What to Buy When? Part I

Consider this case. You go to the nearby mall to purchase a new pair of shoes. You stroll around the place and select the best looking pair. Just after you pay the bill, you learn that you would have earned 30% discount on the same pair if you would have bought it a couple of days later. You curse the shoes, the sales girl, the mall, and particularly, your TIMING.

Saving each dollar by earning cash back on your card, preparing a new budget, not eating out, disconnecting your cable, etc. is a good way to accumulate. However, finding the best bargain is crucial. You cannot just buy anything at anytime, especially when you are being frugal. There is a right to purchase everything.

There is, however, a big problem. How do you when is the right time to buy the right thing? Here is the list:

House and furnishings

• House:
  Generally, most of the purchasing and selling of houses is done in the months amid March and August. So, if you are looking for a better offer, try bargaining in the winter or autumn.
• Floor Covering:
  A good house looks better with remarkable flooring. Find the best deals on carpet, tiles, and other floorings during the end of the calendar year, when the demand and sales is quite low. You will get it cheap at almost any retailer.
• Decorative Furniture:
  New furniture is stocked by retailers in January and June. Hence the unsold ones are up for sale.
• Gas Grill:
  Demand for gas grills is low during winter months.
• Cookware:
  The graduation and wedding days of April-May provides good deals. If you miss it, don’t fret. Wait till the holiday season (Oct-Nov) to get better ones.
• Linen:
  Linen lovers term January as “White sales”, or they wander through the shops during the end of each season, that is to say initial spring days. Linens are sold at over 65% off during this season.
• Mattresses:
  The new ones enter the retail market in the month of May. So, the old ones are sold at a discounted rate.
• Vacuum Cleaners:
  Like any other product, old vacuum cleaners are up for sale when the new ones are bought by the retailers during June and winter end.
• Hardware:
  Find the best deals on Father’s Day or the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Home Appliances:
  Generally, discount is offered in holiday weekends like 4th July, Presidents Day, Columbus Day, and Labor Day. Also, search for better deals during the months of September and October, when new stocks enter the retail market. These days are the best time to buy any appliance.
• Air Conditioner:
  The sale of AC’s during chilly months is very low. So, the price is considerably down.

Flora

• Flowers:
  Tulips can be bought cheap in February, whereas peonies during May. If you are a flower enthusiast, learn this rule. Unlike home products and holiday packages, flowers are cheap in season.
• Shrubbery:
  The best time to purchase bulbs, trees, and shrubs, is autumn. This is the time when nurseries try to clear the accumulated stock.

Leisure

• General outdoor items:
  You can get the best deals on swings, swimming gears, beach toys, and many other outdoor products in August, when most of the retailers stock their space with winter and fall supplies.
• Bicycles:
  New models are introduced every year during February-March. Get the best deals on the old models in these months.
• Boat:
  Boat exhibitions are held amid January and March offering best prices to customers.
• Fitness Centers:
  Like me, every overweight individual of America resolves to lose flab from 1st January. Hence membership rates are quite high during initial months of the year. However, join any gym at the lowest prices in spring and summer. Also, ask them to waive off the enrollment fee. Trust me, they will.
• Watching movies:
  Not everyone can avoid going to theaters just to save some dollars. So, they best way to spend less is watching matinee shows.
• Other tickets:
  Get the best possible deal on any ticket by buying much before the event.

Electronic Devices and Gadgets:

• Blu-ray players:
  Days subsequent to Black Friday and Christmas offer best deals to buy blu-ray players.
• Television:
  You can find discounts throughout the year due to intense competition among television brands and electronic outlets. You will find better deals on days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Black Friday, after New Year, earlier than Super Bowl, plus in the days of May and June. Commonly, new models are introduced in August and September. So, you can also avail better deals on old models.
• Mobile phones:
  Don’t buy phones just when they are introduced. You will get it at very low price after six months of launch. Also, try to find coupon codes online.
• Digital Camera:
  New, improved models will soon arrive in the market after any Consumer Electronic Show or Photo Marketing Association meet. Jan-Feb is the best time to search for old models.
• Computer:
  You won’t get many deals after the holiday season. However, don’t target the latest gadget with smart looks. Go for the older version, which the retailer is dying to get rid of. You can also avail free shipment and free accessories.

So, if it’s not urgent, wait for the right time. Okay, enough for home and home-products lovers. My next article will have something for people, who love traveling, eating, driving, and wearing.