Our e-mail newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives Consumer Reports will not sell or rent your email address to third parties. See our Privacy Policy.A bit of planning can save you a ton of money when it comes to buying throughout the year. Here’s your comprehensive, always up-to-date guide on the best times to buy everything this year. Click “Expand” on the graphic to get a closer look.You probably know that certain things are cheaper at certain times. Whether you’re buying airfare, dining out, shopping online, or buying anything else, there is often a “best time to buy.” Every year year, we compile a list of the best times to buy stuff based on when stores are trying to push out old stock, when they’re dropping prices for upcoming holidays, or even when they start having sales for no good reason. Check out the chart below for an easy view of the year, or read on for more details. ’s Best Time to Buy guide and PC World’s gadget-specific buying guide.
However, in an effort to make the guide as accurate as possible, we’ve gone searching for more specific, individual sources for each item to ensure you’re looking for deals at the right time (and gotten rid of the items for which there wasn’t clear consensus—like party supplies or aluminum cookware). So, for each item, click the source link for more specific information on when and how to buy. Also, if you’re looking for more specific up-to-the-minute news, we highly recommend checking out Dealnews’ monthly best time to buy feature—it’ll highlight a lot of the same stuff that we do here, but also discuss specific gadgets (like the newest iPad or the Xbox One and PlayStation 4). For a bigger overview of the year, read on! Apart from the above time periods, there are other days of the week or year that are best for buying certain items (which is great if you can’t wait three months for a new computer). We’ve mentioned a few of these around the site before, but in the interest of being comprehensive, here are some things to keep in mind:
And with all things, if you find an item you like, monitor it regularly. Things go on sale for no reason all the time, whether it’s a Shell Shocker on Newegg, the end of a clothing season, or when a particular product goes through a refresh (like Apple computers).That’s our big list for the year. We’ll be updating you at the beginning of each month, reminding you of the best things to buy, but this should help you plan for the year ahead. There are some very real reasons (beyond your horoscope) for when and when not to make certain purchases. Should you really be shopping for a new mattress in April? Or a grill in June? Don't Upgrade Your Mattress...This middle-of-spring month doesn't have any major holidays, and mattress retailers love to hold sales around days that most people have off from work or school, like Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Plus, in May, manufacturers tend to mark down old models to clear them out and make room for the new ones coming in, so if you buy in April, you'll be too early to score a deal.
Don't Buy A New Grill... ... between March and June. As soon as people get their first whiff of warm air, they start thinking about burgers and hot dogs, which means they head out to buy charcoal and gas grills -- and high demand means high prices. Leslie Wheeler, director of communications at the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, says you're unlikely to get a great buy early in the season. Wait until after the Fourth of July or, if you can hold out, autumn, when prices are at an all-year low. Don't Restock Your Home Office... ... in March, April, November or December. Instead, plan on replenishing your work space around the same time that kids are filling up their backpacks for the new school year; August and September tend to bring deals on anything office- or school-related. Don't Purchase Those Earrings You've Been Admiring... ... in February, May or December. As with grills, increased jewelry demand translates to top prices, so avoid buying around Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Christmas (exceptions: Black Friday and Cyber Monday).
If you're in the market for a new watch, though, do buy around a holiday. Shelton says it's good to wait for Father's Day and graduation season when these items typically go on sale. Don't Get The Stitching On That Jacket Fixed... ... in November or December. David Eisele, board member and past president of the Custom Tailors & Designers Association, told us you probably won't be able to get any deals on tailoring during the holiday rush -- and you'll also have to face long lines. If you wait until January or February, you may be able to negotiate a discount (sometimes as much as 25 percent). Don't Get That Treadmill... ... between November and February. Everyone wants to exercise indoors when it's cold outside, so prices for treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical trainers are usually at their highest in winter. household savings expert Jeanette Pavini says, you'll find sales on this type of equipment. That also includes gear, such as the weight-lifting bar, pull-up bar and kettlebell needed for home workouts like the immensely popular CrossFit program.
Check out HuffPost OWN on Facebook and Twitter.Here's The Best Month To Buy Everything Sometimes, finding the best deals has more to do when when you shop than where. "There really is a best time to do just about anything and everything, and that's especially true when it comes to buying things," writes Mark Di Vincenzo in his book, "Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon" Using tips from Di Vincenzo, along with time-tested advice from sources like DealNews and Mint, we've complied dozens of examples of the best times to buy just about everything. Click here to see the full guide > Get the Slide Deck from Henry Blodget's IGNITION Presentation on the Future of Digital Read Business Insider On The Go Available on iOS or Android See All Jobs » Thanks to our partners The 23 Most-Overlooked Tax Deductions 11 Dow Stocks Owned by Warren Buffett 7 Features That Will Sell Your Home Faster Kiplinger's Financial Field Manual for Military Families