Your guide to end-of-summer sales season

Back-to-school isn’t just for kids anymore. Some of the hottest deals of the year happen in the final weeks of summer. You’ll find deep discounts on items you could use as much as any high school or college student, including computers, printers, and small appliances. August and September are also prime bargain-hunting months for cars because dealers have to make room on their lots for next year’s models. And if you’re able to get away on a vacation, it’s a great time to save on airfare, hotels, and other travel services.

Pick your spots, though, because not every end-of-summer deal is a steal. More retailers and service providers are trying to get in on the action with phony sales or bait-and-switch tactics. Below, we tell you which deals are for real, and which could leave you out in the cold.

Don't forget to check our coverage of the best time to buy things, which provides a monthly snapshot of the best deais.

Deals on wheels

New car models often debut in the fall, so you might find discounts of 15 percent or more in August and September on leftover models. Buying a year-end closeout model makes particular sense if you plan to keep the vehicle for five years or longer. Otherwise, you’ll lose out on the trade-in value because cars see their biggest depreciation in their first year. Check out our free New Car Preview for a list of cars that have been redesigned for 2015.

Because dealerships lose money the longer they hold on to a ­vehicle, they might try to cover their losses by pushing unnecessary extras, such as corrosion protection or an extended warranty. Buy a car with good predicted ­reliability and skip such extras.

Hot tip: The Toyota Camry, one of our highest-rated midsized sedans, has been updated for 2015, though the changes are largely cosmetic. So you might save upward of $4,000 on the 2014 model without compromising on performance. One caveat: The Camry was updated ­midyear to improve its crash protection. Be sure to get the “2014.5” model, as noted on the window sticker.

Budget travel

After ­Labor Day, prices drop on airfare, hotels, and theme parks—luggage, too. Monday and Tuesday are usually the best days to snag cheap airline tickets. Sign up for e-mail price alerts to help stay on top of the offers. And if you can travel during a 24- to 48-hour window rather than on a specific date, your chances of landing a great deal will go up.

As for the best destinations, “Hawaii rarely experiences bad weather, and you’ll find many airlines and hotels offering 40 percent off for September travel there,” says Courtney Scott, senior editor at Travelocity. Hotels throughout the Mediterranean slash prices in late September and early October, after most tourists have gone home. Check out Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Spain’s Palma de Mallorca. For travel in October and into November, deals abound in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and other ­Caribbean hot spots. November hurricanes are rare in the eastern Caribbean, but still consider ­travel insurance.

Hot tip: Shop at Costco? You can find great vacation deals—say, 20 to 40 percent off peak prices—through its travel service. After Labor Day, an all-­inclusive four-night stay (with meals) at the Hard Rock Hotel in the Dominican Republic will be discounted to $789 per person.

Related information: Check our buying guides for luggage and hotels.

Lawns and beyond

You’ll find deals on patio furniture, lawn mowers, camping equipment, and other outdoor gear in August, but if you wait until September, prices might be slashed in half. Perennials, shrubs, and trees also see deep discounts, though make sure you choose species that can be planted in the fall.

Hot tip: Last winter’s heavy snowfall caused a run on snow blowers in many parts of the country. This year’s shipments will start to arrive in late August. Keep an eye out for deep teaser deals, which retailers use to get the attentionof customers who still have summer on the mind.

Back-to-school buys

Computers are often reduced 30 to 50 percent, and cell phones are discounted 20 to 30 percent during back-to-school season, says Dan Butler, a spokesman for the National Retail Federation. Many of the top Android smart phones have already been introduced for the year, but if you’re an Apple fan, it might make sense to wait. Its new models typicallu come out in early fall, and we’re anticipating major hardware updates.

Paper, pens, tablets, and backpacks are also on sale in August. So are wardrobe basics: Blue jeans, khakis, white shirts, socks, and underwear are all 20 to 25 percent off, and you’ll see even bigger discounts on sneakers.

With millions of students heading back to college, towels are marked down 20 to 30 percent—same with sheets, although usually on the twin sizes. Coffeemakers and small countertop microwaves are on sale, too.

Hot tip: Some states drop the sales tax on clothing, footwear, and certain school supplies for several days in July or August to coincide with back-to-school shopping. The exemptions and spending caps vary widely, so check your state’s department of revenue or tax web-site for details.