I never pay full price…for well, anything. I have been running an online coupon website for over 12 years now and one of the key things I have learned is the importance of timing purchases in order to get the best deal. Think things like not buying patio furniture in early summer, not buying a cord of firewood in December, and not buying warm clothing in late autumn. With that in mind, here are seven not so obvious items that you should consider purchasing before we reach early spring.
Luggage/Travel Gear
The travel industry typically hits a big slump in February as we are between the holiday travel season and spring break. Because of this luggage sellers will typically offer big discounts and clearance deals in an attempt to improve sales. Use this to your advantage and save money if you’re in the market for some new luggage or travel gear.
Smartphones
Smartphone manufacturers will be displaying their newest models at the Mobile World convention in Spain later this month. This is good news for you as previous generation models will be marked down in order to make room for the newest and greatest phones. If you are in the market for a new smartphone be sure to shop at the end of February to score the best deal possible on an older model.
Digital Cameras
With the big Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas every January comes brand new digital camera models. Shortly thereafter, these new models are sent to specialty camera and retail stores. In order to prepare for the new inventory stores will mark down last year’s models in an effort to make room for the new merchandise. This makes February an excellent time to save money on a new digital camera.
Brand Name Televisions
Similar to the digital camera advice, this is an excellent time to score a deal on a brand name television. While many shoppers think Black Friday or right before the Super Bowl is the best time to find a deal, my research has shown that the last two weeks of February offer the best discounts. New models will be inundating stores from now until the end of February and you know what that means, right? Stores have to make room and are willing to let older models go for a steep discount.
Gas BBQ Grills
Not much outdoor barbecuing going on this time of year which makes it a great time to shop for a new grill. Demand is down which means supply is up and deals abound. For example, Sears.com currently has all grills on sale with free delivery. Get it shipped for free directly to your doorstep at a great price.
Tool Time
While tools notoriously go on sale the couple weeks leading up to Father’s Day, they can also be found at a steep discount in February. Because of the cold weather not many people are buying tools right now. So your Home Depot’s and Lowe’s of the world, in an attempt to boost sales, will have some very attractive sales in February. For example, right now Home Depot is offering 60% off all Husky air tools and Lowe’s has tool combo kits at up to 50% off.
Winter Outerwear and Jackets
OK, so this one is a little more obvious than the others. In an attempt to make room for spring styles, winter apparel and outerwear continues to be added to the clearance racks at stores like Old Navy, Lands’ End, Macy’s, and American Eagle. When shopping online, be sure to combine a coupon code with a site-wide sale and grab savings around 50% off the original price. Also, check stores like Ross and TJ Maxx for deals on jackets and be ready for next winter on the cheap.
Kyle James lives in Redding with his wife and 3 kids. His online business, Rather-Be-Shopping.com, specializes in online and printable coupons to over 800 national retailers and since 2001 has been featured in the New York Times, The Today Show, and Reader’s Digest to name a few.
