A Calendar of Savings

February 13th, 2010

Serious bargain hunters know there’s a smart time to buy just about everything. They’re the ones who always get wrapping paper 75-90% off every January or discounted candy after Halloween is over.  Many of the sales for consumer staples are predictable and smart shoppers plan accordingly.  You could literally make yourself a calendar to plan your shopping trips month by month for an entire year.

The primary principle behind all of this is to shop for items when retailers are clearing them out at the end of a season, or when demand is low.  This sometimes means you will have to hold on to your purchase for a while before you can actually use it but if you have spare storage space in your house then the discount may well be worth it. Consumer Reports recently compiled a list from annual sale circulars into a handy chart. You may want to add some of those special deals as well as the ones mentioned below to your own planning calendar.

Starting in January, look for savings up to 50% off furniture and carpet; and outstanding deals on exercise equipment, bicycles, and sporting goods; air conditioners and gas grills; digital cameras, televisions and computers.

February is a good month for buying tires, tools, and humidifiers.  And chocolate is plentiful and marked down after Valentine’s Day.

In March you can find sales on luggage, boots, coats, and winter wear; as well as televisions, digital cameras, and other consumer electronics.  For some reason, March is National Frozen Food Month, and grocers run big promotions for that.

April brings sales on car accessories, fabric, vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers.  Discounts on kitchen utensils and cookware come just in time for graduates and newlyweds. This is also a good time for travel deals through Memorial Day, before summer pricing kicks in.

May offers deals on patio furniture, bottled water, party supplies, athletic apparel and shoes, camping gear and small electronics.  Mattresses go on sale for up to 50% off to make way for new models.

In June, there’s usually a lull at membership gyms, falling in between a flurry of sign-ups at the beginning of the year and a resurgence in the fall.  So, many gyms offer lower monthly rates or waive the sign-up fee to attract new members during this slow period. There are always promotions on hand tools for Father’s Day gifts.

In July, shoppers can stock up on picnic supplies like soft drinks, ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce on sale.  Patio furniture early markdowns are 25% off, with 10-50% off indoor furniture.  Outgoing hit shows in theaters on Broadway sell tickets for half off before the new season starts in the fall.

By August, remaining patio furniture is further reduced to 50% off and outdoor toys are marked 30-75% off to make room for fall and winter merchandise.  Swimwear, backpacks, snow throwers, and school and office supplies are also on sale.

September sale items include bicycles, digital cameras, and gas grills again. Wines are reduced at harvest time, and holiday air fares are offered.

In October, there are deals on shrubs and trees that can be planted before winter frost, and bulbs that can be stored until spring.  Travel deals are available all through the fall season.  Save on large household appliances, winter coats, and jeans.

November brings Halloween left-over candy at 50-75% off, and savings on foil and plastic wrap, as well as sales on baking ingredients like sugar, flour, and evaporated milk.  Save on nuts, chocolate, and butter, which can all be frozen for later use.

December sales on computers are 15-50% off, or are offered in bundles that include free printers or other accessories.  Good prices are also found on wedding dresses, baby products, HDTV and home theater equipment, toys and GPS products.

You can keep up with online sales and coupons by signing up for email notifications from your favorite sites.  Extra savings are frequently available from discount sites like Overstock.com, Bargain Outfitters, SmartBargains.com, or Bargain Catalog Outlet.

When it comes to finding the very best bargains, timing is everything.

Entry Filed under: Shopping