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

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