{"id":7910,"date":"2010-01-07T05:00:22","date_gmt":"2010-01-07T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/?p=7910"},"modified":"2019-09-04T00:01:36","modified_gmt":"2019-09-04T07:01:36","slug":"the-best-time-to-buy-almost-everything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/the-best-time-to-buy-almost-everything\/","title":{"rendered":"The best time to buy almost everything"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/alancleaver\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 3px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/3138856308_d2ded415b4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\"\/><\/a>My mom has a sixth sense when it comes to bargain hunting. Where I&#8217;m thrilled to get 25 percent off and free shipping, she&#8217;s finding deals of 70 percent off and getting inside scoop from the salespeople, who probably have her on speed dial should a ginormous everything-must-go-or-we-torch-it clearance sale come along.<\/p>\n<p>Okay, so I&#8217;m exaggerating, but not by much. The point, however, is that the key to finding bargains is timing\u2014off-season, end-of-season, new models bringing down prices on the old models. There&#8217;s a pattern and a perfect time to buy just about anything.<\/p>\n<p>When possible, plan your purchases by using the following list to score the best deals and to keep more of your money in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/best-online-high-yield-savings-accounts\/\">high interest savings account<\/a>:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"house-and-home\"><\/span>House and Home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Real estate<\/strong>\u2014March through August are active months for buying and selling, so a buyer looking for a deal will have better luck negotiating on an offer in autumn and winter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flooring<\/strong>\u2014Carpet and flooring goes on sale near the end of the year due to slow sales, though discounts are possible throughout the year from independent retailers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Furniture<\/strong>\u2014January and July, when stores need to make room for new inventory.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gas grill<\/strong>\u2014Like air conditioners, the best time to buy is during winter months, when demand for outdoor grills is low.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cookware<\/strong>\u2014April and May (think graduation and wedding prime time) and October and November (holidays approaching).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Linens<\/strong>\u2014January \u201cwhite sales\u201d and the end of each season (i.e. as spring approaches, winter-colored linens will go on sale). It&#8217;s common to see linens (in all colors, not just white!) on sale for up to 60 percent off retail.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mattress<\/strong>\u2014New mattresses arrive in stores in May, when you&#8217;ll find a good deal on the previous year&#8217;s models.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vacuum cleaner<\/strong>\u2014June, when new models hit the floors, and end of winter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hardware<\/strong>\u2014Big sales occur around Father&#8217;s Day and between Thanksgiving and Christmas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Home appliances<\/strong>\u2014New models arrive in September and October, when you&#8217;ll find good deals on last year&#8217;s models. Holiday weekends\u2014Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Presidents Day\u2014also are good bets for deals. If you&#8217;re willing to buy an appliance with a ding or a scratch, you can save hundreds.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Air conditioner<\/strong>\u2014Winter months, when demand is low.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"flora\"><\/span>Flora<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Flowers<\/strong>\u2014Tulips are less expensive in February, peonies in May. Flowers are at their best when in season.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shrubs, trees, etc.<\/strong>\u2014Autumn is a good time to buy bulbs (store them according to directions on the packaging) and trees and shrubs (nurseries are trying to clear out inventory).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"recreation\"><\/span>Recreation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Outdoor (general)<\/strong>\u2014Swings, beach and pool toys, swimming gear, and other outdoor items go on sale in August, when retailers are trying to make room for fall and winter items.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Outdoor gear (bicycles, for example)<\/strong>\u2014February and March, when new models replace last year&#8217;s models.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Boat<\/strong>\u2014Boat shows, held from January through March, generally offer the best prices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gym membership<\/strong>\u2014Membership sales soar in January as everyone resolves to lose weight, but lag in spring and summer. You&#8217;ll find lower fees and waived enrollment fees to lure you to their treadmills.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Movie tickets<\/strong>\u2014Matinees are an established way to spend less at the theater (as is smuggling in your own M&amp;Ms, not that I&#8217;d condone such behavior or ever do so myself&#8230;). A.M. Cinema (AMC Theaters) sells discounted tickets before noon from Friday to Sunday and on holidays.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Broadway tickets<\/strong>\u2014Find bargains hours before the show, or try the well-known <a title=\"TKTS booth\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tdf.org\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TKTS<\/a> booth in Times Square.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"electronics\"><\/span>Electronics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Blu-ray player<\/strong>\u2014Black Friday sales and after-Christmas sales offer some of the best deals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>TV<\/strong>\u2014Sales can be found throughout the year. Times to note include Black Friday, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, right after New Year&#8217;s Day, before the Super Bowl, and in May and June. New models hit stores in August and September, when you&#8217;ll find sales on new models and discounts on the previous year models.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cell phone<\/strong>\u2014New customers get the best deals. For new phones, wait six months if you can. Search online for coupon codes, as well.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Digital camera<\/strong>\u2014The Consumer Electronics Show and Photo Marketing Association convention mean new models will arrive in stores. Shop in January and February for deals on last year&#8217;s models.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Computer<\/strong>\u2014Back-to-school season yields a few sales, but the best deals can be found when a technology is outdated and retailers want to get rid of the older models. Look for a few extras (free shipping, bundled accessories, etc.) around the holidays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"highlight\"><i><b>Tip:<\/b><\/i> In general, you&#8217;ll find a good deal when an electronic item is outdated. Wait until after technology shows like MacWorld and the International Consumer Electronics Show to see if your iWhatever will be discounted to make way for the next big thing.<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"auto\"><\/span>Auto<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New car<\/strong>\u2014New models roll into the lot in fall, so shop in September for last year&#8217;s model. Shop on a weekday at the end of the month to get the undivided attention of a salesperson trying to make their monthly quota.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Used car<\/strong>\u2014Dealers increase their inventory in April to start the spring selling season. You&#8217;ll find a good selection and willing negotiators.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Recreational vehicle<\/strong>\u2014Dealers sometimes offer specials in winter, but generally buying an RV works like buying a car (see new cars).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gasoline<\/strong>\u2014Fuel up on a weekday, early in the morning if gas prices are rising or in the evening if gas prices are going down (prices are usually changed between 10 a.m. and noon).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Oil change<\/strong>\u2014Look for early bird specials in your area.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tires and auto parts<\/strong>\u2014During April (National Car Care Month) and October (Fall Car Care Month), you are likely to find buy-three-get-one-free deals on tires, free oil changes, and other checkups.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Car wash<\/strong>\u2014Early birds (before 8 or 9 a.m.) can often find deals at full-service car washes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"travel\"><\/span>Travel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Airline tickets<\/strong>\u2014For domestic nonholiday travel, look for the lowest fares 21 days from your departure. Fares are updated at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and airlines file one update on Saturday and Sunday. Lowest fares are filed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and occasionally on Saturdays. Wednesday is generally the cheapest day to fly and Sunday the most expensive. (Exception: the Wednesday before Thanksgiving\u2014the busiest travel day of the year.) For holiday travel, start looking in September to get a good price. Fares can change quickly, and much depends on the carrier and the market.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Travel (general)<\/strong>\u2014The off-season or shoulder-season for your destination will offer the most savings on lodging, recreation, transportation, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"food\"><\/span>Food<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Groceries (supermarket)<\/strong>\u2014On Sunday evenings, you&#8217;ll save money through store sales (typically run Wednesday through Thursday), and by shopping in the evening, you can save even more on items that must be sold by day&#8217;s end. If you clip coupons from the Sunday newspaper, you&#8217;ll enjoy additional savings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coupons<\/strong>\u2014While coupons are available throughout the year, the most coupons appear in the Sunday paper during November and December. The best deals on turkeys can be found two weeks before Thanksgiving to Christmas. In spring, you&#8217;ll find coupons on seasonal produce, ham, and frozen food (apparently March is National Frozen Food Month\u2014who knew?). Summer coupons offer discounts on grilling items and ice cream. Autumn brings coupons on soup and other canned items.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Groceries (farmers market)<\/strong>\u2014Vendors often lower prices near closing to avoid having to pack up perishables and take them back to the farm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Champagne<\/strong>\u2014With steep competition to be your New Year&#8217;s Eve bubbly, Champagne houses drop prices during the holidays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"clothing-and-accessories\"><\/span>Clothing and Accessories<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clothing (general)<\/strong>\u2014Got your heart set on something in particular? Shop on a Thursday evening six to eight weeks after the item arrived in the store. By Thursday, the weekend sales have started and the selection will still be good. Season-end clearance sales also offer up savings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Baby clothes<\/strong>\u2014Shop during your pregnancy for end-of-season clearance items. If it&#8217;s springtime and you are due in winter, look for winter closeout sales now for infant clothing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jewelry<\/strong>\u2014Avoid the holidays, when you are most likely to pay full price.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"weddings\"><\/span>Weddings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wedding (general)<\/strong>\u2014The off-season can mean big discounts. If you live in a cooler climate, you&#8217;ll find savings during the winter months. Hotter climates mean likely deals in summer months.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wedding dresses<\/strong>\u2014After Thanksgiving and before Christmas. Boutiques are stocked with gowns for Christmas engagements, but it&#8217;s a slow sales period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"other\"><\/span>Other<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Toys<\/strong>\u2014October and November offer good bargains as retailers gear up for the holiday season.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wrapping paper<\/strong>\u2014January, of course!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I might not ever be as good as my mom at bargain hunting, but knowing when to shop might make me almost as good. If you&#8217;re one to make resolutions every new year, resolve to save money and correcting your small errors by including a check on your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/free-credit-report\/\">free credit report<\/a> to make a huge difference in your purchases in 2010 by timing your purchases.<\/p>\n<p>If you found this helpful, don&#8217;t forget to follow Get Rich Slowly on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GetRichSlowly\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/getrichslowly\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/alancleaver\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin: 3px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/3138856308_d2ded415b4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"3\"\/><\/a>My mom has a sixth sense when it comes to bargain hunting. Where I&#8217;m thrilled to get 25 percent off and free shipping, she&#8217;s finding deals of 70 percent off and getting inside scoop from the salespeople, who probably have her on speed dial should a ginormous everything-must-go-or-we-torch-it clearance sale come along.<\/p>\n<p>Okay, so I&#8217;m exaggerating, but not by much. The point, however, is that the key to finding bargains is timing\u2014off-season, end-of-season, new models bringing down prices on the old models. There&#8217;s a pattern and a perfect time to buy just about anything.<\/p>\n<p>When possible, plan your purchases by using the following list to score the best deals and to keep more of your money in your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/best-online-high-yield-savings-accounts\/\">high interest savings account<\/a>:<\/\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[476],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7910"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7910\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}