What to Buy When? Part II
Posted : Jan - 14 - 2010| Filled under: Spending
In the previous article we learned the importance of ‘Timing’ of shopping. Every product can be bought at a cheaper price if you wait for the appropriate time. We learned about the best time to get the best prices on real estate, house products, and recreational stuffs. Let us now try to get the best deals on automobiles, travel tickets, food and clothing.
Auto
- New Vehicle:
Every year during fall, you will notice the launch of new cars in the automobile market. Hence, the month of September is ideal to grab the best deal on last year’s cars. Visit any automobile showroom during the end of September especially on a weekday to get the undistracted attention of the salesperson, who is striving hard to
reach the monthly target. - Used Vehicle:
Most of the used car dealers rise their inventory in April to boost their sales in spring season. During this time, you will get good variety and negotiated price. - Recreational Vehicle:
Good deals are introduced by dealers in winter. However, buying a recreational vehicle is similar to buying a new car. - Gas:
Fill up your tank on a weekday. If gas price is going up, fuel up early morning. And if it’s going down, fill up in the evening. Changes in price usually takes place between 10 am to 3 pm. - Oil:
Changing car oil can come cheap if you go to a new garage. - Tires and other parts:
You can get a free car check-up, free oil change and ‘Buy 3, get 1 tire free’ offer during national Car Care Month (April) and Fall Car Care Month (October). - Car Wash:
Get best deals on full service car wash by visiting in early hours (before 8 am).
Travel
- Air Tickets:
To get the lowest airfare during non-holiday season, book your tickets at least 21 days in advance. However, you also have to spend some days watching the prices before booking. On weekdays, airfares are revised at 10 am, 12.30 pm, and 8 pm. Updating is done only once on Sundays and Saturdays. According to the past records, you can avail tickets at lower price on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and rarely on Saturdays. Wednesday is the cheapest day to travel, whereas Sunday, the costliest. An exception to Wednesday is the one that comes before Thanksgiving. If you get a ticket at cheap price, don’t wait much because price fluctuation depends on market demand. - Common Traveling:
Traveling to any part of the world during peak season can be very expensive. Everything from airfares and stay to food and leisure activity is overpriced. Going in the off-season can help you to save enormous amount and the destinations are less crowded.
Food
- Supermarket:
You will find better deals on Sundays. If you are going on a weekday, shop in the evening. You can save lot of money on the items that has to be sold before day’s close. Get coupons from Sunday newspaper to get added discounts. - Coupons:
You will find discount coupons throughout the year in Sunday
newspapers. However, you will find many of them in November and December. Turkeys can be purchased at very cheap rate just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. During spring season, you will notice many coupons offering discounts on ham, frozen food, seasonal food. In summer, find coupons with discounts on ice creams and other grilling products. And find best soup deals in Autumn. - Grocery (from farms):
Most of the dealers avoid carrying perishables back to farm. Hence they intend to sell the whole lot before the closing. So, evening is the best time to buy groceries from vendors. - Champagne:
Due to intense competition and excessive supply, you can savor champagne at a very low price during celebration and holiday season.
Clothes and Accessories:
- Clothes:
Don’t buy any outfits as soon as it enters the mall. Wait for eight weeks and shop on a Thursday evening. On Thursday, the weekend sale starts and you have a good range of clothes at discounted rates. Instead of impulsive buying, it is suggested to buy during season-end sale. - Clothes for newborns:
It may sound foolish, but don’t wait for your kid to be born. Shop during pregnancy at season-end clearance. - Jewelry:
Holiday and wedding season is the most expensive period. Don’t buy jewelry during this time.
Wedding
- Wedding:
Like traveling, having a wedding during off season will help you to save a huge amount. If you reside in a cold region, you will save lots in winter months. Likewise, summer months are quite economical in hot regions. - Wedding costume:
The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is best to buy Christmas wedding gowns and suits.
Other
- Toys:
Retailers are generally gearing up for holiday’s seasons during October and November. Hence, this period offers a better bargain. - Wrapping Paper:
Post Christmas, that is in January and February.
So, if one of your New Year resolutions is to save money, I am sure you might succeed with the help of these tips. Let me know if you have any other tips.
It’s so true about the gas. I never noticed that until you mentioned it and that’s a really good tip! And in terms of groceries, I also like to buy on my way home from work because it does seem like they want to get rid of their goods instead of transferring it back home so that’s a good time to strike some deals.
Car Insurance Phi´s last blog ..The Wild Money Ride: A Financial Timeline for the Decade
This article is really very cool! I’ve read its 1st part as well. This is like after economy crash so many helpful tips to save as much money you can save.
1st part was about timing to buy but this part is about timing and where you don’t need to pay much and get the best
If people will start buying this, then all the brands will close soon and people won’t buy any expensive stuff!!
After recession people anyhow don’t have money to spend and now they depend much on these types of stuffs only.
I am a student and this is very much the same I do to save my money. You can get lot of information through newspapers and various websites as well.
This is suitable for all school and college going youngsters as they tend to change their fashion every now and then.
I would prefer to buy such stuffs but not much as I am a professional and living into corporate world you have to maintain some standards.
There are different days in different countries which is a very good concept where people of middle class and bit poor also stand a chance to buy something good for them.