When Things Go on Sale

Interested in the best time to buy a cooking set, a new swimsuit, or a bike for the kids? Well, it turns out that your most useful weapon in getting a great deal may be your calendar. Consumer Reports notes that specific items regularly go on sale the same month every year. The summary:

We found that it’s still possible to use the calendar to save money on major purchases. 

But they note that with today's retail environment, a sale on any particular item could happen at any time:

Consider it a general guide, and keep your eye on those sales circulars anyway because there will always be exceptions.

And, to note, just because a certain category of goods is on sale doesn't mean you'll be able to find what you like:

Bear in mind, too, that the best time to save money isn’t always the best for selection. In some cases, your bargain might be a discontinued model without all the latest features.

All this said, it's still wise to consult Consumer Reports' calendar of deals prior to shopping for a particular item. Waiting an extra month or two could net you some big savings.

Finally, CR also lists a few money saving tips that don't fit into the calendar:

• Airline tickets tend to be least expensive on Wednesday mornings because that’s when airlines try to fill unsold seats on flights for the following week to 10 days.

• CDs and DVDs generally come out on Tuesdays and might be on sale for the first one to three weeks.

• Jewelry sales are common, except around Valentine’s Day and the Dec­ember holidays. So plan to buy early or hope that your beloved will agree to settle for an IOU.

Comments

[KCLau]

Nice money saving tips. Thanks!

[melissa]

Hey just wanted you to know these links only dont take you to anything directly. I was a bit disappointed bc its EXACTLY the info I was looking for.

[FMF]

Melissa --

I hate that too -- when sites move their content. But the post is over four years old, so that's to be expected. ;-)