Saving Advice Calendar: Help Needed

[jeffrey]

Most people quickly learn that one of the best ways to save money is to buy the things that they need out of season when demand is low and stores are trying to reduce stock to make room for the next season's items. Nate and I want to put together a downloadable / printable calendar with the focus being on the best times to save money on all the things that we buy. I'm not sure how much interest there will be from all of you, but if you do think this is a good idea, please comment on the things that you know the best time to buy to get the best deal. We will then compile the information and make it into a calendar that everyone can use as a reminder of when to get the best deal on things. I hope this is of interest and appreciate your help in advance.

In taking another look at this, if we are going to do this, let's go all out and make it a daily saving calendar as well. There will be certain days where doing something specific makes sense while other tips can fill in the rest of the days. It may take a little while to complete this, but once done, it should be a great resource for anyone wanting to save money:

January: calendars, Christmas supplies (cards, wrap, bows, ribbons, decorations), soccer equipment (most soccer seasons are August-July, so new uniform orders go in June/July, you want to buy 6 months delayed in that cycle), white sales

1. Request your Experian free credit reports from the government through the website http://www.annualcreditreport.com Although you can request all three (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) once a year, you want to spread them out over the year to have a better chance of catching something strange going on with them.

2. Set aside a specific place to gather tax records and place an tax related information you receive there immediately. There is nothing worse than trying to get your taxes done with all the information scattered all over the place.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

February: chocolate (after Valentine's Day), TVs (after superbowl)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
(29.)

March: winter coats

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

April

1. Request your Equifax free credit reports from the government through the website http://www.annualcreditreport.com Although you can request all three (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) once a year, you want to spread them out over the year to have a better chance of catching something strange going on with them.

2. Get your furnace checked and maintained. Since the winter season is over, the furnace technicians will be available and may even give discounts due to it being low season for them. Then your furnace will be in tip top shape when next winter arrives.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

May: cars (start looking for deals through the rest of the year as new models come out and older models get discounted)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

June

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

July

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

August

1. Request your TransUnion free credit reports from the government through the website http://www.annualcreditreport.com Although you can request all three (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) once a year, you want to spread them out over the year to have a better chance of catching something strange going on with them.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

September: swimsuits

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

October: camping gear, grills, lawn mowers

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

November

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

December: boats, Christmas supplies (cards, wrap, bows, ribbons, decorations - after the 25th), motorcycles, most retail items after Christmas

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.

[DebbieL]

Well, since you are talking about calendars, the best time to buy a calendar is after the new year has started (in January). Good deals are available on Christmas wrap, etc. at that time also (the first couple weeks after Christmas). I'm sure everyone already know these ones, but I thought I'd mention them anyways.

[sweeps]

Winter coats in March.
Swimsuits in September.
Furnance maintenance in April.
TVs in February (after the Super Bowl).

[maat55]

Boats and motorcycles in Dec.

[Daylily]

January White Sales

In the Fall, it is good to stock up on sweet potatoes and squash. These will keep for months and months. Of course, all the better if you can grow your own rather than buy.

[rob62521]

I've heard that the end of December is a good time to buy a new car since lots are trying to get the new year ones in, plus get the cars off their books.

Valentine Candy if you are chocolate lover is a good deal on February 15.

[jIM_Ohio]

cars (from inventory) in May-September (new model years usually come out in July and August)- for example right now 2009 model years should hit the dealers, so any 2008 model has a year of depreciation already and sells at a discount- even if never driven.

any retail item Dec 26-January 1

lawn mowers in october
grills in october
camping gear in october

soccer equipment in January (most soccer seasons are August-July, so new uniform orders go in June/July, you want to buy 6 months delayed in that cycle).

[Gailete]

I keep a notebook with monthly pages divided into weeks to note when bills are due. After a year or two, you know when the insurance, taxes, car registration, etc. come due. I set mine up for the year in late November/early January so that when the utility bills come due the page is all ready for the info. This helps me always know when something is due or coming due--no "well I have $3000 extra lying around, I;ll go shopping" when you see that next week property taxes are due.

However you do it, set your budget sheets/books etc. up before the new year.

Also clean out your desk and set aside tax papers in January so as soon as you have all the official paperwork you can get your taxes done and get your refund or figure out how to come up with what is due.

[SnoopyCool]

I've found this:

Calendar

[jeffrey]

As can be seen, I have expanded it to a tip calendar as well. Feel free to leave any tips you have (even if they aren't date specific) that you feel are important to do on at least a yearly basis. If they are date or season specific, please note that. I'd like to get a minimum of 365, but more just means that we can have more than one per day.

[fruitbowlk]

Summer clothes on sell at Kohl's 80% off.

[osadg]

I noticed that there were a lot of postings about the best time to buy a new car. I've always heard that the end of February is the best time. It has something to do with the month being just a teeny bit shorter, and the sales quotas still being the same and needing to be met. This is also the time when most people who spent during the holidays are finally back on track, and car dealerships are making space for the new models.
The other big thing that gives us a break in finances is when we buy passes for the snow season. The VERY best time to buy is usually a few days before the season closes for the year. It's saved us a bundle by taking advantage of the year end deal for the next season. It's also a great time to buy older or used gear because the lines will be out next year, and the rental companies usually replaced their gear each year.

[cptacek]

Candy the weekend after Easter and the day after Halloween.