May 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:

∞ Athletic apparel and shoes: Stores want to get rid of their last-season inventories before the end of the summer, so look for discounts on these products. For tips on when to buy new athletic shoes, see my post “Doing a little “sole” searching.”

∞ Certain fruits: blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapefruit, honeydew melons, oranges, peaches, pineapples, and strawberries

∞ Certain vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, corn, green onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, and spinach

∞ Cookware: Along with April, October, and November, May is a good time for buying cookware.

∞ Condiments, salad dressings, napkins and other supplies for a barbecue: Around mid-month companies will start offering big discounts to help you get ready for summer gatherings. Consider stocking up for a year’s worth of what you need.

∞ Furnace: Spring and Fall are the best times to replace your furnace. This is because during winter and summer, contractors are busy with heating and cooling calls. They offer good deals during their non-busy seasons.

∞ Refrigerators: Stores usually discount existing refrigerators to make room for new models that will arrive in the summer.

∞ Thrift store deals: Spring is the best time to shop at thrift markets because people are spring cleaning. Some may choose to sell their wares at garage sales, while others take them straight to a resale or thrift shop. If the stores get really crowded with merchandise, store owners will mark down items, especially winter pieces.

∞ Vacuum cleaner: Retailers will drop their prices on these to make room for new models which come out in June.

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 Real Simple Magazine.

Related articles:

• The Best Things to Buy in May [Best Time To Buy] (lifehacker.com)
• May’s Best Deals (yahoo.com)