Shopping By Calendar

Ever wondered if you should have waited to buy that new refrigerator or television?

Timing can be everything, especially if you're a cost-conscious consumer who's looking to make a big purchase. Knowing the best time to buy something—from a car or TV to an appliance or laptop—goes a long way toward saving you money.

Reasons some months are better than others

Certain months or seasons are better than others for certain purchases. Prices can fluctuate depending on when a product's "season" ends, or when stores are trying to push out old stock or are dropping prices for upcoming holidays. Therefore, experts say some months offer predictably better deals on certain products than others. These trends are designed not only to attract new customers, but to keep you coming back to build loyalty to their store.

Shopping sweet spots

Be a smart shopper and plan your purchases according to this calendar, which plots the best deals, month by month.

• March—Luggage · Winter sports gear · Running shoes · China and flatware
• April—Tires · Home, garden and auto supplies · Spring clothing · Tools · Running shoes · Beauty products · Snowblowers and other winter equipment
• May—Grills · Small appliances · Refrigerators · Furniture · Picnic and barbecue supplies · Lawn and garden products · Mattresses
• June—Paint · Camping and hiking gear · Jeans
• July—School supplies · Computers
• August—Laptops · Printers · Wine · Summer clothing · Sports equipment
• September—Vacuum cleaners · Air conditioners and dehumidifiers · Lawn mowers · Washers/dryers · Baby furniture and supplies
• October—Fall clothing · Candy
• November—Consumer electronics · TVs · Video games and consoles · Motorcycles
• December—Gift cards · Toys 
• January—Tax software · Airfare · Gym memberships · Streaming subscriptions · Wedding dresses · Mattresses/bedding · Cookware · Fitness gear
• February—Cameras · Jewelry · Carpets/flooring · Linens · Winter clothing · Housewares

Making sense of it

Some of the above deals may seem counterintuitive. For example: discounts for tools on Father's Day and toys in December. They pop up when you'd least expect them to, as high demand usually leads to high prices. Why? It's because sellers must work harder during these times to win the sale and need a way to entice you to come to their store.