What Are The Best Things To Buy In December?

Attention shoppers, it’s time once again for the best deals of the month. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, simply visit Real Penny Wise and click LIKE to receive the best tips daily. Be sure to SHARE with your friends too. Just a quick review before I list this months best buys…

Most bargains follow a predictable pattern:

• End of the model year (varies depending on product)
• End of the retail season (ends sooner than calendar season)
• Holiday sale (usually new, but sometimes older models)
• Directly after a holiday
• Off season
• In season (fresh produce)

The downside includes:

• Lack of inventory/choices
• Open box/damage/refurbished
• Older model/style
• Unable to use/test until season changes, long past refund date

Remember that a retailer’s season ends much sooner than a calendar season; that’s why you’ll find great deals on winter apparel in January & February, but you will hard pressed to find a winter coat in March when there’s still a foot of snow on the ground. Don’t forget to check out my post 15 Super Tips For Shopping Success to learn how to save even more on online purchases.
So here’s where you can save the most in December:

• Air conditioner
• Carpeting & flooring
• Cell phone
• Champagne
• Gift card
• House
• New car
• NFL tickets
• Outdoor grill
• Pool & hot tub
• Trees, shrubs & flower bulbs
• TV
• Wedding dress

When it comes to food, the best deals are to buy in season since there is a greater supply. Obviously holiday themed food bargains are best directly following the holiday, but do not overlook the perishables; starting January 2^nd stores practically give away huge pork roasts that never made it to the New Year’s Day dinner table. One disclaimer on the produce; because there is some controversy regarding what is truly “in season” as the USA has very diverse growing patterns and hothouses are often used, I have placed and asterisk next to the items that are generally agreed upon.
Here are the best food deals in December:

• Apples
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower*
• Celery
• Collard Greens
• Cranberries
• Fennel
• Grapefruit*
• Leeks
• Mushrooms
• Mustard Greens
• Oranges*
• Papayas*
• Passion Fruit
• Pears*
• Persimmons
• Pomegranates*
• Radicchio
• Radish
• Rutabaga
• Spinach
• Sweet Potatoes*
• Swiss chard
• Tangelos
• Tangerines*
• Turnips
• Winter squash

Often times you can get first rate products for a bargain prices, it just takes a little planning & patience; but don’t wait too long or you may miss out altogether. Want more posts like this? Let me know!

What Are The Best Things To Buy In September?

Attention shoppers, it’s time once again for the best deals of the month. Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, simply visit Real Penny Wise and click LIKE to receive the best tips daily. Be sure to SHARE with your friends too. Just a quick review before I list this months best buys…

Most bargains follow a predictable pattern:

• End of the model year (varies depending on product)
• End of the retail season (ends sooner than calendar season)
• Holiday sale (usually new, but sometimes older models)
• Directly after a holiday
• Off season
• In season (fresh produce)

The downside includes:

• Lack of inventory/choices
• Open box/damage/refurbished
• Older model/style
• Unable to use/test until season changes, long past refund date

Remember that a retailer’s season ends much sooner than a calendar season; that’s why you’ll find great deals on winter apparel in January & February, but you will hard pressed to find a winter coat in March when there’s still a foot of snow on the ground. Don’t forget to check out my post 15 Super Tips For Shopping Success to learn how to save even more on online purchases.

So here’s where you can save the most in September:

• Broadway theater tickets
• Dishwasher
• Dehumidifier
• Electric fans
• Furnace
• Ipod/mp3
• Patio furniture
• Swimsuits
• School supplies
• School uniform
• Shrubs, trees & bulbs
• Stoves
• Swing set/ jungle gym
• Wine

Since retailers are keen to clear the shelves to make way for Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas merchandise, anything related to summer or back to school will be greatly reduced & disappear quickly, so don’t wait or you will lose out.

When it comes to food, the best deals are to buy in season since there is a greater supply. Obviously holiday themed food bargains are best directly following the holiday, but do not overlook the perishables; starting January 2^nd stores practically give away huge pork roasts that never made it to the New Year’s Day dinner table. One disclaimer on the produce; because there is some controversy regarding what is truly “in season” as the USA has very diverse growing patterns and hothouses are often used, I have placed and asterisk next to the items that are generally agreed upon. Here are the best food deals in September:

• Apples
• Cherries
• Curly Kale
• Eggplant*
• Grapes*
• Green beans
• Kiwi
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Pears
• Plums
• Pomegranates
• Pumpkins*
• Raspberries
• Red Onions
• Spinach
• Summer squash
• Sweet corn
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes*
• Zucchini

Often times you can get first rate products for a bargain prices, it just takes a little planning & patience; but don’t wait too long or you may miss out altogether. Want more posts like this? Let me know!

10 things Foreclosure has made dirt cheap (especially in Ohio)

“Spills” by Amy Casey

1. Horses
2. Pianos
3. China (full dinner services)
4. Pool tables
5. Room size rugs (including handmade imported)
6. Dinning room sets
7. Over-sized furniture (including antiques)
8. Housewares (kitchenware to linens, but not decor)
9. Clothing (not accessories or jewelry)
10. Large household appliances

This holds true of both new and used items. Used items are flooding the market and not selling so retailers have to lower the price of new items to compete. People can not afford to move or warehouse these items, no one has the money to buy them, and often they can not even donate them so they end up in the garbage. Just like the pioneers on the wagon-trains learned early in their trek to lighten the load; only the necessities and portable wealth. So if you are looking for a bargain, bring a tuck to Ohio and load up!

The situation with Ohio’s horses is the most heartbreaking, so please come to Ohio and save our horses (and other pets too), especially if you run a non-profit that provides equine therapy to the disabled. I would love to see these horses stay out of the slaughterhouse and get a new lease on life.

Comments, questions & suggestions welcome!