BUY IT NOW
Summer duds: Fall is on the horizon, and that means retailers are eager to clear away summer apparel to make room for sweaters and boots. This is a great time to replenish your wardrobe with some fresh shorts, tank tops, swimsuits and the like. And don’t forget to make a swing through the shoe department, where you can expect to find good deals on footwear — and not just sandals and flip-flops. August is a great month for sales on kids’ sneakers, too.
Laptops and such: If history holds, August will bring sales on laptops aimed at students heading back to college. (And you don’t have to be a student to take advantage of low prices.) Consumer Reports adds that printers often are on sale in August. And if you need appliances that are used during the summer, such as air-conditioners and
dehumidifiers, now’s the time to buy.
THINGS TO EAT
Back to school: This month, groceries are filled with bargains aimed at families with kids going back to school. They’re offering school supplies at some of the lowest prices you’ll see this year. (Hint: Buy and squirrel away extra markers, crayons and paint sets as stocking stuffers.) School-lunch staples such as peanut butter, jelly and juice boxes also are on sale.
In season: Just about everything that grows in Ohio that is worth eating is ripe this time of year. Sweet corn is at its peak in August as are tomatoes, peaches, watermelon, grapes and blueberries. Apples come into the fold later in the month along with cauliflower and some squash.
Fall beer: Though pumpkins are still plumping up in the fields, local breweries are cranking out their fall seasonal beers. Commonhouse Ales will release its imperial pumpkin porter, Punkt, this month. Columbus Brewing Co.’s Festbier, its take on an Oktoberfest lager, also is on the way. Fall seasonals, which usually drop in August, are some of the most popular Back-to-school supplies can be bought for great deals right now. Experts suggest stocking up for when your student runs out of notebooks or crayons, or to fill Christmas stockings.
beers of the year and the only ones to rival sales champ India pale ale, according to the Brewers Association.
CAR MATTERS
Award-winning rides: The Honda Accord makes frequent appearances on “best of” lists for performance and value, so it’s not a surprise to see the Marysville-made sedan at the top of Kelley Blue Book’s tally of “10 Most Awarded Cars of 2017.” The list is based on the combined results of the many lists published by editors at KBB.com. The runner-up is another Honda, the Civic, followed in order by the Jeep Wrangler, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.
YOUR MONEY
Saving money: Rates for certificates of deposit are on the rise. Finally! But consumers can’t let their guard down when it comes to protecting their money. Watch out, for example, for CDs that might automatically renew at a much lower rate. Also, some banks and credit unions are charging higher penalties for early withdrawal from the CD, even going after some of the principal.
Wedding bells: Taxes are probably the last thing on the minds of newlyweds, but it is something they should think about. After all, with marriage can come significant
tax changes. If both spouses work, they could get pushed into a higher tax bracket so they might need to adjust their withholdings. New spouses who change their names will need to report that to the Social Security Administration so the name on a person’s tax return matches what is on file with the government. Otherwise, it could delay the tax return.
GETTING A JOB
Job fairs: These are among the job fairs planned in central Ohio this month:
■ A Choice Career Fair is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North — Worthington, 6500 Double Tree Ave.
■ The 2017 Franklin County Empowerment Day Resource and Job Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Columbus State Conference Center, 315 Cleveland Ave. Attendees should follow signs to find free parking.
■ A United Career Fairs recruiting event will begin at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Holiday Inn Worthington, 7007 N. High St. Register to attend by sending a resume to www. unitedcareerfairs.com
■ A Senior Career Expo will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road.
THINGS TO DO
Travel bargains: When kids go back to school, travel deals get sweeter. For those who can travel during the “shoulder season,” there are deals on resorts, attractions and airline tickets starting in late August into September and October. For example, Southwest Airlines has been running fare sales that begin in late August and run through the fall. The Disney resorts and others frequently offer special rates during these slower travel periods. Check with specific businesses or your travel agent, and consider signing up for promotional emails from specific travel-related companies that interest you.