Every time we turn on the television or open a newspaper, we are hit with a barrage of advertisements claiming that the advertiser has the "Lowest Prices of the Year! Today Only!" We make a purchase only to find the same product advertised two months later for a third less than what we paid for it. So, how do we shop ahead for needs and gifts when we are never sure if it is really the best deal? While there are always exceptions, the following is a calendar of sorts listing the types of sales to expect in department and specialty stores throughout the year.
January ~ Continuation of after-Christmas sales; lingerie, accessories, luggage, stationery, white sales, winter clearance of shoes, boots, clothing, furs, ski clothing and gear, knitting, needlework and craft supplies, linens, electronics, computers, small appliances, athletic shoes, exercise equipment, Christmas clearance chocolate, toiletries, fragrances, cosmetics, beauty treatments, semiannual furniture sales, soda, diet foods, frozen finger foods. This is an excellent month to get good prices on houses, motorcycles and boats as there is less of a market for them in the middle of winter.
February ~ Storewide Presidents' Day sales, housewares, fabric, hosiery, electronics, preseason sales of new model barbecue grills (this means they will also be clearing out last season's models at bargain prices), outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, post-Valentine's Day chocolate, steak and seafood. This is also an excellent month to buy houses, motorcycles and boats.
March ~ Storewide spring sales, china, glassware, crystal accessories, silver and stainless flatware, floor coverings, do-it-yourself home improvement equipment, pre-Easter fashions, frozen food and boats.
April ~ (Starting Easter Sunday) outdoor furniture, garden supplies, summer table accessories, rugs, eggs, ham, cheese, mustard, ready-made dough, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mixes, frosting, pie crusts. After-Easter chocolate and other clearance (in March if Easter occurs then,) sleepwear, lounge-wear, yard goods, trimming, patterns for summer fashions, vacuum cleaners, diamond and gold jewelry, watches, tires, car-care supplies. Watch for fresh hams on clearance after Easter as they can not be frozen and sold by the store. They can be purchased and frozen by you. :-)
May ~ White sales, baby needs, gifts for brides and graduates, summer housewares including picnic gear, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, chips, ice cream, popsicles, soda, bottled water, party supplies, home furnishings, luggage, Mother's Day sales of jewelry, small accessories, scarves, Memorial Day sales, summer fashions, sporting equipment, outdoor furniture and gear, grilling supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid), vacuum cleaners, cookware.
June ~ Summer appliances, golf, tennis, fishing and camping equipment, sport shoes and clothing, swimsuits, luggage, floor coverings, Father Day sales, men's furnishings, accessories, games, tools, small leather goods, ice cream, popsicles, soda, bottled water, ice tea.
July ~ Storewide Fourth of July sales in nearly every category of merchandise especially swimwear and fashions, semi-annual furniture sales, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, chips, ice cream, popsicles, water, soda, grill supplies, party supplies. This is the best month to buy a new computer as stores clear out their showrooms to make space for new models released in August and September.
August ~ Final summer clearance sales, early fall accessories, stationery and school supplies, toys, continuation of fur and semiannual furniture sales, pool supplies, outdoor toy clearance, outdoor furniture, pre-Labor Day sales of back-to-school wear, cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, chips, snack cakes, cookies, soda, bottled water, drink boxes. This is also the best month to buy a new computer as stores clear out their showrooms to make space for new models.
September ~ Storewide Labor Day sales on fall and some winter fashions, school equipment sales, computers, calculators, briefcases, major housewares sales of the year, cutlery, gadgets, tools, gifts, casual china and glass, small and large appliances (new models come out in September and October so you can get great deals as stores try to clear their showrooms), do-it-yourself home equipment and tools, grills, lawn mower clearance, grill supplies, party supplies, hardware, paint and wallpaper, home entertainment equipment, cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, chips, snack cakes, cookies, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, canned fruit and vegetables, soups, soda, drink boxes. This is also a good time to purchase a new car as companies start getting new products and need to clear their showrooms.
October ~ Columbus Day sales of outerwear, fall fashions, home furnishings, large appliances, lawn mowers and grills on clearance, floor covering, tires and other car-care supplies, infant needs, pre-season ski sales, canned fruit and vegetables, dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries), soups. This is a great time to purchase an air conditioner as demand is down.
November ~ Halloween clearance candy and costumes (stock up to fill Christmas stockings, decorate gingerbread houses or create a "dress-up box" Christmas gift). Election Day and Veterans Day are associated with the two major pre-winter sales of outerwear for the whole family, fall and winter fashions and accessories, curtain and drapery sales, lamps. Pre-Thanksgiving Day sales of china, glass, tablecloths, silverware, pots, pans, serving pieces, small appliances, turkey, butter, cheese, baking supplies, pie crusts, ready-made dough, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mix, frosting, pie filling, spices, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, marshmellows, soup, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, disposable baking pans, cookware. Post-Thanksgiving Day sales (in reality the start of the Christmas shopping season) furs, skates, skis, sleds, bicycles, electronics, tools, carpeting and flooring. Watch for the fresh turkeys to go on clearance the day after Thanksgiving as the store can not sell it frozen; however, you can buy it cheap, take it home and freeze it. This is a great month to purchase a new air conditioner as the demand is down.
December ~ Holiday fashions, infant and toddler clothing and gifts, gourmet foods, ham, butter, cheese, baking supplies, pie crusts, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mix, frosting, pie filling, cookie dough, spices, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, soda, disposable baking pans, aluminum foil, plastic wrap. After-Christmas sales like half-price or more Christmas cards, tree trimmings, gift wrap, toys, holiday candy, cakes and cookies, giftware, small home furnishings, electronics, computers, tools, winter clothing. This is also a great month to buy an air conditioner, lawn mower or grill as the demand is down.
January ~ Continuation of after-Christmas sales; lingerie, accessories, luggage, stationery, white sales, winter clearance of shoes, boots, clothing, furs, ski clothing and gear, knitting, needlework and craft supplies, linens, electronics, computers, small appliances, athletic shoes, exercise equipment, Christmas clearance chocolate, toiletries, fragrances, cosmetics, beauty treatments, semiannual furniture sales, soda, diet foods, frozen finger foods. This is an excellent month to get good prices on houses, motorcycles and boats as there is less of a market for them in the middle of winter.
February ~ Storewide Presidents' Day sales, housewares, fabric, hosiery, electronics, preseason sales of new model barbecue grills (this means they will also be clearing out last season's models at bargain prices), outdoor furniture, lawn mowers, post-Valentine's Day chocolate, steak and seafood. This is also an excellent month to buy houses, motorcycles and boats.
March ~ Storewide spring sales, china, glassware, crystal accessories, silver and stainless flatware, floor coverings, do-it-yourself home improvement equipment, pre-Easter fashions, frozen food and boats.
April ~ (Starting Easter Sunday) outdoor furniture, garden supplies, summer table accessories, rugs, eggs, ham, cheese, mustard, ready-made dough, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mixes, frosting, pie crusts. After-Easter chocolate and other clearance (in March if Easter occurs then,) sleepwear, lounge-wear, yard goods, trimming, patterns for summer fashions, vacuum cleaners, diamond and gold jewelry, watches, tires, car-care supplies. Watch for fresh hams on clearance after Easter as they can not be frozen and sold by the store. They can be purchased and frozen by you. :-)
May ~ White sales, baby needs, gifts for brides and graduates, summer housewares including picnic gear, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, chips, ice cream, popsicles, soda, bottled water, party supplies, home furnishings, luggage, Mother's Day sales of jewelry, small accessories, scarves, Memorial Day sales, summer fashions, sporting equipment, outdoor furniture and gear, grilling supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid), vacuum cleaners, cookware.
June ~ Summer appliances, golf, tennis, fishing and camping equipment, sport shoes and clothing, swimsuits, luggage, floor coverings, Father Day sales, men's furnishings, accessories, games, tools, small leather goods, ice cream, popsicles, soda, bottled water, ice tea.
July ~ Storewide Fourth of July sales in nearly every category of merchandise especially swimwear and fashions, semi-annual furniture sales, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, chips, ice cream, popsicles, water, soda, grill supplies, party supplies. This is the best month to buy a new computer as stores clear out their showrooms to make space for new models released in August and September.
August ~ Final summer clearance sales, early fall accessories, stationery and school supplies, toys, continuation of fur and semiannual furniture sales, pool supplies, outdoor toy clearance, outdoor furniture, pre-Labor Day sales of back-to-school wear, cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, chips, snack cakes, cookies, soda, bottled water, drink boxes. This is also the best month to buy a new computer as stores clear out their showrooms to make space for new models.
September ~ Storewide Labor Day sales on fall and some winter fashions, school equipment sales, computers, calculators, briefcases, major housewares sales of the year, cutlery, gadgets, tools, gifts, casual china and glass, small and large appliances (new models come out in September and October so you can get great deals as stores try to clear their showrooms), do-it-yourself home equipment and tools, grills, lawn mower clearance, grill supplies, party supplies, hardware, paint and wallpaper, home entertainment equipment, cereal, breakfast bars, peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, chips, snack cakes, cookies, hot dogs, ground beef, hamburger and hot dog buns, condiments, salad dressing, canned fruit and vegetables, soups, soda, drink boxes. This is also a good time to purchase a new car as companies start getting new products and need to clear their showrooms.
October ~ Columbus Day sales of outerwear, fall fashions, home furnishings, large appliances, lawn mowers and grills on clearance, floor covering, tires and other car-care supplies, infant needs, pre-season ski sales, canned fruit and vegetables, dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries), soups. This is a great time to purchase an air conditioner as demand is down.
November ~ Halloween clearance candy and costumes (stock up to fill Christmas stockings, decorate gingerbread houses or create a "dress-up box" Christmas gift). Election Day and Veterans Day are associated with the two major pre-winter sales of outerwear for the whole family, fall and winter fashions and accessories, curtain and drapery sales, lamps. Pre-Thanksgiving Day sales of china, glass, tablecloths, silverware, pots, pans, serving pieces, small appliances, turkey, butter, cheese, baking supplies, pie crusts, ready-made dough, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mix, frosting, pie filling, spices, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, marshmellows, soup, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, disposable baking pans, cookware. Post-Thanksgiving Day sales (in reality the start of the Christmas shopping season) furs, skates, skis, sleds, bicycles, electronics, tools, carpeting and flooring. Watch for the fresh turkeys to go on clearance the day after Thanksgiving as the store can not sell it frozen; however, you can buy it cheap, take it home and freeze it. This is a great month to purchase a new air conditioner as the demand is down.
December ~ Holiday fashions, infant and toddler clothing and gifts, gourmet foods, ham, butter, cheese, baking supplies, pie crusts, dinner rolls, frozen pies, cake mix, frosting, pie filling, cookie dough, spices, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, soda, disposable baking pans, aluminum foil, plastic wrap. After-Christmas sales like half-price or more Christmas cards, tree trimmings, gift wrap, toys, holiday candy, cakes and cookies, giftware, small home furnishings, electronics, computers, tools, winter clothing. This is also a great month to buy an air conditioner, lawn mower or grill as the demand is down.
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