November is the time to buy…

Certain times of the year are the best times to buy various things based on sales and availability. Here is your tip sheet for this month:

∞ Cars: New cars often arrive at dealerships in September. During October, November and December deals on older models get better. RV deals are common in the fall, too.

∞ Certain fruits: apples, cranberries, grapefruit, honeydew melons, oranges, Bartlett pears, and tangerines. Stock up now on cranberries to use later in the year when you can’t find them. (Just put them in a freezer bag and freeze them for later.)

∞ Certain vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mushrooms and spinach

∞ Charcoal grill: After Labor Day retailers offer sales of as much of 30 percent off from then until December. The best selection is available in September and October.

∞ Cookware: Along with April, May and October, November is a good time for buying cookware. This is the time when consumers are preparing for end-of-the-year holidays.

∞ Electronics:  Black Friday is when retailers often drop prices very low. Stores often do not stock many of each item, so they may be out of them before you even get in the door. Wal-Mart, however, often does and will match other stores’ prices.

∞ Furnaces: Contractors and heating/cooling companies are not busy with emergency calls during this season, so they frequently will offer deals to sell appliances during their non-busy time.

∞ Lawn mowers: To make room for their leaf machines and snowblowers, retailers will put their lawn mowers on sale. The closer to late fall, the more the discounts, but the less selection, too.

∞ Pajamas and Slippers: These make great gifts for the holidays, so retailers put them on sale beginning in November. Look for good-priced packaged sets. In January the leftovers will be marked-down and put on clearance.

∞ Plants, trees, and shrubs: Nurseries often drop their prices on these items in the fall to clear out their plentiful summer inventory. Now is the time to buy bulbs, too. Store them in the winter and then plant them in spring. Independent nurseries will often have larger markdowns and a wider selection than national retailers (big-box stores).

∞ Sneakers: To make room for winter boots and shoes, big-box retailers will often put sneakers on sale during November.

∞ Tires: To prepare your car for better traction in rain, snow and ice (winter), buy new tires in the fall.

∞ Toys: Stores often offer sales during the fall to jumpstart the holiday season. Look for deals on games, puzzles and toys.

∞ Turkeys: Look for sales after Thanksgiving, when grocers want to get rid of their unsold birds.

Sources:
– “Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That, and Go There” by Mark Di Vincenzo
– “Your Month-to-Month Guide to Shopping Deals” from http://www.realsimple.com, at http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/spending/best-time-to-buy-00000000028717/