Got Cash? Here Are 7 Ways to Spend Your Dough

For someone like Ben Popken, who has a good job and a steady income, there has never been a better time to have cash to burn.

"With all the deals going on, I feel like I'm rich," said Popken, who is co-executive editor of Consumerist.com, a Web site dedicated to consumer issues.

"Cash is king in the down economy," said Popken, who put his yearly income in the "upper five figures." "There are definitely deals to be had."

What Are Your Impulse Buys? Tell ABC News

Popken thanks the recession for creating the deals he says are better than ever. "Before the recession ... companies that were putting out deals were really just giving little nudges to people, 5 percent or 10 percent off," he said.

Related

Tony Homes on the Auction Block

Recession Guide to Summer Fun

Govt. Offers URL for Those Down and Out

But these days, for instance, a refurbished MacBook Air, which retails for at least $1,500, cost him a little more than $1,000. "That's a significant price drop, even for a refurbished machine," he said.

He also said he saved nearly $75 on a brand new Sony Cybershot digital camera by combining coupons on Dell.com.

Industry experts say that Popken's experience is not unusual: There's a deal to be found in nearly every corner of the market, from unbeatable prices for new cars to extravagant vacation packages to that dream home you never thought you'd be able to afford.

"Really and truly, there are great deals out there on everything from apparel to electronics, if you're willing to spend," said Mike Gatti, senior vice president of communications for the National Retail Federation.

"Everyone is trying to push their inventory out, and so they're cutting prices," he said.

ABCNews.com compiled a list of the top seven items people who aren't down and out because of the recession should look to spend their money on -- from car deals to vacations to the latest gadget you'd love to have.