The Best Time to Buy Anything

From LoveToKnow Buy

Smart shopping means comparing product prices from many sources, relentlessly hunting for a good deal, and knowing just when to buy. Often the timing of your purchase can mean the difference between a discount and a ripoff. Many timed-purchases are common sense: getting Christmas wrapping paper after the holiday season always means you'll save bundles. But knowing the best time to buy products isn't always easy. Here are some of the best tips for saving money by knowing when to buy and when to wait.

Buying Airline Tickets

Timing is everything when it comes to buying airline tickets. Prices rise and fall constantly, but if you buy at just the right moment you can get some amazing deals. Here's the breakdown:

If flying overseas, always find out when the "off" season is. For example, going from the United States to Europe or vice-versa, the months between April and September are generally busier. Airline tickets will be much more expensive during this time.

Buy your ticket at least three weeks before your intended departure or just a few days before. Prices fluctuate between this period and are notorious for rising 7-14 days before the takeoff date.

Avoid traveling around holidays and weekends.

Flights leaving on Tuesdays (and often Thursdays) are generally less-expensive. Buying your ticket on a Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning often means good bargains as well.

When to Buy a Car

Each year new models of almost every type of car are released to the buying public. Dealerships normally stock these in the late summer/early fall. If you head to a car lot in September you'll catch them at their most vulnerable. Older models have been on the lot for some time and the sales staff will be more willing to bargain to make room for new models. Also, go to the dealership early in the morning. Not only will you skip rough traffic, you'll catch the staff before they've honed their sales-reflexes.

Electronics

Electronic gadgets go in and out of style as quickly as any fad. Fortunately for you this means bargains galore. Keep track of upcoming gadgets and new models of old hardware on the release schedule. When version 2 of nearly any electronic equipment hits, the previous one immediately drops in price. That's your cue to pounce!

The Best Time to Buy Groceries

There are three things to consider when planning your grocery shopping: crowds, sales, and product availability. Most shoppers are out and about during the late afternoon/early-evening, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Going when it's less crowded means you can take your time, avoid impulse/rushed purchases and comparison shop.

But what's the point of shopping if all of the best sales items are out of stock? To ensure maximum product availability, go to the store late on a weekday morning. The crowds are still at a minimum and if the new truck shipment arrived on that day the stockers have had time to fill the gaps. You'll get to choose from the freshest produce and can pick up as many items as you need.

Most grocery stores run sales starting and ending in the middle of the week. Many local newspapers also print store coupons that run on Sunday. To get the best store prices, shop on a Sunday or Monday afternoon with coupons in hand.

When to Buy Computer and Video Games

Feeding a video game habit can get expensive, especially with prices hovering around $60 a game. To save your cash, watch for online deals upon the release of a new game. Many retailers will run sales to get new games moving off the shelves as quickly as possible. Game prices tend to fall in the summer months when fewer new titles are being released. Sales are abundant during the June-August period, so keep your eyes peeled for some great deals.