It’s no bad thing, of course, that we’re all so keen on getting the best price on our purchases. It is, in fact, one of our better collective spending habits that we at least want a good deal before we buy. With that in mind, here are a few pointers on which time of year you should be looking to buy certain goods.
The new year — time to update the house
Ah, January. That wonderful time of year where we’re all downtrodden and penniless post-Christmas. The weather is bleak, you’re back to work and looking to see the next 31 days out quickly. The good news is, if you have a bit of cash left over after the winter festivities, you can cure your blues with some retail therapy on some high-ticket items for your home.
Because no one has any cash, January is a great time of year to buy furniture, with savings of anywhere from a third to half off the likes of drawers, sofas and beds. If you fancy spoiling the kids, you’ll also find plenty of discounts on toys during the post-Christmas slump. Moving into February is a known ‘white goods’ time, where you can get a quarter to a third off fridges, dishwashers and washing machines.
Family holiday? Avoid summer
The summer holidays have become the bane of many parents’ lives. Airlines and resorts ramp up their prices for out-of-term holiday season, with This Is Money reporting 9 out of 10 flights to be significantly more expensive during the six-week school holiday period. With laws on pulling your kids out of school becoming stricter, what’s the best way to enjoy a great family getaway while maintaining a solid budget?
The answer, if you can stomach it, is to not go away during summer at all. You’ll find the best out-of-term prices during less popular holidays like Easter and any of the half-term weeks. It might mean not seeing the hottest weather possible, but us Brits are unaccustomed to anything over 25 degrees anyway!
While we’re here, you might want to avoid the pricey Christmas period as well.
Is there anything cheap at Christmas?
A good question. The answer is yes. While everyone is manically snapping up an array of electronics, clothing, toys and other gift-worthy bits, there are a few items that don’t see too much action during the festive period.
If you need a new car for example, December could be the time to buy. Not many people are buying cars as Christmas presents, and you’ll be able to find a fifth to a quarter off with some deals, meaning a significant saving.
If you are buying the more traditional bits ahead of the 25th, try and hold off until the Black Friday sales. Black Friday is the 29th November this year, and you should be able to find plenty of discounts on all kinds of gadgets from the likes of Amazon and co. Because of Black Friday, Boxing Day sales aren’t quite what they used to be, but you should still be able to find some healthy reductions on some very usable items.
So, if you have a big purchase planned, make sure to take a moment to consider whether you could be buying it at a better time before taking the plunge.