Cars: As we said in September, now that the new models are out, the old models are going for less. Haggle your way down to good prices on 2013 models for the rest of the year. [Di Vincenzo, Consumer Reports, Bankrate, Dealnews]
Cookware & Kitchen Accessories: Holiday deals start pretty early, and cookware is one of the more popular items that you'll find on sale all quarter. [Bankrate, Dealnews]
Digital Cameras: There is often a second round of new camera announcements in September, so check out the older models for a reduced price after the new ones come out. [Digital Photography School, Digital Camera HQ]
Gas Grills & Air Conditioners: Again, as we drift into the cold off-season, and stores start to push their older stuff. [Bankrate]
Plants: If you have a cellar or other area that can store plants until the spring, you can pick them up now pretty cheaply. [Real Simple, Dealnews]
Toys & Games: Again, the Christmas sales start early at places like Toys R Us, and will continue through most of the holiday season. The closer you get to the holidays, the better the deals...but also the more stressful it becomes (we've all seen Jingle All the Way, right?) [Dealnews]
Wedding Supplies: Winter's back, which means finding a venue and negotiating those services is going to be a lot easier. The deeper into winter you get, the better the savings. [Bankrate, Dealnews]
October
Appliances: The fall season of big appliances continues. Shop for last year's models at a lower price through this month. [Bankrate, About.com, Dealnews]
Broadway Tickets: Yet another off-month for Broadway shows, so grab your tickets now for less. [CNN]
Jeans: Jeans are one of the more common leftover items after the back-to-school rush, so hit the mall in between back to school season and holiday shopping season for some mad prices. [Real Simple]
Patio Furniture: Now that the outdoor season's really wrapping up, you'll find the best prices on patio furniture before it all goes away. [Dealnews]
November
Appliances: According to Dealnews, November will net you the absolute best prices in the Fall appliance sales. [Bankrate, About.com, Dealnews]
Candy: As long as you don't mind it Halloween-themed, you can walk into pretty much any grocery store and stock up on loads of candy you didn't even know existed anymore. [Dealnews]
Televisions & Other Electronics: Hit the stores during Black Friday and Cyber Monday for good deals on all sorts of electronics. Make sure that deal you find is really a deal before pulling the trigger, though.
Tools: Holiday sales are perfect for grabbing cheap tools, especially if you have a winter-related home repair you need to make. [Dealnews]
December
Champagne: Again, this is one of those few times that prices drop because demand is so high. Champagne companies are all trying to compete with each other, so grab it now for your holiday celebrations. [Billshrink]
Golf Clubs: It's the off-season, so golf clubs are cheaper to come by. [LIVESTRONG, SaveAMillionShots.com, New England Golf Monthly]
Pools: It may seem like eons away, but if you buy a pool now, you can get a great discount on next summer's fun. There are a few smaller sales during the summer, but you'd have to keep a sharp eye out to catch them. [River Pools, Pool Captain]
Televisions & Other Electronics: The sales continue after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, usually all the way up until the super bowl. [CNET, Di Vincenzo, Dealnews]
Tools: The holiday tool-stravaganza continues. [Dealnews]
General Buying Tips for Any Time of Year
Apart from the above time periods, there are other days of the week or year that are best for buying certain items (which is great if you can't wait three months for a new computer). We've mentioned a few of these around the site before, but in the interest of being comprehensive, here are some things to keep in mind:
Appliances tend to be cheap on Sundays, when most people are out buying new ones. In addition, you're bound to find great deals on any major holiday, like Memorial Day or Independence day.
Computers & other electronics are cheapest on Mondays, when manufacturers apply their rebates. This applies to TVs, cameras, and video games as well.
Entertainment venues like museums and amusement parks often have discounts during the middle of the week, when they're less crowded. Plus, smaller crowds are always nice. Some museums might even have free admission days, so check out the venues you're interested in for more.
Gas prices are higher on the weekends, hitting their peak mid-morning on Thursday to anticipate all the weekend drivers and travelers. Fill up on Wednesdays or early morning Thursdays for the biggest savings.
Jewelry is best bought on Wednesdays, when most people tend to shop for it. However, stay away from gift giving months like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas.
Chocolate is great to buy after any holiday that involves chocolate: Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and Valentines's Day, for example. They'll be clearing out all their holiday-themed candy, so you can grab them up if your kids already ate their chocolate rabbits and Santas.
And with all things, if you find an item you like, monitor it regularly. Things go on sale for no reason all the time, whether it's a Shell Shocker on Newegg, the end of a clothing season, or when a particular product goes through a refresh (like Apple computers).
That's our big list for the year. We'll be updating you at the beginning of each month, reminding you of the best things to buy, but this should help you plan for the year ahead. Good luck!
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