket portfolio
22 cents: Elmers 4oz glue and Elmer’s 2-pk glue sticks, Crayola 24-pk crayons
50 cents: Composition book
88 cents: Bic 10-pk pens, 70 sheet notebook, poly portfolio, Crayola 10-pk markers, Crayola 12-pk colored pencils
97 cents: 1″ 3-ring binder, 12″ flexible ruler, PaperMate 2-pk erasers and PaperMate 24-pk No. 2 pencils

Walgreens

5 cents (with coupon in ad): 2-pocket folder, 5-pk PaperMate mechanical pencils, mini composition book 80 sheets and Penway highlighter
10 cents (with coupon in ad): White posterboard
19 cents (with coupon in ad): Wood or flexible ruler, Penway No.2 pencils 10-pk, Penway 2-ct pink erasers, Penway 15-pk cap erasers
33 cents: Penway school glue, Penway 8-pk jumbo crayons, Penway 24-pk crayons
39 cents (with coupon in ad): Bic highlighter 5-pk
99 cents: Crayola 12-pk colored pencils, Penway 120 sheet 3 subject notebook

Free After Rebate: Pilot G2 gel ink pen 2-pk, Crayola 8-pk washable markers, Crayola 12-pk doodling washable markers (what in the world are doodling markers?!?), and Crayola 20-pk Super Tips washable markers

Here are this week’s school supply deals:

Office Depot

1 cent: Office Depot red eraser 12-pk, 6″ protractor, 2-pocket paper folder and acrylic ruler

Free After Rebate: TOPS® Colored Junior Size Writing Pads 6-pk

OfficeMax

1 cent: OfficeMax wood ruler
5 cents: OfficeMax compass, protractor
25 cents: UV Coated folders
30 cents: 12-pack colored pencils

Other Promotion: Free $10 gas card with purchase of one double pack or two single packs of HP ink.

RiteAid

25 cents: Elmers 4oz glue
44 cents: 24-pk Crayola crayons
50 cents: Mead 100 sheet composition book, PaperMate Grip Pens 8-pk and 22″ x 28″ posterboard

Wal-Mart

5 cents: 70-sheet spiral notebook
15 cents: Twin pocket folio with prongs
22 cents: 24-pk Crayola crayons, Elmer’s 4oz glue and Elmer’s 2-pk glue sticks

I love seeing all the great school supply deals in July. I don’t have kids in school yet, but I always stock up and donate the school supplies to homeless shelters and other charities that serve needy children. The deals at Staples for this week are only through Wednesday, so don’t forget to check it out. Here are the items:

1. 2-pocket paper folders
2. Dixon® #2 yellow pencils
3. Purell® .05 oz. bottle

For 25 cents: simply™ poly assorted binders, 1/2″ and 1″
Free after rebate: Pentel® Handy-lines™ retractable assorted highlighters

With the kids out of school for the summer it’s tough finding activities to keep them busy. But don’t worry, Steve Jobs would like to help baby sit.

Well not exactly…

Apple retail stores are offering Apple Camp. These free workshops are recommended for kids ages 8 – 12. Each workshop lasts 3 hours. Students can learn how to make movies, music and more. For more details and to learn how to sign up check out the Apple Camp site.