Did you miss me? In case you didn’t notice, I’ve been on maternity leave the past three months. I’m sure in that time you probably haven’t been able to make a single purchasing decision without my monthly best and worst buys guide, right?
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 ...
Winter apparel and gear. In parts of the country where it already feels like spring, it’s hard to even think about buying bulky coats. But now is the time to find deals. I found North Face jackets for my kids marked down 40% at Moosejaw.com (plus another 10% as part of its annual Supersale). Also check EMS, REI, Altrec, Backwoods and Backcountry for sales.
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.
Chocolate. Look for deals on Valentine’s candy, especially high-end treats from stores such as Godiva.
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.
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.
2011 TV models. You might see discounts on 2011 models because Samsung’s 2012 CES TVs are expected to hit stores later this month.
Wait longer to buy ...
Vacuums. You better hope your current vacuum holds out through spring cleaning because the best time to buy a new one is in November -- not in the spring (even though some resources say April is the best time to buy).
Gym memberships. The New Year’s promotional rates have dried up by now and the summer sales are still months away, so don’t expect to find a good deal on a gym membership now.
-
Should You Do A Roth IRA Conversion? Nine Things to ConsiderThe Tax Letter Thinking of converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA? The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor highlights nine factors you should consider before making a move.
-
33 Stocks That Could Rally 50% or More This YearAnalysts say these S&P 500 stocks have at least 50% price upside over the next year or so.
-
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 of 2025Credit Cards If you're searching for a credit card that rewards you for everyday purchases, we've chosen the best.
-
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.
