It should be no surprise that if you wait to buy your winter coat until March, you’ll likely save some money. But who wants to wait to be warm until the snow has melted? I don’t know about you, but patience is not exactly my strong suit. I want to buy my coat when it’s cold and still save money. Too good to be true? Not with this handy guide, which will help you find the best prices on your favorite products all year long:
Furniture
Best Time to Buy: January and July.
With designer lines debuting in showrooms in April and October, clearance events typically begin in January and July. Furniture stores want to clear out the old and bring in the newer, hotter items, which incidentally, helps you score the best deal. Scour showrooms for floor samples in good condition to score even more discounts. And don’t forget about holiday sales, either. President’s Day, 4th of July, New Year’s, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are all great days to find a deal on furniture.
Outerwear
Best Time to Buy: December.
What was trendy in 2010 will probably be out of style come Winter 2011, so retailers don’t like to carry items over into the next year. Not to mention the fact that they need to make room for swimwear and other, beachier apparel. What does all this mean for you? Come December, retailers often promote steep discounts on outerwear to get ready for the influx of new clothing in the coming year, therefore giving you the best deal.
Appliances
Best Time to Buy: September and October
New models of major appliance models hit showroom floors in September and October, resulting in last year’s models going on major clearance to make room. Don’t forget to check out holiday sales around New Year’s, Memorial Day and Independence Day.
Electronics
Best Time to Buy: January, May, Black Friday (November)
The International Consumer Electronics Show takes place each January, with new products shipping in March. Retailers begin clearing out old inventory to make room for the hottest new gadgets. Of course, don’t forget about Black Friday, where retailers slash prices so significantly, you have to wonder how they’re able to make a profit. Oh yeah… the crowds. Another smart time to buy electronics is around May, after the Japanese fiscal year, when most Japanese companies release their latest toys. Typical discounts are around 20 percent off!
Airplane Tickets
Best Time to Buy: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 21 days before your flight
We’re sure you’ve noticed the rising price of flights in recent years, but typically on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, airlines reduce their prices. Even better if you can wait to purchase your ticket until about 21 days before departure. Of course, if you’re travelling over the holidays, you’ll want to snag any good prices you see as far in advance as possible, as airlines have a limited inventory during this time. If you’re feeling lucky or can be flexible, checking in around the 14- and seven-day mark is also a good way to find last-minute deals. It’s also important to note that flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays are also cheaper. Sunday flights are typically most expensive.
Cars
Best Time to Buy: Weekday mornings at the end of September or October.
Just like everything else on this list, when the new models come in, dealers are eager to get the old models out. By September, all the upcoming year’s models have arrived, so it’s the prime time to purchase the “older” model. Wait too long though and inventory will be down, leaving you with a worse selection. The end of the month is really the best time to go, as salesmen are trying to reach their quotas. Bonus points if you show up on a weekday morning, when there’s less people (read: more time to negotiate). And as always, don’t forget about the holiday rebates, incentives and financing offers.
For more tips and tools to help you save money, check out Quizzle.com, where you can get a custom Debt Payoff Plan that shows you how to get out of debt faster and save potentially thousands of dollars in interest.
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