I am always on the lookout for when I should shop in order to get the best deals. Over the years I have found that shopping sales does not mean you are actually getting a great deal on the goods. In fact, most stores never expect to sell items at full price, instead they mark the item up drastically so they can sell it “on sale” for the price they originally wanted to get (check out this excellent article on The Wall Street Journal website for insights into sale psychology). That said, there are certain times of the year when products will drop in price and actually be worth buying.
April and May Goods to Buy
There are a few different areas to shop during these two spring months. While some are obvious as to why the items are on sale, others take a little research.
Now is the time to buy those winter boots, scarves, hats and mittens that you have had your eye on. The warm weather is here, and the “sales” ended a month or two ago. Now the prices are slashed in order to clear out the merchandise. If you have not picked up what you wanted, waiting longer may result in the items not being around when you finally get to the store to buy them. Just keep in mind, since items are clearance marked (75%+ off), there is a chance your size is no longer available.
Shopping for clearance marked goods due to the end of the year is a relatively easy approach. You know when the season is over, and you can watch the sales. Some other goods are a little harder to know when to buy them. And a lot of it has to do with where those items are manufactured.
March 31st not only marks the end of the first quarter, but it also marks the end of the Japanese fiscal year. What this means is that manufacturers and the Japanese government are doing during April is cleaning up anything remaining from the prior fiscal year. It also means that new technology is being rolled out. If you have had your eye on a new computer, TV, tablet, or other technological device, April is the month to pick them up. Last year’s models are marked down in price to clear room for this year’s models.
One area that is not readily noticed for spring sales is the lawn and garden department. Many stores this month are clearing out winter inventory, and making room for their lawn and garden merchandise. In order to draw people in, stores will put some of their bigger ticket items on sale, such as grills, lawn mowers, and patio furniture. Their goal is to lure you in with these sales, and then sell you hundreds of dollars worth of smaller items. If you wait until June, everything will be back to full price until the fall.
Wrapping it Up
If at all possible, I try not to buy anything when it is not on sale. Often this means I will forget to shop a sale, and I must force myself to wait until the following year. Keeping a list of which items you need (for instance if you ruin your best snow gloves, put it on the list to find some drastically reduced in March, April, or May even though you won’t wear them again until the following winter) will help you remember to shop for out-of-season items. As always, doing a little research will help you find the best deals around; they are often online.
How do you find sales? Where do you shop to get the best deal?
