Feedback Form

Ask the Bargain-shopper: A 12-month bargain calendar

Ask the Bargain-shopper: A 12-month bargain calendar

by Anne Garber

There are two principal rules of thumb when it comes to bargain shopping:

First, buy things when you see them at a good price, not necessarily when you need them. A beach towel might not be first on your list of priorities at the end of August, but you'll thank yourself the following May if you snap up that big blue plush number at half price.

Secondly, shop just after the peak demand for an item. That's when retailers must move merchandise quickly to make room for new stock. Keep an eye out for sale announcements in your local paper, and keep in mind these month-by-month general timing hints for retail sales events:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January

post-holiday sales
fall merchandise
furniture
home appliances
cookware
bed and bath linens
rugs
sports equipment
computers and other electronics


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

February

jewellery
perfumes
gift items
electronics
floor coverings
housewares
furniture


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March

spring clothing
wedding gifts
air conditioners
washers and dryers
garden supplies
outdoor winter sports gear
luggage
china


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April

spring clothing
yard and garden supplies
bridal gowns (save up to 70 per cent)
furniture
cruises
European vacations
paint and wallpaper


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May

gifts for Mom
silver
watches
athletic clothing and shoes
linens and towels
wedding gowns
furniture
cruises
European vacations
home maintenance items


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

June

gifts for Dad
fishing and camping gear
men's cologne
summer items
storm windows
summer clothing
televisions
building materials


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July


air conditioners
summer items
school supplies
school clothes
summer sports equipment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August


school supplies
school clothes
summer clothing (bathing suits and sandals)
linens and towels
lawn and garden equipment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September


winter wear (winter coats, gloves, scarves)
summer clothes
outdoor grills
lawn furniture
bicycles
housewares


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October


winter wear (winter coats, gloves, scarves)
last year's car models
fishing equipment
houses
crystal
silver
glassware


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

November


houses
quilts and blankets
space heaters
winter clothing


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

December


clothing
appliances
gifts
wrapping paper
holiday cards
other holiday items


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shop 'Til You Drop editor Danielle DeGail says people get a high when they get a good bargain.

"Who doesn't love a bargain, who doesn't feel that little bit happier when they have that extra $50 dollars in their pocket?" she says.

With many stores already holding sales, there's no need to wait until the post-Christmas sales to snap up a bargain. But which times of year are the best for shopping? According to retail analyst Barry Urquart, it depends what you're looking for. Here's a summary:

New furniture: Wait until April, May or October. More people move house just before or just after winter and furniture shops know this and hold sales at this time.

Whitegoods: Hit the end of financial year sales when the big retailers want to maximize their sales figures for the year.

Clothes: Hold out until the post-Christmas sales which always contain the best bargains of the year.

Electrical goods: January sales and inventory/stocktaking sales in June usually offer the best deals. A & B Sound and Future Shop also hold legendary Boxing Day sales.

Consumers also need to remember that just because something is on sale doesn't mean you should rush out and buy it.

"The key point to remember is something isn't really a bargain unless you really need it and really want it," says Danielle.

But I offer this retort: "What? You've never heard of Retail Therapy?"





Ask the Bargainshopper A 12month bargain calendar - To learn more about this author, visit Anne Garber's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Related Forum Posts Article Feedback
Article Feedback No article feedback found.
Leave Your Feedback

Related Articles Related Articles
Disrupt-Then-Reframe Selling: How to Close a VC?
  Have you heard of the concept called “disrupt-then-reframe”? The theory is that you introduce a non-sequitur or unexpected element into your pitch and then immediately inject a call-to-action. The disruption theoret...
Scheduling and Planning - Keeping on Track - Part 1
  Keeping your day on track can often times be a challenge in today's schedule hectic environment. We have provided 7 tips for you to use to make your day go smoother.
A Marketing Calendar is a Must!
  Creating a marketing plan is great, but you MUST transfer the information in your plan to a marketing calendar. Without implementing a schedule, all the work you've done with your marketing plan could go to waste.
Building Accountability into Your PR Plan
  Keep it Simple! Build Accountability and Simplicity into your PR Plan this year. Stick to the "KISS" principle.
The 5 Secrets of Effective Multi-Tasking
  Multi-tasking is a way of life for many, while others try to avoid doing more than one thing at a time. For some of us, it is something we must tolerate in order to maintain some sense order and accomplishment in ou...

Related Forum Posts Related Forum Posts
Getting Organized Getting Organized
Re: Calendars Re: Calendars
Wish you well. Wish you well.
Re: Google Calendar Re: Google Calendar
Re: Calendars Re: Calendars
Google Calendar Google Calendar
Re: Calendars Re: Calendars
Re: Google Calendar Re: Google Calendar

Related Forum Posts Related Businesses - Evan Elite Authors

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Anne Garber
(Visit Anne's Website)
Anne Garber's media career spans 43 years in both print and electronic media, as author, publisher, photographer, columnist, broadcaster and the mother of two -- and evalu8.org's Managing Director. She has written 14 best-selling books and -- with editor John T.D. Keyes (who is also her husband) -- writes food, business and travel features worldwide; she contributes online to travellady.com and chocolate-atlas.com. The couple writes a travel column for the Culver City News and co-authored Victoria's Best Bargains, Exploring Ethnic Vancouver and Cheap Eats Vancouver. Ms. Garber has worked as both publishers' and authors' agent, and is known as the 'go-to' person in the book, magazine and newspaper publishing industries for legal opinion on North American trademark and copyright issues. A practicum in San Diego as Environmental Practice Group paralegal was followed by a return to the Pacific Northwest, where she is currently considered a leading expert on internet copyright infringement actions and online fraud investigations. Anne Garber divides her time between Vancouver, BC, Seattle, WA, Toronto, ON and Paris, France.
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Anne Garber's

Complete
List Of
Business-Travel
Articles

First Name
Last Name
Email
Where do fish swim?
Water or Grass
 
If you enjoyed this article, get Anne Garber's Complete List of Business-Travel Articles For FREE!

More Anne Garber
Travel Savvy What new security measures will mean for travellers
The real skinny on critics How we do what we do and why
Travel Savvy OpenJaw and Circle Fares
Garber on Business Can YOUR business benefit from the boom in Culinary Tourism
Garber on Business Advertisers Know Your Market
Ask the Bargainshopper The 10 Commandments of Shopping
Garber on Business Business dinner Dont whine about wine
Travel Savvy Staying in touch for free or ET Call home
Garber on Business When did the Customer stop being King
Garber on Business Selling online Help your potential customers shop online safely
Become An Author


 
 
 



Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

Featured Ebook


ebook Famous Entrepreneurs - Modern Empire Builders


Featured Ebook

More Evan Carmichael
More popular articles
Have A Suggestion?


Sales Lessons From Starbucks And Dell