General Guidelines for Seasonal Shopping
Seasonal discounts follow a general timeline that aligns not only with the seasons but also with major holidays and other temporal factors that influence shopper behavior. Therefore, if budget-conscious shoppers should remember one fact, it is this: traditionally, spring and summer merchandise goes on sale in June and July, while fall and winter merchandise is discounted in January after the winter holidays. With a little simple planning, you can save significant amounts and avoid credit card use by timing your purchases according to these guidelines.
The Cheap Shopping Rule
To help remember the timing of seasonal discounts, keep this simple economic rule in mind: when demand is high, prices are high, and when demand is low, prices are low. Most consumers are not planners. This means they shop for their needs and wants as they arise, which strongly shapes demand when it coincides with other consumers. For those seasonal desires, you will see most people shopping at the exact wrong time when it comes to how collective demand moves prices up.
Strategies for Cheap Online Shopping
The internet has drastically changed how most of us shop. If you’re shopping online, you can often find great deals at any time of the year if you use some of the best cheap online shopping strategies:
- Try checking out websites that specialize in various surplus items and goods, such as Overstock.com.
- When looking for the best price on a specific item, it’s worth using shopping search engines like Pricegrabber.com or Google Shopping, which display prices from different online sellers for the item you’re looking for.
- To save money when shopping directly at the seller’s online store, make sure to take advantage of electronic coupons. Sometimes you can get a free shipping code or even a significant discount on your order. You can find electronic coupons by simply searching for the store name plus the words “promo code” or “coupon code.” You can also go directly to coupon sites like Retail Me Not and Coupons.com to search for coupon codes.
- Don’t forget to sign up for one of the online discount sites, which negotiate deals with some of the largest online retailers to offer you up to 5% cash back on your online purchases.
There are many web browser extensions available to consumers that automatically detect savings opportunities on e-commerce sites. Some of the most popular of these extensions include Honey, Rakuten, Retail Me Not, and others.
Warnings for Cheap Shopping
Cheap shoppers know how to score a deal, but they are also more susceptible to making some mistakes while shopping. To save yourself, keep these tips in your pocket:
- When shopping during sales, remember that you shouldn’t assume you’re getting a deal just because the item appears discounted. Know what the items you usually buy cost, not just what the price tag says. You can easily get this information by comparing prices online to get a feel for pricing, then visiting local stores to physically purchase the items.
- Buying something you don’t really need isn’t a deal, no matter how discounted the price is. Even if the item is heavily discounted, it won’t be a deal if you put it on a credit card and don’t pay off the amount immediately. The longer the balance sits on the credit card, the more interest will eat away at your savings on the item. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you got a great price if you had to use credit to buy it in the first place.
- You can
Save a lot of money by purchasing high-value items in the month when retailers tend to reduce prices on those items. While these general rules apply more to traditional brick-and-mortar stores that hold inventory, you can observe some seasonal discount trends online.
Monthly Sales Seasons by Item
Looking to buy any of the following big ticket items? Plan your shopping trip during the months of discounts for those items to get the best deals:
- Home Appliances: Manufacturers release new lines in the spring, so retailers try to clear out inventory during the winter months. Discount months: December to January
- Electronics: Retailers want to make space for the new goods that will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in early January, so they are eager to get rid of current inventory, often discounting these items by 20% to 50% after the holidays. Discount months: Late December to January
- Furniture: Furniture sales slow down as summer comes to an end, so retailers start to discount furniture prices during the Labor Day holiday. Discount month: September
- School Supplies and Clothing: Those who wait until the school year begins will miss out on school supply deals. Start early compared to other parents. Discount month: July
- Winter Clothing: Clothing is a popular gift item during the holidays, so sales slow down after the holidays. Retailers typically discount prices to stimulate more sales. Discount months: Late December, early January
- Cars: Get deals on last year’s new cars when the new cars for the new year are just about to appear (up to 20% off) in October. More discounts occur between Christmas and New Year’s as retailers push to finalize sales before year-end. Discount months: October and late December
- Party Dresses and Formal Wear: The sales of party attire peak before the winter holidays, so retailers mark down prices after the holidays to stimulate sales. Discount months: Late December, January
- White Sales: Save 15% to 50% on sheets, blankets, comforters, and other similar items after the holidays. Discount month: January
Thrifty shoppers know they can save money by purchasing some items in the month when retailers tend to reduce prices on those items. While these general rules apply more to traditional brick-and-mortar stores that hold inventory, you can see some of these trends in seasonal discounts online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is the best time to buy furniture?
Indoor furniture tends to have the best sales at the end of winter (January and February) and the end of summer (August and September). These are the times when new styles are released.
When is the best time to buy electronics?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the Friday and Monday after Thanksgiving) are some of the best days to buy electronics. Computer prices are often discounted at the end of July and August to encourage purchases before back-to-school. Electronics tend to have discounts in January to make room for new models showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show.
What is sold on Memorial Day?
Look for furniture and home décor, small appliances, along with summer clothing.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/comprehensive-guide-to-seasonal-sales-1289892
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