I don't buy big ticket items often, but when I do, I want to get the best deal ever. Timing can mean hundreds and even thousands of dollars when we're talking big ticket items.
If you too are trying to save a pretty penny, or rather handsome Benjamin, then you've come to the right place. I researched high and wide to find when is the best time to buy pretty much everything, from airline tickets to a car, to furniture, and clothing.
And because I'm Type-A anal about saving money, I've compiled a nice, free list for you sorting this by:
- quarter
- month
- weekday
- and even time of day
You're welcome.
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Recommended resources in this post:
- My favorite way to save every time I shop online (& for a limited time, get a $10 welcome bonus if you try it out for the first time)
- A smart way to save even more by getting a discounted rate (you can even save $5 off the first time you use)
Best Time to Buy...
Some common items that people want to know right off the bat:
- Best time to buy airline tickets & flights: September; Tuesday
(you should also check below for specific budget destinations to look out for year round) - Best time to buy cars: September through 4th quarter; Monday
- Best time to buy appliances: 2nd & 4th quarter; Sunday
- Best time to buy washer & dryer: February
- Best time to buy TV: 1st quarter, November, December
- Best time to buy a house: 2nd quarter, Monday
- Best time to buy furniture: January, February
- indoor furniture: June
- outdoor furniture: 4th quarter
- Best time to buy mattress: September, October
- Best time to buy hardwood/laminate flooring: April
- Best time to buy furniture: January, February
- Best time to buy clothes: see below by season; Thursday
- Best time to buy kids clothing: August, Wednesday
But if you continue on, you can peruse by quarter, month, weekday, and even time of day to know what are the best things you can be getting right now, or plan ahead.
Best Things to Buy in First Quarter
This runs from January to March:
- Computers
- TVs
- Gas Grills
- Air Conditioners
- Boats
- Wedding
- Winter Gear
Best Things to Buy in January
General:
- Gift Cards
- Calendars & Planners
- Fitness Equipment
- Bed Linens
- Carpeting
- Furniture
- Suits
- Video Games
- Diet Foods
- Teas
Entertainment/Travel:
- Broadway Tickets
- Los Angeles, CA
- Melbourne, Australia
Season/Occasion:
- Winter Wear
- Health / Sports Gear
- Christmas Clearance
- Wrapping Paper
- Super Bowl
Best Things to Buy in February
General:
- Online Tax Preparation
- Cell Phones
- Furniture
- Washer/Dryer
- Humidifiers
- Mattresses
- Winter Sports Gear and Coats
- Flowers (other than roses)
- Wedding
- Canned Foods
- Chocolates
- Hot Breakfast Foods
Entertainment/Travel:
- Broadway Tickets
- Honolulu, HI
- Hong Kong, China
Season/Occasion:
- New Year’s Decorations Clearance
- Valentine’s Day
- President’s Day
Best Things to Buy in March
General:
- Luggage
- Golf Clubs
- Cameras
- Fitness Equipment
- Interior Paint
- Frozen Foods
- Boxed Chocolates
- Perfume/Cologne
Entertainment/Travel:
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
Season/Occasion:
- Valentine’s Day Clearance
- St. Patrick’s Day
- March Madness
- Spring/Easter
Best Things to Buy in Second Quarter
This runs from April to June:
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Houses
- Paint
- Cameras
- Thrift Stores
- Vacuums
- Gym Membership & Equipment
- Pressure Washer
Best Things to Buy in April
General:
- Winter & Spring Clothing
- Carpet
- Flooring
- Lawn Mower & Tractors
- Gas Grills
- Tools
- Room Air Conditioners
- Sunscreen
- Shoes
- Gardening
- Energy-Saving Goods
- Cleaning Supplies
- Car Maintenance
Entertainment/Travel:
- Cruise
- Chicago, IL
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Southeast Asia
- Europe
Season/Occasion:
- Easter
- Earth Day
Best Things to Buy in May
General:
- Mattresses
- Cookware/Dishes
- Spring Clothing
- Baby High Chairs
- Strollers
- Wood Stains
- Gas Grills
- Room Air Conditioners
- Roof, Siding, Decking Materials
Entertainment/Travel:
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- London, England
Season/Occasion:
- Cinco de Mayo
- College Graduation
- Mother’s Day
- Memorial Day
Best Things to Buy in June
General:
- Lingerie
- Tools
- Fitness Equipment
- Indoor Furniture
- Summer Sports Gear
Entertainment/Travel:
- Caribbean Vacation
- San Antonio, TX
- Beijing, China
Season/Occasion:
- Graduation
Best Things to Buy in Third Quarter
This runs from July to September:
- Computers
- Outdoor Furniture
Best Things to Buy in July
General:
- Summer Apparel
- Picnic Supplies
- Jewelry
- Camcorders
- Home Décor & DIY Materials (interior and exterior)
- Dehumidifiers
- Sunscreen
- Gym Membership
- Video Games
- Tools
- Ice Cream
Entertainment/Travel:
- Boston, MA
- Sydney, Australia
Season/Occasion:
- Fourth of July
Best Things to Buy in August
General:
- Grills
- Office Supplies & Furniture
- Bathing Suits
- Air Conditioners
- Dehumidifiers
- Snowblowers
- Floors
- Vacuum Cleaners
- Kids’ Clothing
- Swimwear
- Linens & Storage
Entertainment/Travel:
- New York City, NY
- Berlin, Germany
Season/Occasion:
- Back to School Goods
Best Things to Buy in September
General:
- Cars
- Bikes
- Airfare
- Mattress
- Appliances
- Computers
- Leaf Blower
- Dishwasher
- Cameras
- Lawn Mowers and Tractors
- Wine
Entertainment/Travel:
- Broadway Tickets
- Holiday Airfare
- Orlando, FL
- Rome, Italy
Season/Occasion:
- Back to School Clearance
- Labor Day
Best Things to Buy in Fourth Quarter
This runs from October to December:
- Cars
- Cookware
- Cameras
- Gas Grills
- Air Conditioners
- Plants
- Toys & Games
- Wedding
Best Things to Buy in October
General:
- Jeans
- Outdoor Goods
- Mattresses
- Snow Blowers
- Interior Paint
- Computers
- Cameras
- Lawn Mowers and Tractors
- Appliances
Entertainment/Travel:
- Broadway Tickets
- New Orleans, LA
- Cape Town, South Africa
Season/Occasion:
- Halloween
Best Things to Buy in November
General:
- Camcorders
- Gas Grills
- GPS
- TVs
- Refrigerators
- Blenders
- Coffee Makers
- Fitness Trackers
- Tools
- Appliances
Entertainment/Travel:
- San Francisco, CA
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Season/Occasion:
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Black Friday
- Small Business Saturday
- Cyber Monday
- Giving Tuesday
Best Things to Buy in December
General:
- Athletic Apparel & Equipment
- Wedding Gown
- Electronics
- Kitchen Cookware
- Major Appliances
- TVs
- Fitness Trackers
- Smartwatches
- Cordless Drills
- Tablets
- Pools
- Golf Clubs
- Tools
- Champagne
Entertainment/Travel:
- Las Vegas, NV
- Frankfurt, Germany
Season/Occasion:
- Christmas
Best Things to Buy by Day of Week
Monday:
- Electronics
- Dress Pants
- Cars
- Electronics
- House
- Beers & Wines
- Spa Services
Tuesday:
- Airfare
- Online Shopping
- Movies
- Restaurants
Wednesday:
- Gas
- Groceries
- Jewelry
- Shoes
- Kid’s Clothing
- Golfing
- Hotel Rooms
Thursday:
- Clothing
- Handbags
- Gas (am)
- Admission Tickets
Friday:
- Jewelry
- Belts
- Scarves
- Accessories
- Happy Hour
Saturday:
- Books
- Intimates
- Outerwear
- Garage Sales
- Estate Sales
Sunday:
- Appliances
- Groceries
- Swimsuits
- Personal Care Items
- End of Festivals/Sales Events
Best Things to Buy by Time of Day
Morning: Movie Tickets, Gas
Afternoon: Early or Late Lunch, Parking, Admission Tickets
Evening: Happy Hour, Deli, Bakery, Store/Restaurant Closing, Newspapers
How to Save Even More
If you love to do your shopping online, then I highly suggest using this website to earn cash back on purchases you’re already planning to make. Who doesn’t like to keep a little extra green in their pocket?
I also love getting gift cards for less than their face value through this gift card marketplace. By planning ahead, I can cash in on extra savings by getting a gift card to pay for the purchase.
And if you’re trying to go for top dollar savings, then here’s my favorite Rakuten shopping hack that uses these two money savers to stack and maximize savings.
Free Cheat Sheet
And since you’ve scrolled all the way to the bottom, here’s a free printable cheat sheet that has all this valuable info on the best time to buy things like airline tickets, cars, furniture, a house, etc very nicely organized for easy reference.
Sources: Life Hacker | Krazy Coupon Lady | RD | Brad’s Deals | Consumer Reports | Travel & Leisure
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