Save a Little or....Know WHEN to Buy and Save a Lot..

The main point of being frugal with style is that you don’t ever want to cut standards by buying second-rate products, you just want to pay the least amount of money for the quality things you do buy. Naturally, the way to do that is to always buy on sale, but even better, buying WHEN THE BEST SALES HAPPEN.

There are factors that determine when to buy anything, from food to appliances to cars and everything in between. Grocery stores have cycles of when they offer products for sale, around every three months or so, therefore if you failed to stock up on items during the last sale, wait a month or two to stock up during the next one. Other factors that impact grocery store sales are holidays and seasonal activities so that you’ll find all kinds of baking supplies listed for sale before Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. You’ll find hotdogs, ground beef, buns, condiments, disposable paper products, barbecue supplies, etc. on sale before long holiday weekends all through the backyard living season.

There are deals to be found every month and the following products are discounted during March:

Digital Cameras – the new models are out, which means clearance of the previous models with savings of $200.00 (or more) on a $700.00 camera. The same goes for TVs. For both of those products, there are so many different kinds and models around, that it really pays to do some online research first, checking out all the features and reviews, deciding what is wanted, what the prices are at the various online stores, checking for coupons or other discounts (for those just click on the links at the bottom of the blog: 1. free shipping codes and coupons and 2. promo codes and coupons (Retailmenot). Then make up a checklist with everything that’s wanted, things not understood and needing clarification, return policy and warranty, and all other questions and take this with you to the local store where you can see and touch the product to determine if this is what you really want. In the case of TVs, is there set-up required and if so, do they provide this service? Of course, you also want them to meet or better the online price.

A good place to start checking digital cameras is at http://www.consumerreports.org and search for the digital cameras buying guide.

For TV’s, a good article is available at http://www.techradar.com/news/television/hdtv/best-tv-2013-what-tv-should-you-buy-this-year... 
For reviews of all tech products, including Digital Cameras, TVs, MP3 Players, DVD players and every other tech thing, check with cnet.com

Other products discounted during March:

• Humidifiers
• All Kinds of Electronics – MP3 Players, DVD players, etc.
• Winter clothes
• Luggage
• Outdoor furniture, although I can’t see that happening this year, around here anyway – who can think Spring with all the snow that’s still around – I think there will be a better chance of picking up those deals in April.
• At the many Outdoor Shows currently making the rounds, you can make great deals on Recreational Vehicles, Boats, Motorcycles, Golf Clubs, Skis, etc. (Check with the local sporting goods stores to see if they will match any deals available – I’m a great believer in supporting the local economy first.)

With Spring cleaning around the corner, now is when to buy cleaning equipment, including washers and dryers, vacuum cleaners and power washers. Cleaning supplies, such as window cleaner and all-purpose cleaner, will also be on sale, but why not go the least expensive, green, non-toxic route by clicking on Homemade Household Cleaners, at the bottom of this blog, which will take you directly to the correct area on the Farmer’s Almanac website.

To get a really good deal, don’t shop on the weekend when everyone else does. With so many others shopping, the salespeople have more of an “I don’t need this sale” mindset. Early to mid-week is the best time to shop; for online buying, the best deals are found on Mondays.

Knowing when to buy, and putting some effort into research before buying, will result in substantial savings every time.

Photo - 50 percent on dartboard shows big savings, courtesy of Stuart Mills. (freedigitalphotos.net)

I am not affiliated with any of the websites referred to in this post. They've only been included for readers' benefit.

Talk to you again next week,

Lenie