When to Find the Best Deals from July through December

Back in April I wrote a post about the best time of year to buy to get the best deals on all kinds of products, from DVDs to automobiles. This is the second part of that post which picks up with the second half of the year from July to December.

July

Computers – July and August, or right after a new model is launched. Buying slightly older technology offers great savings opportunities.

Swimwear – As the swimming season draws to a close in July and August, you’ll find the best deals on tanks and bikinis. 

Indoor furniture – With the year’s second round of new furniture about to hit stores in August, July is a great time to find discounts on current inventory.

August

Lawn mowers and outdoor furniture – stores start to make room for snow blowers by August.

Dehumidifiers - For the same reason that humidifiers go on sale in February, dehumidifiers go on sale in August.

Computers – see July for details

Swimwear – see July for details

September

Gas/charcoal grills – Fire up your credit card in September through November, when outdoor cooking heads toward hibernation in most areas of the country.

Automobiles – Most new model years start in September, so that’s when dealers are looking to clear their lots of the previous year’s inventory. November and December also can be good though selections may be slimmer.

Scrubs, Trees & Perinials – September is when stores want to empty their garden sections, but there’s still enough time to get plants established before the first freeze.

Digital Cameras – A second round of new models comes out this time of year, so current inventory is marked down to make room for new models.

October

Gas/charcoal grills – see September for details

Winter clothing – cold-weather gear goes back on sale when the weather’s just starting to turn.

November

Automobiles – see September for details.

Televisions – TVs are a staple of pre- and post-Christmas sales, so plan to buy during the winter months (coincidentially, the same time you’ll want to spend curled up on the couch in front of the flat-screen anyway)

Toys - Another area where you can save just when you need to – in time for the holidays.

December

Air conditioners – this one’s easy – buy during winter when demand is low.

Automobiles – consumers are focused on holiday gifts and demand is lower.

Televisions - see November for details

Toys – see November for details

Good Days to Buy

Tuesdays – DVDs. New releases come out every Tuesday, and many stores offer discounts if you buy a movie on the first day it hits video.

Wednesday mornings – Airline tickets. According to Consumer Reports, that’s when airlines try to fill unsold seats on flights for the following week to 10 days.

Holiday weekends- Appliances. This is when stores bring out their big sales. Even smaller holidays like Columbus Day and Presidents Day can be good time to buy, according to SmartMoney.com.

If you know of other best buying times for products to add to my list, I welcome your comments.

Originally posted 2009-06-11 11:00:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Benefits Of Family Meal Planning

Are you ready to save some time, feed your family healthier meals and save some money along the way? These are just some of the benefits of family meal planning. Let’s look at all of them in a little more detail.

Eat Healthier

Planning your family meals will cut down on your trips to your favorite fast food restaurant and the amount of pizza you have delivered to your door. Food you prepare at home tends to be much healthier than hamburgers with fries, fried chicken or pizza. When you plan your meals include some lean protein like chicken breast, as well as some salads and vegetables. Your entire family will benefit from the healthier meals.

Save Time

How much time are you spending now running to the grocery store a few times a week. I used to run to the store at least 3 times a week to buy something to fix for dinner. Planning your meals out for a week at a time and then putting together a grocery list with everything you need to cook those meals will cut your trips to the store down to one a week. This alone will save you a few hours each week. Plus you won’t be standing in front of your fridge and pantry every night trying to come up with something you can fix with what you have at hand.

Save Money

All that eating out and having food delivered can quickly add up. By preparing more meals at home you will save quite a few dollars each week. In addition, you will save on your monthly grocery bill, since you will be making a list of everything you need for the week and won’t end up buying extras that just go to waste. I used to throw out food almost every week before I started meal planning.

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Less Stress

You know the routine. It’s 6 pm, everyone in the family is starving and you have no idea what’s for dinner. Trying to come up with something to cook from what you have in the kitchen while your kids are tired, hungry and screaming isn’t one of the most fun family activities. You will be much more relaxed about dinner, when you know exactly what you are going to cook ahead of time and known you have everything you need in the house.

Quality Time Together

Meal Planning also encourages everyone to gather around the dinner table each day. Who could resist the delicious smells coming out of the kitchen? Dinnertime has always been a great time for families to gather and share news and experiences of the day. Parents and children can pay each other undivided attention. Cook some dinner, set the table and don’t forget to turn off the TV. Make dinner a daily family tradition again.

I encourage you to give family meal planning a try. I am sure you and your family will see the benefits within less than a week.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine – A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner.  Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour!

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Originally posted 2011-01-27 22:37:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

When to Find the Best Deals from January through June

I certainly don’t advocate buying stuff that you don’t need. But we all need new stuff from time to time. So if you’ve done your research and have determined that you need a new item, then I advocate saving as much money on your purchase as possible.

So you’ve done your research and you know what you plan to purchase. When is the best time to buy to get the best deals? You might just find that consulting your calendar will help you get the best deals. Certain times of the year – or even days of the week – can be ideal to shop for specific items.

Because I am such a bargain shopper, I decided to consult Consumer Reports and other consumer websites to figure out what to buy when. In this post I’ll cover the months in the first and second quarters, then will follow up in a subsequent post in June to cover the month in quarters three and four (July – December).

At the end of this post I’ve also included the days of the week that are best for purchasing certain products.

January

Houses and condos – If a homeowner has their home for sale during the winter months, it usually means there’s a need there to sell. 

Winter clothing – after-holiday sales make January a prime month for bargains on clothing, coats, and more.

Digital cameras – new models are announced in January, so the previous versions may be steeply discounted.

Bedding and linens – January “White Sales” date back to 1878 when a Philadelphia department store discounted his bedding linens, and the tradition caught on and continues to this day.

Indoor furniture – new furniture hits showrooms in February and August, so January and July are the best months to get good deals on current inventories.  

February

Homes and condos – see January for details

Sports gear and running shoes – In February and March, stores discount last year’s shoes. Try to buy sports fear a couple of months before the season starts.

Swimwear - Many stores will have carryover from the previous year and mark down at the first of the season in February or March.

Bicycles - In February and March bike sellers look to clear out last year’s models, much like auto dealers do in the fall.

Humidifiers - Consumer Reports says to buy humidifiers during the coldest time of the year: February.

March

Bicycles – see February for details

Swimwear – see February for details

Sports gear and running shoes – see February for details

Televisions - The fiscal year for Japanese companies ends in March, that month and April offer some great deals.

Camping equipment – Camping season begins in early-to-mid March where you can find great early season deals.

Winter clothing – look for deals on cold-weather clothes when the temperatures begin to rise.

April

Televisions – see March for details

May and June

Not much happening in May and June other than stores are still clearing out cold-weather clothing.

Good Days to Buy

 Tuesdays – DVDs. New releases come out every Tuesday, and many stores offer discounts if you buy a movie on the first day it hits video.

Wednesday mornings – Airline tickets. According to Consumer Reports, that’s when airlines try to fill unsold seats on flights for the following week to 10 days.

Holiday weekends – Appliances. This is when stores bring out their big sales. Even smaller holidays like Columbus Day and Presidents Day can be good time to buy, according to SmartMoney.com.

If you know of other best buying times for products to add to my list, I welcome your comments.

Originally posted 2009-04-10 22:47:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

How will you observe “Buy Nothing Day?”

Here are some eye-opening facts as we approach the busiest buying season of the year.

• The average American wastes 55-minutes per day (roughly 12 weeks per year) looking for misplaced belongings.
• 75% of Americans visit malls each week. On average, Americans shop six hours a week.
• Today, many new homes are built with three-car garages the size of an entire house in the 1950s.
• We receive as much mail in a week as our parents received in a month and as much mail in a month as our grandparents received in a lifetime.” (source: USPS)

 

The Day After Thanksgiving is BUY NOTHING DAY! How will you observe it?

 

This internationally-recognized holiday is an opportunity to challenge yourself, your family, and your friends to take a day off from shopping. Recent statistics reveal that Americans spend 6 hours per week shopping. Instead of hitting the malls, spend some time – rather than money – doing things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Here are a few tips to get you started:

 

FOCUS ENERGY ELSEWHERE
Does your “To Do” list have you constantly running, buying, doing, and getting? Try simplifying your life by slowing down to appreciate the good around you. When do you find yourself smiling or happy? Pursue those activities that energize and revitalize you. Starting today, make a few conscious choices to spend your time and energy differently.

 

AVOID TEMPTATION
Do you find yourself running to multiple stores each week to get all those great sale items? Make a decision to try a few weeks without reading the Sunday sale ads. Make a running list of the items that you absolutely cannot live without, pledge to purchase only items that are on that list. You’ll be amazed at the time and money you save!

BE AWARE OF CLUTTER’S CURSE
When you spend money, you’re bound to accumulate clutter. Clutter takes up time, space, energy, and/or money without providing any tangible benefit. Consider the time and effort it takes to care for your belongings. Could you think of better ways to spend your time?

LOOK DEEPER
Before you buy, think about what’s truly important to you. What brings you joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment? Try to look beyond the initial “thrill of the purchase” and see what provides deeper moments of meaning. 

 

Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant.

~ Stephen R. Covey, Ph.D.

Originally posted 2008-11-25 05:14:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Why Are Our Lives Filled With So Much Stuff?

Why are so many of our lives overstuffed with stuff? Buying stuff. Selling stuff. Eating stuff. Not eating stuff. We buy stuff to store our stuff. When our homes are full of stuff, we rent more places to store our stuff, so well, we can get more stuff. How can any of this be good for us?

We are told by pundits and government officials that the recession is causing us to buy too little new stuff – which is hurting the folks who make the stuff. And yet somehow, we are also told by the same pundits and government officials that we bought too much stuff to begin with, ultimately causing the onset of the recession.

We are told by environmentalists that we need to keep our stuff longer (or perhaps get rid of our stuff and get new better stuff) to be more friendly to Mother Earth.

It is all beginning to make me feel suffocated. We live in a country of great abundance – perhaps the abundance of all the stuff is a symptom of our success. Yet a recent wave of documentary/realty television is dedicated to the addiction of stuff. Shows like Hoarders regale viewers with stories of the millions of Americans drowning both financially and emotionally under the weight of years of accumulated and calcified stuff. Lives are destroyed. Homes are destroyed. And families fail. Not because of hunger or want, but because of excess. As a people, we seem unable to outrun the tsunami of stuff that follows our every move.

As a Professional Organizer, I see it every day. The past 5 years that I have been invited into people’s homes and offices to help them deal with their cluttered lives, has changed my life.

Every once in a while, isn’t there great joy in the reduction of stuff? Isn’t a trip to Goodwill (or even to the dumpster) kind of refreshing? I feel great – I much prefer the feeling of living lighter than of being tied down by stuff.

Consider this quote … the most important things are not things.

And yet, we still hang on to our stuff for a rainy day. Why? I challenge you this week to analyze your motives, emotions, reasons and excuses that you give yourself to convince you to hold onto stuff that doesn’t enhance your life.

Originally posted 2010-07-05 20:28:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Identify Clutter With Three Easy Questions

What exactly is clutter? Can you easily identify the clutter in your home and life?

Clutter is anything unnecessary and extraneous. Clutter is much more than the physical clutter most of us think of. Getting organized means clearing out the clutter in your mind, heart, and life. As for the physical clutter, ask yourself the following three questions about each item in your home and life. If you can’t answer yes to at least one, it’s probably clutter!

1. Is it beautiful? A stunning piece of artwork enriches your life because it brings joy each time you see it. A gorgeous vase full of fresh flowers reduces stress and energizes your spirit.

2. Is it useful? Worded another way … does it serve a specific purpose in your life? For example, you use your 12-cup coffee maker every day. You couldn’t make it through the week without it.  In this case, the coffee maker serves a specific purpose in your life. However, let’s consider the tortilla maker stuffed in the back of your cabinet that you haven’t used for a year. Consider  this … you’ve done without this appliance for a year – so is it serving a specific purpose in your life? Is keeping this item worth the space it consumes?   (Don’t confuse this question with, “Will/Could it be useful someday?”).

3. Is it loved? The antique pocket watch from your grandfather is a precious reminder of him. Your favorite cashmere sweater makes you feel fabulous.

You’ll find that as you inventory your possessions, you may be able to answer “yes” to two or even three of the questions above. Those are the things that are most valuable to you. Remember, the goal of decluttering is not to get rid of everything. It’s simply to keep only things that you truly appreciate and actually use.

To stop clutter, prevent it from accumulating in the first place. Don’t give clutter a chance to form. As you’ve probably experienced, once clutter occupies a space, it has a way of multiplying and spreading like weeds.

Always remember to place your emphasis on quality (of life) over quantity. In other words, it’s not important to have a lot of things, many of which you never use. It’s more beneficial to have fewer things, all of which you use and/or enjoy.

Think before you buy. As a Professional Organizer, I believe over-buying is the crux of many of our clutter problems. Try to look beyond the initial “thrill of the purchase” and see what provides deeper moments of meaning. Before you buy, know the specific purpose and home for every item you purchase, and consider the time you’ll spend maintaining the item after you bring it home (and the space it consumes) – cleaning, storing, and maintaining. If you must buy, establish a “new item in, old item out” system where some purging takes place before shopping. This is a habit that we adhere to in our home consistently, especially in our closets.

Once you rid yourself of clutter (the unnecessary and unuseful) and make space only for what’s special, you’ll find it’s easier to get – and stay – organized! You’ll soon reap the many benefits of a clutter-free life: more energy, happier relationships, a well-organized home or office, more spontaneity, greater focus, new opportunities, and a better outlook on life.

For more great tips and strategies to organize and manage your home, family and life, get our e-book 77-page: Home Organization Secrets for Busy Moms

Originally posted 2010-04-15 12:04:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

How to Save Money with Online Coupons

Online coupons are the wave of the future. Technology has afforded us the ability to shop in cyberspace and that has extended also to saving money online. Before you shop again learn a few facts about online coupons.

Online coupons are not like printable coupons that you find in newspapers and magazines. Online stores can’t scan your coupon like they do in the store. Instead, you will see a picture of a coupon on your screen that has a bolded code made of numbers and letters at the bottom. This code is the way that you use online coupons.

Some sites call this code a coupon code and some call it a promotional code. The two names are interchangeable. A coupon code (we’ll call it that since we are talking about coupons) is used at checkout just like in the actual store. Here’s an example of on online coupon site:

Coupon sites like www.Coupons.com offer coupons in a couple of different options – for some coupons they will ask you to install a coupon printer driver which allows you to print scanable coupons (to use physically in grocery stores), other options they offer are for you to click on the link to the coupon offer.

But, where do you find these handy coupon codes for online coupons? Hint: stores don’t tell you this but there are sites that list coupon codes for a number of popular stores. One such site is www.currentcodes.com. This site keeps up with the latest codes so you don’t have to spend tons of time visiting website after website to find the code you’re looking for.

If you receive a promotional offer through an email from a site inviting you to shop there, first go to your coupon code site and see if that store offers any coupon codes you can shop with. It is like a goldmine for online shoppers.  Some of the online coupon offers are “Free shipping on all orders”, “Save $50 on all orders over $100”, and “15% off your entire order.”

Online coupon codes do expire so be mindful of time limits. Always read the fine print after each coupon code so you know the exact requirements for the coupon code to be valid. You don’t want to get to check out and find out that you can’t use your code.

Some online coupons are presented to you in the form of links. If you’ve ever bought anything online, you will get an email from everyone wanting you to spend money in their store. In the email ads, you’ll see things like “Click here to save 10% on your next order.” By clicking on that link, you are taken to the offer web page where you can use your savings. Upon checkout, your savings are automatically deducted because you clicked on the link that offers the discount. But, check to be sure you aren’t being ripped off.

Some of the benefits of online coupons are:

• There are no long lines to stand in and you don’t use up your precious gas driving to the store.
• Many online stores offer deals on items that aren’t for sale in their physical stores. These coupon codes take some time to find, but they add up to big savings for the diligent shopper.
• You can do your research on-line about where to find the best deals from the comfort of your own home before ever stepping foot in a store.

Organize your clipped coupons with The Couponizer. The Couponizer is not just your ordinary coupon holder, it is an entire system designed by a busy mom. I have been using The Couponizer for several years and it is the only system that has worked for me consistently.

Originally posted 2010-05-20 14:11:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter