When it comes to getting the best bang for your buck, it typically comes down to knowing when and where to make a purchase. I can’t help you with the “where” (since it varies wildly by location), but I can certainly help you with knowing when different types of sales and discounts are likely to occur. Even better, if you watch the sales and know how to buy items in bulk, you can get some amazing deals. Now, let’s find out the best time to buy just about every major item!
January
This month is actually a decent time to buy cold-weather clothes! In preparation for the spring (i.e. to make space for new clothes), a lot of stores will begin marking down things like coats, sweatshirts, boots, and clothes along those lines. You may still find the same discounts next month, but January is a good bet before they sell out.
Surprisingly, it’s also a good time to buy sheets and towels. Commonly called “white sales” – January is a prime time for sheets, towels, or any other linens you can think of. Stores also tend to mark down TVs and a few other electronics in preparation for the Super Bowl.
It’s also a good idea to keep a lookout for sales related to common New Year’s resolutions. For example, it isn’t uncommon for there to be discounts on workout equipment since this is when a lot of people will be trying to get in better shape.
February
Guess what time it is? Tax season! February is the best time to purchase tax software. It may sound like you’re filing earlier than you have to, but a lot of companies offer discounts for taxpayers filing this early. They know there are a lot of options out there, so they do their best to compete against each other.
Presidents’ Day is in February, so depending on what you need it may be the right time for you to get mattresses, furniture, or appliances. I’d also like to add that there will likely be a little bit of January’s sales on furniture and winter clothing this month, but the selection may be limited and the sale could end early (if supply ends).
March
March doesn’t have the best sales, but they can still be found. You can still probably get a discount on tax software, and you may be able to find sales on summer items like grills and outdoorsy apparel. Sales for these warm weather items may be better later on in the year, but they may be the best you’ll see for a while.
In addition to all of that, you’re bound to see a lot of discounts on Irish and green-themed clothes, jewelry, and accessories. St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the biggest holiday, but it does come with some of its own special discounts. You might even be able to purchase alcohol for a better price this month.
April
You may not realize it, but April has some pretty good sales. Thanks to spring cleaning sales, you’ll be able to find things like vacuums and other home cleaning products for a better price – there are even some surprising discounts on certain appliances during this month.
Leading up to Easter, there are also decent sales on more formal attire (which I assume is for the lines of people going to a church on Easter Sunday) as well as Easter decorations like plastic eggs, flowers, and baskets. Of course, right after Easter a lot of these items will have a steep discount as stores try to get rid of their inventory.
May
This is a great month to shop for spring clothes. Usually stores will start getting rid of spring clothing in favor of summer attire. Also, Memorial Day is a great time to shop for just about any appliance and a lot of furniture will also see major discounts.
Mother’s Day is in May, so also keep an eye out for sales on Mother’s Day gifts (like jewelry, purses, perfume, or clothes).
June
At first June may not seem like a great month for discounts, but you’d be surprised. Thanks to Father’s Day, you can snag a lot of “manly” items at a discount. Keep an eye out on tools, TVs, watches, and ties or other men’s clothing. On top of that, many retailers have a semi-annual sale in June, so pay attention to see if one of your favorites is having one.
July
The fourth of July offers tons of great sales! You can find deals on gadgets, tech accessories, furniture, and even appliances. This may also be a good time to buy America-themed accessories and clothes or even fireworks. Be careful though, at lot of these sales have a very limited window – often only a weekend long – and tend to run out of stock.
August
With Summer starting to end, you might be able to find good deals on warm weather clothes, swimsuits, and outdoor gear as stores try to get rid of extra inventory. Additionally, now is when a lot of office supply stores run their back-to-school specials, so be sure to check those out. Many retailers will also participate in back-to-school specials by offering discounts on laptops and desktops, so it is usually a good time to by computers as well.
September
Labor Day sales are great, and offer tons of discounts on outdoor gear like grills. If you want outdoor furniture, now is probably the last time you’ll have a good chance until the following year. Plus, you can get appliances and mattresses at good prices during this month too.
October
Until early in the following year, you’ll probably find the best prices on cold weather clothing, including jeans, that you’ll see for a while. On top of that, you can usually find great deals on candy and Halloween decorations (although, sometimes those sales don’t start until the day after Halloween).
November
I think you know this one – it’s Black Friday (and Cyber Monday)! You can find sales on just about anything (as long as stores still have it in stock this time of year). TVs, appliances, tools, computers, gadgets, and furniture can all be found for some of the best prices during November. Since some of the best deals are during this period, it’s a common practice to save up (over the course of the year) for a lot of your bigger expenditures while the sales are active. If you need help saving up for those big purchases, check out my article on budgeting.
December
Compared to Black Friday, a lot of the sales in December seem a bit lackluster, but they can still be worthwhile. Usually there are last minute deals on items that typically make good gifts (usually in the week leading up to Christmas), so it may be a good time to check sales catalogs. Also, right after Christmas as stores are trying to get rid of a lot of the excess Christmas inventory, you may be able to find deals on decorations and gift items – but inventory will be limited.
Conclusion
I hope you found some useful information in this article. As a final tidbit, I want to add that you shouldn’t buy something you don’t need just because it is on sale. With that being said, let me know if you have any other useful information about when the best sales and discounts are in the comments!
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