A year-long, month by month guide to getting the best deals on everything!
January
-White sales: Largest savings of the year on table linens, bedding and towels
-Vacation packages: Airlines and hotels seek business after the travel peak in December
-Gym memberships (for New Year’s Resolutions)
-Fitness equipment, DVDs, weight-loss products, health foods
-Football game watching supplies including burgers, bratwursts, chicken wings, barbecue sauce, pizza, condiments
-TV sales (for the Super Bowl!)
-Valentine’s Day candy
-Semi-annual sales at Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores
February
-Valentine’s Day candy, flowers, long-stem strawberries (for dipping in chocolate!)
-Fragrances/perfumes
-Furniture – New designs debut in the spring time so furniture stores must make room
-Humidifiers are marked down this month and next
-Electronics – New models of MP3 players, DVD players and digital cameras were announced at last month’s annual International Consumer Electronics Show so buy last year’s models at a discount
President’s Day – 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores
March
Frozen Foods Month
-Frozen foods: Look for great supermarket sales and coupons in your Sunday paper for Frozen Foods month
-St. Patrick’s Day items like corned beef, cabbage, “green”-colored items including pancake mixes
-TVs go on sale this month
-Winter gear: Coats, skis and boots are being cleared for spring and summer items
April
-Best time to shop at thrift stores, as people are spring-cleaning and donating loads of clothes, furniture and home goods
-Rummage Sales begin! Visit Thrifty Minnesota for a current “Minnesota City Wide Garage Sales List”
-Digital cameras go on sale as families plan travel over spring break
May
-Tex-Mex Foods for Cinco de Maya including tacos, avocados, ground beef.
-Summer items like picnic supplies and outdoor furniture
-Mattresses: Mattress manufacturers are shipping new models, so retailers want to move lingering inventory
-Cookware to woo wedding shoppers and moms for Mother’s Day
-Athletic Apparel
Memorial Day – 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores
June
Dairy Month
-Dairy foods like cheese
-Grilling and outdoor items like burgers, hot dogs, bratwursts, buns, baked beans, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, first aid items including bandages
-Swimsuits and summer wear
-Power tools, tech products for grads and dads for Father’s Day
-Wedding gifts: Now is the height of wedding season, so get some dishware now
-Semi-annual sales take place at Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret
July
-Back to school supplies debut (woohoo, right?). Great time to stock up on office supplies.
-Furniture: Great deals as stores make room for new lines
-Month-to-month gym memberships (Gyms are more negotiable now to keep numbers up, which dip in the summer)
August
-Swimwear and other end of summer deals like air conditioners, lawn mowers and yard equipment
-Camping gear: Best prices on tents and other outdoor gear now
-Back to school supplies
-Computers
-Fall fashions
-Lunch box foods including peanut butter and jelly, snacks, juice boxes
September
-Summer clearance
-Perennials, shrubs and trees – Greenery at this time of year can’t be beat, according to Consumer Reports
-Bicycles – deals start now and run through Fall
-Halloween candy, decorations, costumes show up in stores
-Baking supplies
-Lawn mowers – prices get trimmed to create space for snowblowers and other winter gear
-Cars: New models hit the showroom floor so older vehicles are the ones to buy
Labor Day – 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores
October
Fall Car Care Month
-Tires and car supplies are discounted for Fall Car Care month
–Halloween candy, decorations, costumes
-Summer clearance items; best time to stock up on next summer’s patio furniture or buy a grill
-Appliances and vacuums: New models arrive so you’ll find sales on last year’s kitchen appliances and washers and dryers
-Winter gear: Get good early deals on coats, hats and scarves
Columbus Day – 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores
November
-Wedding gowns: Boutiques are clearing out inventory between now and Christmas
–Thanksgiving meal fixings
-Baking supplies for the holidays
-Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales! Best deals on electronics, toys
Veterans Day – 50% off clothing, shoes and home items at thrift stores like Savers and Unique Thrift Stores
-Veterans should seek special discounts, such as at Applebees where veterans get a free meal
December
-Cough and cold medicine, facial tissues
-Cars: Car dealers are more open to a bargain before the end of the year to boost sales numbers
-Toys, electronics and much more are on sale for Christmas shopping season
Day after Christmas – Best time to buy Christmas gift wrap, cards, storage for all your decorations
