When Where How to Buy
Sooner or later just about everything goes on sale. Knowing when items are at their lowest prices and buying them before you need them is a shopping technique that can save you hundreds of dollars every year on all kinds of items from groceries to gifts! This is the “When Where How” to buy things so that you get the most for your money.
I spoke about this topic on my Savings Segment on Fox. Watch the replay video here:
(I’ll add the replay video right here as soon as it’s made available from Fox)
We know you did a lot of shopping in December, and you may not be ready to do more shopping already. However, January brings low prices on TONS of items! If any of the items below are on your “want” list this year, now is the time to buy!
From the Grocery Stores
- Diet Foods
To help you keep those New Year’s Resolutions, grocery stores will have all kinds of diet foods on sale including name brands like Kashi, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and more. - Oatmeal
January is National Oatmeal Month, so look for deals from Quaker and on items like Cereal, Cereal Bars and Instant Oatmeal. - Super Bowl Party Foods
Bowl games and the Super Bowl in February drive grocery store sales on party foods in January. Look for sales and coupon booklets on items like soda, cheese, dips, chips, crackers, cookies and more. (You also might want to check out our appetizers and snacks recipes if you’re planning to host a Super Bowl party!) - Cold Medicines
Peak cold and flu season brings sale prices on over-the-counter medicines for children and adults. There will also be coupons available for these items!
In Season Produce
The cheapest produce in stores and at local farmer’s markets is always what’s in season. Here are January’s in-season fruits and veggies:
- Beets
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Citrus (including oranges, grapefruit and tangerines)
- Kale (and other greens like Collards, Mustard and Turnips)
- Leeks
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Pineapples
- Pomegranates
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
Furniture
New models are typically released in February. Retailers will be clearing out to make space for the new, so it’s time to shop for that new dining room set, bedroom furniture or sofa you’ve been wanting.
Appliances
Many people like to replace appliances before the holiday guests arrive, so retailers stocked up last month and will have excess inventory to clear out in January. Now is the time to upgrade that stove, dishwasher or washing machine!
Toys
Stores will be clearing out the excess Christmas inventory! Make a list of kids you’ll need to buy birthday gifts for this year and stock up now!
Electronics
Spiraling prices on electronics started in November and December, but some prices hit their lowest in January. The Consumer Electronics Show takes place this month introducing new models with lots of new features. What was new yesterday is now cheaper! You’ll see reduced prices on HDTVs this month and in February leading up to the Superbowl.
Home Fitness Equipment
Retailers are prepared for your New Year’s resolution to lose weight! There are so many in-stock fitness gadgets on the market now, the competition is great for driving the prices down. If you really want a big ticket exercise machine then now is the time to negotiate a good deal (don’t be afraid to haggle and ask for any other discounts!!). If you can’t find what you want cheap enough… then your best bet is to check yard sales and consignment sporting good stores in a couple months when everyone given up hope or has already reached their fitness goals and they sell them super cheap.
NOTE: If your heart isn’t set on a “new” item, garage sales are great for picking up treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines for super cheap year ’round.
Outdoor Camping and Hiking Items
January is considered off-season for camping and hiking gear. If you’re in need of some new outdoor equipment, you’ll find some great prices this month on things like:
- Fishing gear
- Camp and hiking stoves
- Backpacks
- Tents
- Kyaks
Christmas Decorations (All Year B-day Wrap!)
Stores with leftover inventory will have decorations of all kinds, wrapping paper and ribbon at severely discounted prices. Buy now and be ready for next year! The best selection will be on December 26, but you’ll still see remnants of holiday decor in January. Check those back, clearance shelves of every store you go into!
Think generically…. buy plain red, green, blue or silver wrap that you can use all year because you are gonna have to wrap Birthday Presents all year long also, right?!
Winter Clothing
Warm-weather clothing collections will start going on sale this month to make room for spring. Stock up for kids in the next size and tuck it away for next year. You will be SO glad to have those items at a fraction of what everyone else is paying.
Winter Home Equipment
When everyone else paid full price for these items by purchasing them at the beginning of the season in October and November, you were smart to hold off. So now is the time to get a deal on that snow blower or furnace.
Linens
You’ll see lots of advertisements for White Sales this month. Grab sheets, comforters, pillows, towels and more at great prices. And yes, you’ll see sales on items in a variety of colors.
Houses
While January isn’t the best time to sell a house, it is a great time to buy one. Most people planning to move will opt to wait for the end of the school year. If a house is on the market now, it is likely a “must sell” situation that always benefits the buyer.
FREE National Parks Day
The third Monday in January is always Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and it is is one of the FREE dates to visit a National Park. Last summer we spent over $70 to enter a National Park in VA for an extended family picnic (I had no idea it was so expensive to get into the national parks for a family of six!). Now, we plan to enter the parks on a day that’s FREE! Find the complete list of official FREE Entrance Dates in the National Parks this year and plan a free family outing!
Some Items NOT To Buy in January:
Here are a few of the items you’ll want to purchase another time:
Patio Furniture and Accessories
Most stores cleared out their summer inventory of patio furniture and grills over the past couple of months. Those items in stores now are likely early arriving spring inventory and will not be good deals.
Small Appliances
Items like toasters and coffee makers were at their lowest prices the past couple of months. If you’re looking to replace some small appliances, you’ll get better prices next month at a President’s Day Sale.
Winter Sports Equipment
Snowboards and Skis are at peak season right now. Waiting for sales in March and April will bring better prices. If you need it now, garage sales and thrift stores would be your better bet.
Mattresses
Waiting till February’s President’s Day Sales will bring you more savings on mattresses. Hold off on buying these till next month.
Luggage
January has some of the highest prices on luggage. March and April will bring better prices when people are starting to prepare for spring break and summer vacations. Need it now? See if you can borrow some luggage from a friend.
Learn How To Shop ALL Year
And Get More For Your Money!
