July 2007
Calendar of deals: What's on sale when
Sales used to be relatively predictable. A popular 1975 book could say with assurance that luggage went on sale in March and
the best month to buy a baby carriage was January or August. But these days, with stores pumping out weekly sales circulars
and manufacturers introducing new models as fast as they can get them off the assembly line and onto a containership, all
bets would seem to be off.
Or are they? We found that it’s still possible to use the calendar to save money on major purchases. Our researchers combed
industry surveys and publications, and consulted our in-house experts to compile the calendar. Consider it a general guide, and keep your eye on those sales circulars anyway because there will always be exceptions.
Bear in mind, too, that the best time to save money isn’t always the best for selection. In some cases, your bargain might
be a discontinued model without all the latest features.
Some other tips that don’t fit neatly into the calendar:
- Airline tickets tend to be least expensive on Wednesday mornings because that’s when airlines try to fill unsold seats on flights for the following week to 10 days.
- CDs and DVDs generally come out on Tuesdays and might be on sale for the first one to three weeks.
- Jewelry sales are common, except around Valentine’s Day and the December holidays. So plan to buy early or hope that your beloved will agree to settle for an IOU.
