September entices shoppers to engage in serious retail therapy with end of summer sales flooding the Internet and fresh new fall fashions beckoning from store windows. But is this month really prime time for digging into your tote and laying out cash? Smart-shopping experts say there’s bigger bang for your buck on many purchases just around the corner if you can just hold off a little while longer.
You can find bargains up to 60 percent off on new designs if you shop Columbus Day sales next month and use paper or digital coupons. Columbus Day falls on Oct. 10 this year, and that Monday date gives federal workers a three-day weekend to score great deals. Most of the rest of us will have to scramble and make do with Saturday and Sunday.
Do some advance work on available coupons by scouting out CouponSherpa. If the extra cash burning in your back pocket right this very minute cannot be denied, stock up on shorts at summer clearance sales.
A little patience can win you on average savings of 20 percent to 40 percent on TVs if you can wait until the day after Thanksgiving to shop. Black Friday comes around on Nov. 25 this year, and retail experts say televisions are going to be the biggest bargains available on that day of national shopping frenzy. Start keeping an eye out in the days leading up to Black Friday. In addition to the average savings on a variety of sizes—including larger screens—and models, you will also find retailers offering extra door buster deals and special limited savings.
If you really, really want a new TV now, never fear. You should be able to find $150 mid-size TVs going for $100 in September.
The same exercise in patience can earn you 60 percent or better off the sticker price of home appliances around the holidays in November and December. But if waiting is not your strong point, you’ll see savings even this month of 30 percent to 40 percent on that new refrigerator or oven.
You probably already know that auto dealers are trying to make room on their lots for the 2017 models, and September is a good month to find a deal on last year’s models. Even on the latest cars, you can save 3 percent to 4 percent if you can hold out until the end of the year. Dealers will be more willing to offer discounts at the end of December. That’s both end of month and end of year, and they’ll be looking to wheel and deal.
