Ellen Phillips Last week’s conversation concerning money-saving resolutions brought a number of questions from interested readers. Let’s discuss these and others to help savvy consumers put money aside for 2017.
Take clothing, for example: Never pay full retail price. Obviously, you’ll find the absolutely rock-bottom prices at end-of-season sales. Beware, though: hit the sales (which often are monumental) the first moment they’re offered; otherwise, items are picked over, and chances are you won’t like what’s left.
– If you worry that special outfit may sell out, don’t wait for the big sale. Fashion experts recommend waiting six weeks following the piece’s introduction in the store. Then, on a Thursday night, jump on it.
– Shoppers in the market for sneakers, should wait until April to buy. Many charity walks and races occur then, and serious runners want good shoes – hence, darn good sales.
– Purchase winter coats in January and February. Bulky outerwear takes up a lot of room that could, otherwise, be showing off beautiful spring fashions, so huge savings occur.
– Don’t neglect thrift stores. Many wealthy people donate gently worn or even brand-new apparel and other items. Moreover, dry cleaners donate clothing to second-hand shops after their specific pick-up dates expire. Spring seems the best time to shop, as homeowners tend to clear out during this season.
– Purchase refrigerators in May and June and ranges/stoves on (primarily) holiday weekends. Normally, new ‘fridge models appear in the summer. If you aren’t bound and determined to possess the very latest model, you can seize last year’s at a pretty large discount. The same savings mindset applies to cooking appliances and dishwashers. Shop for the latter two particularly on July 4th and during Labor Day weekends, as well as September and October, right before new models appear.
– “Spring” for a laptop. Back-to-school laptop sales actually start as early as June. Even better, companies/manufacturers often bundling the computers with a printer or a gift card.
– Caribbean vacations are sometimes hit-or-miss in late summer to early fall because of the danger of tropical storms and/or hurricanes. On the other hand, if your-you do travel, vacation packages and cruises are promoted at deep discounts in June.
– Look for bargain prices on wedding gowns during December’s off-season when most couples are focused on holiday shopping and not wedding planning.
– According to real estate experts, the best day to buy a house is Christmas Day! Not only are sellers immersed in the holiday spirit, they want to sell before year’s end and are ready to haggle big time.
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.