Examples of sporting goods that one can find on sale. Photo by: Alexandria Schaffer
By Alexandria Schaffer
Sports require many items in order to play them and with prices going up every day many athletes and parents are starting to feel the crunch. However with a few easy tips those costs can go down.
Finding discounted sporting items can sometimes pose a challenge, especially if one is seeking a “designer brand” item, or “the hot new trend.” Many stores do, however, offer discounted prices for sporting equipment and apparel; it just is a matter of looking hard enough to find what exactly you are looking for. Unfortunately, most stores do not put their designer brand items or any sporting goods on sale during the season that a particular sport is played. So it is best to buy sporting goods after the season ends, or far enough in advance when it is still possible to get those great deals.
If finding a great deal is all that someone is worried about, then they might actually end up spending more money in the end. Finding equipment that will last for more than one season is essential to saving money on sporting goods. Unfortunately, like popular belief the no-name brand items most of the time are not made up of the fine and long lasting material that the name brand items are. Thus, spending more money on the short term can sometimes actually save one more money in the long run.
Many of the times, when someone is looking for a specific item they end up settling on the lesser equivalent that costs more and will not do them much good. Most people end up doing this because they wait till the last second to buy the item they need, and have to settle on the lesser equivalent to meet their deadline. To avoid such an inconvenience one must give themselves plenty of time to go to different stores to see the various options.
Another way to save money is to subscribe to a store`s rewards program, to get free coupons in the mail. Stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Nike, and Adidas offer many coupons both in their monthly catalog and on-line to help shoppers find the best deals where ever they are. Also, many sporting stores offer discounts to shoppers who spend a significant amount of money. For example, a store may have a program where when a shopper spends 50 dollars they can get ten dollars off of a purchase.
On-line shopping can also provide shoppers the opportunity to save money on the sporting goods that they seek. Shoes that are full price at the store can be five to ten dollars cheaper on the store’s on-line web page. It is also a great place to find even more coupons, to save even more money in stores. Stores’ websites also provide links to see what the latest fashion is and what is coming in stock.
If on-line shopping is not one’s cup of tea, then buying used equipment from garage sale or friends and family can also be as efficient. Buying used equipment can be extremely cost-efficient because most of the sporting equipment sold at garage sales has been barely used, and in really good shape. It also can become a back up piece of equipment if the equipment currently being used breaks or becomes worn out.
Giving away old equipment is another option to help other family members out as well. Sporting equipment can be expensive especially if it concerns a little kid who is constantly growing out of their equipment. Giving a family member of a friend an old piece of equipment, that is no longer used, can be efficient to both oneself and to that particular family member, because the money that one has spent on that equipment is getting more use, and that family member is not having to go and spend the money on the sporting equipment.
If going to the mall is not a favored option, outlet stores offer many discounts that regular malls do not. Because, outlet malls offer more deals and cheaper prices it is most of the time favored by many shoppers who are looking to save even more
Discount stores like K-Mart, Walmart and Target, can also provide discounts that outlet stores, and mall stores do not. Since, many of the times the sporting equipment that these stores make are “generic brand” they end up costing shoppers even less money in the short run.
The biggest way anyone can save money on sporting equipment is to simply take care of the equipment that they already own. By taking care of the equipment that is already in use it ensures the equipment lasts a long time.