The Best Time to Buy Guide for 75 Products and Services

UPDATED WITH 30 NEW PRODUCTS ON APRIL 28, 2010

Timing is everything, it seems. Knowing when is the best time to buy that new car, house or lawn mower could be the difference between saving hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year. That's why we created the Best Time to Buy Guide for over 75 products and services. Before you make another major purchase, check with this guide to know when the best time to buy is.


1. Air Conditioners
The price of air conditioners rise and lower with the temperature. Most old air conditioners expire when the temperature goes up which creates a high demand in the summer months.

If an air conditioner is a must buy right now, then begin looking for discounts today on last years models. If you have a unit that can make it through another season, then the best option is to wait until stores are clearing their inventory at the end of the summer. As temperatures cool the prices will drop and you can find great deals to keep you cool next year.

You can save money on the purchase of a new air conditioner by having your current system serviced. Early in the season is the best time to find deals on service for your air conditioner. In the heating and air conditioning business, the summer months are the most profitable. Many companies will offer discounts on air conditioner service before the heat arrives to stay busy.

Best time to buy an air conditioner: October
Best time to have your air conditioner services: February

2. Airline Tickets
Increase your odds of cheaper airfare by purchasing well in advance of your departure. Viewing ticket prices up to 4 months ahead of departure will give you the best chance of finding a guide deal. Look for tickets early in the week to find deals as prices have a tendency to rise as the week goes on.

Try to fly on a Saturday and avoid flying on Sundays to get a better deal. Holiday travel is always more expensive so determining a travel schedule can be especially valuable when looking for discounts around the holidays.

Flight discounts are unpredictable so the best advice is to check frequently, and once you find a good deal take it. It might not be around very long.

Best time to buy airline tickets: Tuesdays, months in advance of departure

3. Big Appliances
The new models for large appliances roll out in September and October, so stores will be working to make room by discounting previous models. Some stores will keep older inventory in stock through the holiday months and then reduce what ever is left at the beginning of the new year.

During the rest of the year look for holiday sales around Memorial Day and Independence Day.

Best time to buy big appliances: October and January

4. Baby Clothes
The best time to buy baby clothes is when you are pregnant. Baby clothes go on sale at the end of each season to make room for new items. If you know the sex of the baby, you can start shopping for clothes now.

Figure out how old the baby will be when they need that seasons clothes. Then buy that size of clothes.

Best time to buy baby clothes: During pregnancy

5. Bicycles
New bicycle models are released in February and March, which means stores will be slashing prices on older models at the start of the new year. Bicycles will be marked down to sell over the holidays. The bikes that don't sell will be marked down again at the beginning of the year.

Shopping later in January will allow you a more relaxed shopping experience with  better customer service. Store employees are not as busy and you have better chances of negotiating a deal.

Best time to buy a bicycle: January and February

6. Boats
Some experts say winter boat show season is the best time to buy. Others recommend checking out dealerships from January to March as they won't bundle boat-show expenses into the final price. In either case, merchants offer better prices so they can clear their decks to exhibit new models.
Best time to buy a boat: February

7. Books
Take a look at when major bookstore chains release weekly discounts and you'll soon find Thursday is the best time to buy a book. Barnes & Noble offers sales and coupons for the week on Tuesdays and Borders releases offers on Thursdays. By waiting until Thursday to shop for your books you can compare prices between the two largest book chains to ensure you get the best deal.

Best time to buy books: Thursdays

8. Bowling
Become an off-hour pin head. Take advantage of early bird specials and avoid league bowlers and weekend daters. Some lanes also try to keep the balls rolling by offering specials after 9 pm weekdays.

Best time to go bowling: Before 10am or after 9pm Mon-Thurs


9. Broadway Tickets
New Yorkers flock to new shows in the fall and consider summer performances "très gauche." That means theaters are more likely to fill empty seats in July with cut-rate tickets. On the other hand, some truly good theater closes quickly, so availability depends on a show's popularity.
Best time to buy broadway tickets: July


10. Calendar
Cute kittens, Tuscan vistas and boring-old Daytimers fly out the door during the holiday season. Come early January, calendar sales falter faster than a celebrity marriage. Wait until calendars hit the bargain bin and you can save up to 70 percent, although the selection is limited.
Best time to buy a calendar: January


11. Carpet and Flooring
Americans love to spruce up their homes for the holidays, which means carpet and flooring is in high demand through the end of December. Once the new year hits, however, demand and prices plummet.
Best time to buy carpet and flooring: January


12. Cars
New model year vehicles are typically introduced in late summer. The end of a model year can be a great time to get bargains on a recommended model as dealerships are making room for new models. Vehicles remaining on the lot at the end of the model year are considered to be "leftovers". They have been on the lot the longest and can generally be negotiated for considerable savings.

The end of the month can be a good time to buy a car also as many dealerships establish monthly quotas and salespeople may be willing to take much less than asking price in order to make a sale to earn their bonus. The best way to save on end of the month purchases is to walk onto the dealership with a good idea of what you want to buy. Some salespeople may try pressuring you into making decisions about a car you are not prepared to buy if you don't know what you are looking for.

Throughout the year, manufacturers offer rebates, incentives and cheap financing which often coincide with a holiday, long weekend, or special promotion. Sales incentives can be worth investigating to see how much money you can save.

Best time to buy a car: October, and end of the month

13. Car Wash
As with oil changes, full-service car washes experience their heaviest traffic after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Show up in the first hours after opening and you may get both a better price and better service.
Best time to get a car wash: Early Morning


14. Cell Phones
The best deal on a cell phone is offered when signing up for new service. Consider moving to another carrier, if you are at the end of an existing contract. Another way to save on cell phones is with rebate savings. "Free After Rebate" offers are made on most every popular phone at some point. Pricing usually includes a combination of instant savings and a rebate. The best time to buy is when you can get a cell phone for free, either by signing up for new service or with "cash back after rebate" offers.

Best time to buy a cell phone: When starting a new contract

15. Champagne
Any other time of year, champagne gathers dust on liquor store shelves. Come the holidays and the approach of New Years Eve, the bubbly beverage begins to fly out the door. June weddings also give champagne sales a kick.
Best time to buy champagne: December and June


16. China and Flatware
If you don't mind buying last-season's patterns, shop after Christmas and the wedding season.
Best time to buy china and flatware: March and September


17. Chocolates and Candy
Chocolate is one of the most economic resilient items in the food industry. The best time to buy chocolate and save money is right after major holidays. Retailers fill shelves with chocolate for Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Shop for Chocolate right after these major holidays when prices are marked down as much as 75% off.

To save even more shop for higher quality and typically more expensive chocolates like dark chocolate bars or Truffles during those after holiday sales.

Best time to buy chocolates and candy: After major holidays

18. Clothing
Once merchandise has been in stores a month or more, retailers begin dropping prices to circulate new items. Stores begin stocking shelves on Thursday to prepare for the weekend. Weekends are when the most items are sold so the best selection and best prices can be found if you make it to the store before the weekend.

Save additionally by shopping at the end of the season. Clothing stores need to make room for new collections and will mark down clothing significantly to reduce stock. As a new season nears begin looking for deals on clothing. For example, spring is the time to get a good deal on winter clothing.

Best time to buy clothing: Thursday evening and end of season

19. Computers
Computers have become essential items for students which is why most retailers have big back to school sales in August. You can also get a good deal on a computer during the run up to Christmas.

Technology blogs and manufacturer websites should have information about when new computer models will be released. If you have your eye on an older model and a new model is soon to be released, it may be worth the wait in order to buy it at a lower price.

Best time to buy a computer: August and December

20. Cookware
Since cookware is a popular gift item for newlyweds and graduating college students, stores often run specials on cookware in early summer. Because cookware is such a practical gift stores offer specials on these items again during the Christmas holiday season.

Best time to buy cookware: April, May and December

21. Dehumidifier
Apparently people are less interested in sucking the moisture out of their homes in late summer as August is when merchants put dehumidifiers on sale.
Best time to buy a dehumidifier: August


22. Department Store Merchandise
Cruise the aisles of a department store like Kohl's or Nordstrom on a Saturday evening and you may have the place to yourself. Most people are either out on the town or wrapped up at home with their Snuggies, leaving you alone with miles of merchandise. Better still, merchandise typically is marked down on Saturday evening in preparation for Sunday sales.

Best time to get department store merchandise: Saturday Evening

23. Dinner Out
Most restaurants receive new food supplies on Tuesdays. By dining out on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you will have the freshiest ingredients in your meal.

Food deliveries to restaurants don't generally occur over the weekend and Sundays are usually when restaurants are using up what is left over from the previous week. Many restaurants offer specials to draw customers on Sundays, so you may eat cheaper but you won't necessarily be getting the best value.

Best time to eat out: Tuesdays for quality, Sundays for price

24. Electronics
The best time to buy electronics is in the Spring and early summer, shortly after the Japanese fiscal year. This is when most Japanese electronics companies release their new models. Stores make room for the new products by reducing the price on last years model.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best time to buy electronics over the holidays. Retailers like Best Buy reduce prices more on these two days than any other days during the holidays.

Best time to buy electronics: April, May, Black Friday and Cyber Monday

25. Entertainment
Entertainment discounts are offered at many museums and amusement parks on during the middle of the week. Some museums even have free admission days. Not only will you save on the price of admission by going on a weekday but it will also be less crowded.

Matinee showings of movies are a good way to save a couple bucks on the price of a ticket.

Best time to buy entertainment: Wednesdays

26. Exercise Equipment
The best strategy for purchasing exercise equipment is to find a specialty fitness retailer where you can spend time using the equipment.

Try to shop during hours when associates are available to spend time explaining details about the equipment. Most fitness equipment is expensive so it is very important to find equipment you are comfortable with and understand. If you know before buying that you are going to be able to operate the equipment, then chances are better of you putting it to use once it is in your home.

Best time: After testing the equipment

27. Farmers Markets
Vendors don't want to schlep unsold wares and wilting produce home after a farmers market, so they're more willing to barter with remaining customers. Your selection will be limited but, if you're flexible, you can score some great deals.
Best time to shop at a farmers market: 10-15 minutes before closing time


28. Flip Flops
The summer months are when stores stock up on hundreds of different flip-flop styles and patterns at low, low prices. Wait until the fall and you may have to pay a hefty premium for out-of-season and out-of-style sandals.

Best time to buy flip flops: August

29. Furniture
New furniture is typically released bi-annually. Retailers like Crate and Barrel slash prices in January with anticipation of new furniture arriving in February. Prices are lowered again in July for the arrival of new furniture in August.

Furniture also goes on sale around Mother's day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Father's Day, Black Friday and Christmas.

Best time to buy furniture: January and July

30. Gardening Tools
Hoe, hoe, hoe. Shop from February to April for up to 50-percent off on rakes, hoes, shovels (dirt -- not snow) and other garden implements at places like Home Depot.

Best time to buy gardening tools: March


31. Gas
The price of gas is usually higher on the weekends as demand increases. Elevated prices tend to hit the pump by mid-morning on Thursday so save by getting fuel on Wednesday or early in the morning on Thursday.

Another advantage to fueling in the morning is you'll get more for your money. Gasoline is most dense in the cool of the morning. Pumps charge by the volume and not the density of gas so you will fuel for less.

It is a good idea to add fuel beore the guage reads a quarter tank. Running your car on near empty fuel levels can be damaging to the injection system.

Best time to buy gas: Wednesday and early morning

32. Gas Grills
Gas grills are in high demand during the summer and prices rise to match the demand. This makes Fall and Winter the best time to buy a new grill. Companies like Home Depot and Walmart will cut prices on summer grills when winter merchandise arrives.

Best time to buy gas grills: October

33. Garden Plants and Flowers
Prices on plants and flowers fall drastically after midsummer when nurseries and garden supply stores are trying to clear inventory.

Best time to buy garden plants and flowers: August

34. Gift Cards
Gift cards are the most popular Christmas gifts and every year people receive gift cards to merchants that they don't care to shop at. Some of these people try to sell their merchant gift cards at a discount on websites like eBay, GiftCards.com and Plastic Jungle. Due to supply and demand forces the best time to buy a discount gift card is a couple weeks after Christmas. Visit Gift Card Granny for a detailed listing of merchant gift cards that are for sale.

Best time to buy merchant gift cards: January

35. Groceries
Grocery sales tend to run Wednesday through Tuesday making the first day of the sale the best time to get in on discounts before items sell out.
 
Buy items at lower prices or in-season and save them for later use by freezing them. You can also plan ahead for your holiday meals and buy a discounted turkey then freeze it for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The best time to buy fruits and vegetables is when they are fresh. The following is a list of the best times to buy produce by season:

• Spring - apricots, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, carrots, cleriac, collards, fennel, mango, pineapple, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, sugar snap peas, snow peas and vidalia onions.
• Summer - beets, blackberries, broccoli, corn, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, tomatoes, watermelon and zucchini.
• Fall - acorn squash, apples, butternut squash, cauliflower, celeriac, figs, grapes, mushrooms, parsnips, pears, pomegranate, pumpkin and sweet potatoes.
• Winter - chestnuts, grapefruit, leeks, lemons, oranges, tangerines, radishes, rutabaga and turnips.

For more information on fruit selection visit www.fruitseasons.com.

Best time to buy groceries: Wednesdays

36. Gym Membership
New Years' resolutions have gone out the window by June and gym rats are more interested in outdoor activity than exercising indoors. Membership representatives will leap at the chance to sign up new members, even if it means waiving initiation fees and giving away a free month.
Best time to buy a gym membership: June


37. Hardware
Hardware and home improvement stores hammer us with heavily advertised sales directly before Fathers Day and during the holiday season. Apparently merchants believe all men -- particularly fathers -- lust after nothing quite so much as power tools.
Best time to buy hardware and tools: June and December


38. Home Theaters
Like, duh! The biggest sales of both big-screen TVs and home theaters are directly before the Super Bowl. Dealers want to clear their inventory for new product lines and customers want to upgrade for the highest-rated show of the year.
Best time to buy a home theater: February


39. Houses
Spring is a great time to buy a new house as this is the time when more homes are for sale than at any other time of the year. You will have a greater selection of homes to choose from but there are also a lot of people looking at this time of t he year.

Though you'll find more selection in Spring, house prices can be lower in the Fall when the buyer demand isn't so fierce. Because the selection of homes is lower in the Fall, it may be difficult to find exactly what your are looking for in a home.

Best time to buy a house: April - June for selection, October - December for price

40. Hotel Rooms
Book your hotel stay on a Sunday for the best chance of getting a reduced rate. Sunday afternoons are very slow for hotels and managers will have more time to negotiate than they would the rest of the week.

Best time to book a hotel room: Sundays

41 - 48. Insurance
Getting insurance coverage can be expensive but, in many circumstances, paying for coverage costs much less than not being covered when you need it. There are many different types of insurances and finding the best time to buy is difficult because costs generally fluctuate unpredictably for many reasons. Following is a list of a the most common types of insurances and the best times to buy:

• Life Insurance - The best time to buy life insurance is when you qualify for it. You must be healthy to qualify so, in general, the younger you are the better your chances of qualifying. Life insurance will cover financial obligations that continue when you die. Since no one knows what tomorrow will bring, today is the best time to buy life insurance.
• Auto Insurance - The best time to buy is when you will be driving. Comparing quotes online is a good way to find the prices for insurance companies. Speaking with an insurance agent before buying is helpful. Be sure to ask for promotions or discounts that may apply to buying an auto insurance policy.
• Home Insurance - The best time to buy home insurance is when you buy your home. If possible purchase auto insurance at the same time. Some companies will take 5-15% off the premium when 2 or more policies are purchased from the same insurer. You can also reduce your premiums by  making your home more disaster resistant and installing a home security system. Once you find a policy stick with it as some insurers lower premiums for long-term policyholders.
• Business Insurance - The best time to buy business insurance is when you start your business. You rarely know the day that trouble will strike your business, so get insured right away.
• Health Insurance - The best time to buy health insurance is when your coverage ends with another insurer. If you are healthy, finding a coverage with less benefits may save you money. Paying more for insurance is a good idea, if you know medical expenses are coming soon.
• Disaster Insurance - The best time to buy disaster insurance is today because natural disasters are unpredictable. Flooding is the most common natural disaster and occurs every day somewhere in the United States.
• Pet Insurance - The best time to buy pet insurance is when your pet is young. Young pets are less likely to have pre-existing conditions and should have little trouble getting full coverage.

Best time to buy insurance: Varies by type

49. Jeans
There's a double bonus if you buy new jeans in October: You miss back-to-school crowds and can take advantage of clearance sales scheduled before holiday shopping season. You'll also have less of an audience to squiggle into new jeans if the store has one of those communal dressing rooms.

Best time to buy jeans: October


50. Jewelry
Mother's day, Valentine's day and the Christmas holiday seasons are prime time for finding discounts on jewelry. Savings may be more difficult to find when looking for expensive jewelry with large, authentic diamonds and gold but holiday sales remain the best possibility for discounts.

Best time to buy jewelry: Holidays

51. Kitchen Accessories
Merchants know more people buy kitchen appliances for graduation and wedding presents, making spring a good time to buy. On the other hand, consumers tend to feather their nests in preparation for the holidays, prompting reduced prices in October and November.

Best time to buy kitchen accessories: May and November


52. Lawn Mowers
Once summer is over stores begin preparing for Fall products, which means big sales on lawn mowers. Stores need to make room for new inventory and lawn mowers take up plenty of space.

Best time to buy a lawn mower: August

53. Linens and Bedding
Since 1878 people have counted on the new year to bring in sales on whites. John Wannamaker originated the marketing strategy of "The White Sale". Today, January is still the best time to look for discounts on bedding and linens as retailers, cataloguers and others still follow his lead. Keep an eye out during the rest of the year for good bargains as previous season styles will go on sale with the release of new lines.

Best time to buy linens and bedding: January

54. Mattresses and Box Springs
The best time to buy a mattress and box springs is in May when retailers need to make room for new models. Your chances of getting a great deal at this time are quite good as manufacturers leave retailers enough room to reduce prices.

Best time to buy a mattress: May

55. Movies and Music
Discounts on new tunes and movies are heaviest immediately after release, usually on Tuesdays. Why Tuesdays? Some say it's because this allows products to soak up a full week of sales before charts are computed. Others point to an ancient deal between studios and delivery companies: Mondays are the heaviest delivery day. Wednesday is new comic book and magazine day. Not sure what they do on Thursday: Probably deliver live animals and poison-pen letters.
Best time to buy movies and music: Directly After Release


56. Oil Changes
Early bird specials aren't just for Senior Citizens. Quickie lube shops often try to attract customers with price cuts in the early hours, when traffic is thin.
Best time to get an oil change: Early Morning


57. Office Furniture
Most home-based business start up in January and right after tax time. These are usually when retailers like Office Depot have their best deals on office furniture.

Best time to buy office furniture: January and end of April

58. Outdoor Gear
Sometimes it feels the biggest adventure is finding outdoor gear at a reasonable price. Make a resolution to buy after the New Year, when merchants are eager to clear out the old and bring in the new.

Best time to buy outdoor gear: January


59. Party Supplies
You don't need to buy plastic plates and cups for your wedding or graduation party, but merchants really want you to go disposable. If you don't have your heart set on fine china and silverware, May is the time to stock up.

Best time to buy a party supplies: May


60. Paint
Mad dogs and Englishmen paint in the noon-day sun...or in the heat of summer. That's why paint retailers have sales on both interior and exterior paints during the hottest months of the year.
Best time to buy paint: Summer


61. Patio Furniture
Wait until the first week after summer ends to buy your patio furniture. Stores like Walmart and Target will drastically reduce the price of patio furniture because they need to make room for Christmas decorations.

Best time to buy patio furniture: September

62. Recreational Vehicles
The absolute, hands-down, best time to buy both new and used RVs is a couple weeks after cold weather sets in and buyer traffic has slowed. Dealers want to increase their cash flow and unload excess inventory. Private owners don't want to winterize and store their RVs. Of course, that means you'll have to deal with storage, but the hassle and expense can be offset by a cheaper price.
Best time to buy a recreational vehicle: November


63. Small Appliances
Small appliances can be bought for much less during the holiday shopping season at the end of the year. Small appliances make for a practical gift and retailers do their best to sell as many as possible over the holidays by marking down prices.

Best time to buy small appliances: December

64. Snowblower
Have you ever tried to buy a snowblower in the winter? Merchants enjoy a flurry of sales during winter storms. Come March, however, customers are as rare as hen's teeth. What's a merchant to do but drop prices to rock bottom in April?
Best time to buy a snowblower: April


65. Suits
"Suit up" on fall suits in January and spring suits in July. Before you buy, however, make sure the style is timeless. Avoid such time-dated fashions as double-breasted suits and the gargantuan shoulders of the 1980s.

Best time to buy a suit: January and July


66. Swimsuits
Every women above a size six knows there's really no good time to deal with the nightmare of finding a swimsuit that looks good and fits. The rest of humanity should wait until the end of summer, when crowds at pools and beaches begin to thin out.

Best time to buy a swimsuit: August and September


67. Swing Sets
Swing sets go on sale at summer's end, when children have abandoned outdoor play for indoor pursuits. Swing sets also take up a lot of floor space merchants are just itching to fill with holiday merchandise.

Best time to buy a swing set: August


68. Televisions
You don't have to wait for holiday blowout sales to find a good deal on a television. The best deals can be found in the spring when new models are released. The fiscal year ends in March for most Japanese companies and new-model year releases typically coincide with the new fiscal year. Discounts of up to 20 percent are offered on previous year models.

Retailers also have big sales on televisions during the run up to Christmas. You will usually find the best deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Best time to buy a television: April and December

69. Toys
Early winter is the best time to begin your wish list if toys are what you want for Christmas. Retailers will be trying to maximize holiday sales by reducing prices and pushing sales as early as October. Your chances of finding cheaper games and puzzles are especially good during this time.

If you simply can't wait to buy toys but you still would like to find a bargain, then August will be the best time to look for discounts. With holiday shopping on the horizon, retailers will be reducing prices on current stock to make room for the seasons hottest toys. Retailers will be willing to let items go at huge discounts in order to make room to stock newer items.

Best time to buy toys: October and November

70. Utilities
Some utility companies charge less for energy used after prime time. Wait until 10 p.m. to toss in that load of laundry, start the dishwasher and use other energy vampires.
Best time to use energy: 10pm to 10am


71. Vacuum Cleaners
The best time to buy a new vacuum cleaner is before you start spring cleaning. The introduction of new models will result in lower prices in April and May as new vacuum models are released in June.

Best time to buy a vacuum cleaner: April and May

72. Video Games
Save your video game spending for after Christmas. Video game manufacturers release new games in November and December in time for holiday shopping. Wait until January and February to buy your video games to get a better deal.

Best time to buy video games: January and February

73. Wedding
A wedding in the cool of winter can result in hot savings. The peak season for weddings is May-September which means services are more expensive and booking venues are more difficult. Negotiating low prices for wedding services in the winter is possible because there is low demand during the cold months. The best wedding venues aren't as highly sought after and will be open to negotiating price and extra services that would be more expensive the rest of the year.

Wedding savings can carry through to a winter honeymoon. Prices are lower during hotel and resort off-seasons in the winter and the best suites are also more likely to be available.

Best time to have a wedding: November - February

74. Whale Watching
Prime time for whale watching is April through October, but the cheapest time is in the early morning, when tourists are still feasting on free continental breakfasts.

Best time to go whale watching: Early morning (7-9am)


75. Wine
The best selection of wines will be available after fall harvest. The latest vintages are released by most vineyards at this time. This is also the best time to find good buys on "cult wines".

Many wine retailers are trying to keep a low inventory in these uncertain times and are marking down prices to sell off overstock. There are great deals being offered on wines of all quality so today may be the best day to buy your next bottle of wine.

Best time to buy wine: Early Fall

76. Wrapping Paper
Buy your wrapping paper twelve months before it will be used to save the most. You can pick up a roll of wrapping paper in early January for a fraction of what it would cost pre-Christmas.

Best time to buy wrapping paper: January