PLAN YOUR PURCHASES WISELY: BEST MONTHS TO BUY EVERYTHING

By Louise Whiteside 

Emergencies can happen at any time. It’s difficult to plan for a major car repair, a leaky roof, or a broken air conditioner in the summer. However, with some planning and eagle-eye attention to sales, you can prepare for life’s unscheduled necessities by knowing which times of the year are best for purchasing those necessary items!

Sure, you could “Google it.” And some of this information is common sense (of course school supplies will be deeply discounted right before school starts), but we’ve saved you some time and effort with a handy list to get started. 

Mark that new calendar with the following month-by-month consumer guide to the best shopping deals throughout the year.

JANUARY BEST BUYS:

• TV’s and other electronics
• Calendars
• Gym memberships
• Home fitness equipment
• Linens 
• Christmas gear 

FEBRUARY BEST BUYS:

• Mattresses
• Jewelry (after Valentine’s Day)
• Winter coats

MARCH BEST BUYS:

• Luggage
• Tax software
• Road bikes

APRIL BEST BUYS:

• Outdoor grills
• Tools
• Sneakers

MAY BEST BUYS:

• Small appliances (blenders, juicers, coffeemakers, toasters, toaster ovens)
• Refrigerators (last year’s models)
• Spring clothing
• Swimwear

JUNE BEST BUYS:

• Vacation tickets
• Outdoor gear (tents, backpacks, lanterns)
• Cookware and china

JULY BEST BUYS:

• Furniture (after July 4)
• Dehumidifiers
• Washing machines
• Summer clothing

AUGUST BEST BUYS:

• Computers (Apple products, typically, go on sale in the fall after the new product line has launched)
• Printers
• Grills
• Back-to school supplies

SEPTEMBER BEST BUYS:

• Thanksgiving flights
• Swimsuits
• Leaf blowers
• Indoor furniture

OCTOBER BEST BUYS:

• A house (after the spring-summer buying seasons)
• Jeans
• Patio furniture

NOVEMBER BEST BUYS:

• Small appliances (blenders, air fryers, coffeemakers, Black Friday deals))
• Ladders
• Tools
• Video game consoles
• Video games
• Wedding gowns

DECEMBER BEST BUYS:

• Swimming pools
• Toys
• Cars (End of the year)
• Holiday items (after Dec. 26)

Happy “smart” shopping!

Louise Whiteside is a longtime resident of Washington, D.C. and Maryland who now resides in the Colorado Rockies where she loves bargain hunting, memoir writing, cooking, country music and travel.

PRO TIPS:

• Take advantage of state tax holidays
• Negotiate a better deal (works best in small or specialty stores)