What to Buy When: A Guide to Monthly Sales

One of the best ways to stay frugal is to buy “in season” for groceries. Fruits and veggies, especially, have optimal growing seasons and that is why you can get apples on sale in the fall and strawberries are generally cheaper in the early summer. Did you know that non-grocery items have a “season” as well? Knowing when to make that purchase for the best prices of the year is key to living as frugal as possible.

In this post, I am going to show you how shopping for non-food items during their season can make living frugally a breeze! So if there is an item you need, you can try to wait to buy it until it is most likely to be at its rock bottom sale price.

 Your Guide to Monthly Sales

January:

January is the month for some huge savings because of the obvious after Christmas sales, but also for other items as well. Generally speaking, most stores have what is referred to as “White sales”,  which refers to linens. Get your towels, sheets, curtains and tablecloths on sale this month along with great buys on last year’s furniture and electronics. Here is a list of What to Buy in January.

February:

Jewelry and gift sets are hot buys this month. Due to Valentine’s day, stock up on gifts for the year for the adults in your life and kiddos as well. President’s day sales bring heavy discounts on large appliances like washers and dryers. Here are Tips for Celebrating Valentine’s Day on a Budget.

March:

Get stocked up for next winter with sales on coats, hats and gloves as well as women’s and children’s fashions from the spring/Easter sales. If you are traveling for the summer, also look for travel discounts this month. Here is a Money Saving Guide for March.

April:

Vacuums go on sale this month as new models generally arrive in June/July to most stores. Also, be on the lookout for sales on used cars as dealerships push out older inventory for the summer season. Here is a Money Saving Guide for April.

May:

Mattresses are a huge seller this month as stores prepare for new models. Watch out for sales up to 50% off as well as great deals on electronics, grills, and outdoor gear during Memorial Day sales. Here is a Money Saving Guide for May.

June:

Father’s Day sales bring discounts on menswear and tools, large and small. Also look for deals on house wares because this month is wedding season kickoff. Here is a Money Saving Guide for June.

July:

Mid summer is a great time to get summer essentials like swimsuits, shorts, tanks and tees. There will also be sales on grills and grilling accessories to make room for next month’s back to school stuff. Here is a Money Saving Guide for July.

August:

Stock up on school and office supplies. This is the only time you can see such discounts and the discounts are well worth taking advantage of at 75% -90% off.  Also buy things like lawn-mowers, outdoor play items and camping gear. Here is a List of 75 Things to Buy in August as well as a  Money Saving Guide for August.

September:

Labor Day sales bring sales on computers, laptops, dorm room essentials and large appliances. This is also the best time of year to buy outdoor gardening equipment as well as year round shrubs and trees. Here is a List of 75 Things to Buy in  September.

October:

Did you sweat all summer and wish you could have had air conditioning? This month is the month to buy it for next year. Also see great deals on furniture as retailers try to push people to buy new home décor for holiday gatherings. Here is a List of 55 Items to Buy in October.

November:

Everyone knows this month is all about holiday shopping on Black Friday, but what about Cyber Monday? The first Monday after Thanksgiving, shop your favorite online stores for awesome savings and don’t get trampled in the process. However, be prepared to shop early! Here is a List of 33 Items to Buy in November.

December:

If you do some last minute shopping, you may find that you can get some nifty “last push” gift deals. (That’s if you have patience to deal with the crowd!) If you are looking to save a ton after the Holidays, make sure you are first in line to see the major markdowns on gift sets for body care, clothing and food. I suggest scoping it out December 26^th, but unless you have to have a certain item at 50% off (items do often go fast!), wait to see if it is still there 5-7 days later at 90% off.  Here is a List of Items to Buy in December.