Game Plan is a guide to help you manage the month ahead.
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Staying fit: It happens every year. Fitness fans, emboldened by better weather,
head outdoors to jog, bike and swim. Retailers specializing in fitness apparel and accessories
realize this and rev up the sales on sporting goods and outdoor equipment. This year, the sales
should be particularly good, as stores such as REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods and L.L. Bean keep
themselves competitive while bankrupt Sports Authority liquidates its inventory.
Apple opportunities: The Worldwide Developers Conference will take place next week
in San Francisco, and Apple is expected to unveil a slew of products, including versions of the
operating systems that run the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Most of Apple’s Mac lineup is due for an
update, and some products could see refreshes, according to the folks at MacRumors.com. All this
means that stock of old phones, tablets and computers will go on sale soon, although the best
prices are likely to appear later this summer.
Following along: The Victoria’s Secret semiannual sale is coming soon (although
the folks at L Brands won’t say exactly when), and that means other retailers in the lingerie
sector will hurry to catch up. Look for sales at Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target, J.C. Penney and Sears in
addition to Victoria’s Secret.
Things to eat
Time to hydrate: With summer in sight, grocery stores are expected to help you
cool down by offering bargain prices on soft drinks, bottled water, iced-tea bags and mixes and
frozen treats. It’s also National Dairy Month, which also means that prices on frozen dairy treats,
plus milk and other dairy products, generally fall in June.
Car matters
Cheap rides: A budget-priced vehicle can still be fun to drive, as shown by Kelley
Blue Book’s annual list of 10 “coolest cars” that are less than $18,000. The list of new vehicles
has recurring stars, such as the Mazda3, a peppy compact car that has been at the top of the list
for three years running. Also near the top: the Honda Civic, a compact car, and the Jeep Renegade,
a compact SUV. The $18,000 limit refers to what the website says is the fair purchase price for at
least some trim levels of each model.
Your money
Saving for college: If you missed out on college savings day on May 29th (a day
meant to highlight 529 college-savings plans), don’t worry. You can start an account at any time,
and the sooner you start, the easier it should be to reach your goals. You can save as little $25,
and the money you contribute to your 529 plan can grow tax-free. If you’re an Ohio taxpayer, you
can deduct up to $2,000 in contributions per beneficiary per year from your Ohio taxable income.
When it is time to use the money in the plan, withdrawals also are tax-free if used for qualified
expenses.
Getting a job
Several job fairs are planned this month:
- The Easton Job Fair will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Monday at the Columbus Airport Marriott,
1375 N. Cassady Ave. - The New Albany job fair will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bob Evans Farms’ Dan Evans
Training Center, 8111 Smith’s Mill Road. The event is sponsored by the New Albany Chamber of
Commerce and will feature employers looking for full-time, part-time and seasonal workers. - A Choice Columbus Career Fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 16 at the Crowne
Plaza Columbus North — Worthington, 6500 Doubletree Ave.
Things to do
Slopping around: People of all ages are invited to take a 2-mile walk to Blacklick
Creek to see the critters that live there. Meet at 2 p.m. June 12 at the nature center, 6975 E.
Livingston Ave. The event is free and doesn’t require reservations.