Bargain Hunters: Best Times To Buy

PITTSBURGH,None — If money is tight and you're looking for a bargain, then we've got you covered. Target 11 Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor has uncovered the best times to buy just about everything.

Just like a comedian, timing is everything. If you want to save big then you need to know when it is the right time to buy so you can get the best deals. I've broken it down by the month to help you save.

January is known for winter "white sales" but that's not all. It's also a great time to stock up on winter clothes at 50 to 70 percent off. Furniture also goes on sale because stores need to make room for new inventory.

February is a great time to get deals on TVs (before the Super Bowl), home theater systems and digital cameras. You'll also find sales on chocolate around Valentine's Day.

March is when you can really score a deal on luggage. It's after one travel season and before another, so prices are rock bottom.

"A lot of items it might be an older model because the new models are coming in, in a month or so. But to most consumers it doesn't matter because it's still quality," said Audrey Guskey an associate professor of marketing at Duquesne University.

If you're in the market for a used car, April is the time to buy. Dealers increase their inventory for the summer months so you'll find a good selection. Experts said it's also a good time to negotiate on the price.

May is when new mattresses arrive in stores and that's when they slash prices on last year's models.

June is the best time of the year to negotiate a deal on a gym membership. January is their busiest month and by now interest has dropped off. It's also the time to stock up on tools, which go on sale around Father's Day.

July is when the markdowns come on grill supplies and on furniture.

August is when stores are trying to clear out summer merchandise. You will find deals on bathing suits, clothes and lawn furniture.

September is one of the best months to buy a new car as long as you're willing to buy this year's model. It's the time of year when manufacturers release the new model year.

"The dealers want to get rid of these cars because the new models are coming in so you can get fabulous, fabulous deals because they need to clear their shelves. They need to clear their inventory," said Guskey.

September is also the time to stock up on school supplies and laptops.

"Some of the best times for laptops savings would be during your back-to-school time. Typically we run bundle sales to get the best deal that we can," said Mark Staub, a technical specialist with Best Buy.

October is when the prices are slashed on large appliances, tires, lawn mowers and jeans.

November is a good month to buy toys. You'll also get good deals on carpeting and flooring through the end of the year.

December is when competition between electronics retailers heats up and that means good deals for the consumer. It's also a great time of year to score a deal on a car or motorcycle because dealers are trying to clear their lots before the end of the year.

So here are a few important points to remember: 1. Look for deals at the end of a season or the end of a model year. 2. Remember that prices often drop around a holiday. 3. Competition can drive prices down on seasonal items, so check store circulars for sales.

If you're having a consumer problem, WPXI wants to hear from you. Send Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor your name and contact information and include as much information about the problem as possible. Click Here to E-mail Robin.

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