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