Trying to save money in 2018? You don’t have to cut back on shopping. Instead, consider the timing of your purchases.
Knowing when seasonal items tend go on sale and when major sales holidays take place allows you to buy the items you’d purchase anyway, but pay significantly less for them.
Read on for the savings highlights during every month of the year.
[See: 10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping.]
January
Things to buy:
— Winter clothing: During the latter half of January, retailers are eager to unload their stock of winter coats, boots, sweaters and scarves. Replace your tattered winter coat for 50 percent off or more
— Bedding and towels: Home-goods retailers such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, Pottery Barn, Overstock.com and others run what the industry calls “White Sales” all January long. These sales generally include sheets, comforters and towels.
Important sales days:
— Martin Luther King Jr. Day: On this holiday, retailers run sales to attract shoppers who have an extra day off work.
February
Things to buy:
— Jewelry: After Valentine’s Day is the best time to buy all the jewelry still in stock after the holiday.
— Mattresses: Presidents Day weekend is known for its price drops and special-financing deals.
Important sales days:
— Presidents Day: This holiday is known for mattress and appliance sales.
March
Things to buy:
— A cruise: March is the last month of what the industry calls “Wave Season.” Think of it as the Black Friday for cruises. Cruise lines want to sell as many cabins as possible, so they’ll slash prices and also offer bundles rich in extra amenities.
— Luggage: Merchants are replacing old models in anticipation of summer travel. It’s a good time to snag a deal on older stock.
Important sales days: There aren’t any notable sales days in March 2018. However, with Easter on April 1, you’ll find Easter sales running the final week of March.
[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]
April
Things to buy:
— Spring-cleaning supplies: In addition to markdowns on vacuums, you’ll find discounts on home storage and organizing products.
— Easter gifts and clothing: The day after Easter is a great time to find heavily discounted candy, Easter decor and crafting supplies. Retailers also run sales on a wide range of products leading into Easter Sunday.
Important sales days:
— Easter: Easter Sunday itself will be quiet, but the lead-up will be abundant with sales. Department stores will run sales on Easter and spring attire. Gift sites will offer discounts on treat baskets and flowers. Clothing stores will offer discounts on spring accessories.
May
Things to buy:
— Spring apparel: With the change of the seasons comes stores attempting to unload clothing from last season. So pick up spring clothing at a discount in the clearance section as retailers shine the spotlight on summer.
— Appliances: Shop Memorial Day sales to find some of the best deals all year on washers, dryers, fridges and ovens.
Important sales days:
— Mother’s Day: Jewelry stores, flower-delivery companies and department stores all offer discounts leading into Mother’s Day.
— Memorial Day: This holiday leads the industry when it comes to low prices on appliances.
June
Things to buy:
— Caribbean vacations: Hurricane season is approaching. If you don’t mind the risk, you can snag bargains on destinations such as Aruba, the Bahamas and more.
— Tools: Thanks to Father’s Day, you’ll start seeing sales on tools in the lead-up to the holiday.
Important sales days:
— Father’s Day: Home-improvement stores and computer and technology stores tend to hold Father’s Day sales as shoppers seek gifts for Dad.
July
Things to buy:
— A grill: Wait until right after the Fourth of July. With two major grilling holidays passed (Fourth of July and Memorial Day), demand will go down and so will prices. And you’ll have a new grill for Labor Day.
— Amazon products: Expect Echos, Kindles and more to go on sale for Prime Day.
Important sales days:
— Fourth of July: Many home-goods and clothing retailers will remain open in an attempt to draw in shoppers who have a day off work.
— Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale: Nordstrom’s half-yearly summer sale will run July 20 through Aug. 5, 2018.
— Prime Day: Amazon hosts Prime Day in mid-July. The event (which usually lasts around 30 hours) includes deep discounts on Amazon products, lightning deals on a wide variety of items and discounts on subscriptions.
August
Things to buy:
— Summer clothing: Snap up summer clothing and discounted swimwear as fall clothing hits the shelves.
— School supplies: It’s back-to-school season. Even if you’re not shopping for school, it’s a good time to pick up binders, pens and highlighters. Coupons, deals and the selection will be plentiful.
Important sales days:
— Tax-free weekend: Many states have weekends when no sales tax is charged on certain items. Dates and exclusions vary by state, but many states hold their tax-free weekends in August. Commonly included items are clothing, footwear, computers, school supplies and more.
[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]
September
Things to buy:
— Outdoor and patio furniture: Summer’s over, and stores want to clear out their remaining patio sets.
— Camping gear: With the weather still nice, you can find deals on tents and sleeping bags and still use them before the snow falls.
Important sales days
— Labor Day: Labor Day is big for clothing sales, as stores are trying to rid themselves of back-to-school shopping leftovers. You’ll find respectable sales on appliances and mattresses as well.
October
Things to buy:
— Warm-weather clothing: Winter is almost here, so hit the clearance racks for any remaining summer clothing at well over 50 percent off.
— Older iPhones: New iPhone models are usually announced in September and ship in November. That means sellers usually mark down previous-generation models in October.
Important sales days
— Columbus Day: This long weekend in October is falling out of vogue, and sales will be modest compared to other three-day weekends. However, you’ll still find deals on clothing, mattresses and home goods.
November
Things to buy:
— Electronics and TVs: Thanks to the holiday-shopping season (namely, Black Friday and Cyber Monday), prices will be slashed on 4K TVs, smart-home gadgets and gaming systems. In fact, these are the lowest prices you’re likely to find all year.
— Travel: Cyber Monday has become a day for travel deals. Airlines and aggregation sites will run lightning deals on flights. And hotels and cruise lines will sell packages that include extra amenities.
Important sales days:
— Black Friday: This is the day after Thanksgiving, but, increasingly, sales launch on Thanksgiving Day itself.
— Cyber Monday: The Monday after Thanksgiving is billed as the online answer to Black Friday. However, many sales span the entire weekend.
December
Things to buy:
— Toys: Retailers lower toy prices as Christmas approaches, as they don’t want to get stuck with them come January. In-demand toys are the exception — you’ll want to buy the year’s “it” toys much earlier, as stock will be low in December.
— Holiday decor (right after Christmas): Hit the stores on Dec. 26 to get artificial trees, tinsel and ornaments for up to 80 percent off.
Important sales days:
— Days after Christmas: Many retailers run after-Christmas sales between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
Companies and products mentioned in this article may be promoted on www.offers.com.
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Shopping Holidays: The Best Days to Shop in 2018 originally appeared on usnews.com
