As spring approaches, you might be thinking about updating your attire for the coming season. Or in some parts of the country, you might be planning a getaway to a warm locale because you're tired of all the snow and cold and need some new luggage. Before you do any shopping, though, find out whether it's a good time to purchase certain items. Here’s what you can expect to find on sale in March -- and what you should wait a little longer to buy, according to dealnews.com, which analyzes deals from past years to predict what will be discounted this year.
What’s on sale this month ...
Chocolate. Look for deals on Valentine’s candy, especially high-end treats from stores such as Godiva.
Frozen foods. March is National Frozen Foods Month, so you can expect to see discounts from frozen food brands. It might be a good time to stock up, if you have room in your freezer.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Luggage. If you’re planning to travel for spring break or already are thinking about your summer vacation, now is a good time to buy luggage for your trip. Expect to see discounts at Walmart, eBags, Macy’s and Sears, which had sales in March last year, according to dealnews.com.
PlayStation 3. Dealnews.com expects to see the price on Sony's PlayStation 3 start to fall in response to the company's recent announcement that it's releasing the PlayStation 4. However, because Sony didn't announce a concrete release date for the new model, dealnews.com doesn't expect deep discounts on the current model yet.
Smart phones. Look for freebie phone deals (with two-year service contracts) on 2012 smart phones because several new models were debuted at the Mobile World Congress in February. In particular, dealnews.com anticipates good deals on the 2012 Samsung Galaxy SIII once the Galaxy IV is announced March 14.
Surface tablets. The deals on Microsoft's Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets that appeared in February will likely continue into March -- and may be even more aggressive. Dealnews.com reports that there were offers for $75 off on both models in February.
Wait longer to buy ...
Kindle Fire apps. Although apps aren't expensive, why pay for them when you can get them for free? Amazon will launch a new digital currency program, called Amazon Coins, for its Kindle Fire Appstore in May, at which time it will give away millions of dollars worth of coins.
Lingerie. You might find a few discounts on undergarments now that Valentine's Day has come and gone. But the real deals on lingerie come in June, when Victoria's Secret has its big semi-annual sale. Several other retailers, such as American Eagle, Frederick's of Hollywood and Macy's, also mark down lingerie around that time. Another good time to buy: October through December.
Spring apparel. You won't find discounts on spring apparel at the start of the season. It's better to wait a couple of months, when retailers will start marking down spring clothing -- and when it will actually be warm enough to wear your purchases.
-
Why Walmart Stock's a Buy After Its Beat-And-Raise QuarterWalmart is the best Dow Jones stock Tuesday after the retail giant's solid earnings report and outlook and Wall Street thinks it's just getting started. Here's what they're saying.
-
Premium Tax Credit: Are You Eligible For This Health Insurance Tax Break?Tax Credits The tax credit can help qualifying individuals pay for coverage from the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime DaySmart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards November 2024Smart Buying Trying to compare the best cash back credit cards? Unlike most reviewers, we include cards from small banks and credit unions, as well as from large issuers.
-
How to Spend $1,000: Find Cheap (or Free) Online Courses to Build Career SkillsSmart Buying There's a huge array of skill-building online courses that can level up your career for under $1,000.
-
MoviePass is Relaunching. Should You Sign Up?Smart Buying The subscription discount movie card company has a checkered past and an army of disillusioned former cardholders. If you want to try the reboot, you’ll need to hurry.
-
HBO Max Is Offering Huge DiscountsSmart Buying Looking for a streaming service deal? Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting the price of HBO Max.
-
Are You Streaming Too Much? What the Discovery+/HBO Max Mashup MeansSmart Buying Fewer original scripted series? Maybe. And maybe it’s time to unsubscribe.
