Saving Big by Buying Out of Season
Planning ahead can save you a surprising amount of money
Too much of what we buy is wildly overpriced, because we buy
it when everybody else does. If you’ve ever been to a craft store right after
Christmas or Halloween and seen decorations going for 75% or 90% off, you’ve had
a taste of how much you could save. Check out these other big-ticket items that
become much more affordable out of season.
1. Holiday decorations and costumes
This is an obvious one, and it’s easy to save on. At almost
any time of year, you can go to a craft store
and pick up decorations from the holiday that just passed, at ridiculously low
prices. In early October, all those Halloween costume stores start cropping up
all over town, and if they don’t sell their inventory by Halloween, they have
to pay a year’s rent on a warehouse to store everything—so it’s worth your time
to pay them a visit on November 1st. Of course, their stock will be
somewhat limited, but there’s almost always some great stuff left over.
2. Prom/Homecoming Dresses
Prom dresses are an item you may not have considered; but in
June and July, you can find beautiful, designer items, even Mori Lee and Jovani
dresses, at slashed prices almost everywhere. This doesn’t just go for used
dresses, although they are cheap and plentiful right after prom season; even if
your teenager has her heart set on a new dress, buying out of season can
potentially cut the cost in half. The same goes for buying a homecoming
dress—if you can shop for these dresses in the off-season of your teen’s sophomore
or junior year, it’ll take some of the financial sting out of a very special,
but very expensive time.
4. Seasonal sports equipment
Sports equipment is another category that can be way too
expensive in season, and surprisingly affordable afterward. Do a little
Googling (we’ll wait)—this time of year, you’ll find skis and snowboards going for 30-50% off at
every major outlet. The same goes for big-ticket items like wakeboards, wave
runners, waterskis, and trampolines in the fall. This is also a great antidote
to impulse buying: the lure of running straight to the slopes in brand new skis
might push you to spend a lot of money on a passing fancy, but if you’re ready
to wait a couple months to break in your new toy, it’s probably something you
really want.
3. Home improvements
The winter months are slow for the construction industry in
general, but for seasonal improvements like sprinkler systems and swimming
pools especially, you can find skilled contractors who are hungry for your
business and willing to offer a deal. Resist the temptation for just one
summer, and wait until October or November to call your pool contractor—you’ll
be amazed at how much cheaper it gets. What’s true of skis and trampolines is
even truer of a swimming pool—when you decide to drop a couple thousand dollars
on a pool in the winter, you know it’s worth the money to you.
5. Christmas gifts
You might not be able to afford to do all your Christmas
shopping right around New Years, but if you haven’t totally broken the bank,
ease into it; hit the after-Christmas
sales and see what you can pick up. Not only will you find many things at
deep discounts, but it will also spread out the stress and financial burden of
your next December. Then, next Christmas, you might find yourself able to do all of the following year’s shopping
that January, and save even more money.
Smaller items to buy out of season might include garden
supplies, swimsuits, warm clothes, and spring dresses. What have you bought out
of season, and how much did you save? Let us know in the comments!
