Air conditioners, backbacks, and the best things to buy in Fall

When it comes to shopping, timing is everything ? all merchandise goes through cycles, with peaks and valleys in price throughout the year. Here are the best items to buy in Fall and year round..

By Renee Morad,?Contributor / September 22, 2012

Autumn leaves in Salina, Kan., are shown in this 2011 file photo. Air conditioners and Halloween costumes are among the best products to but in early fall, according to Morad.

Tom Dorsey/Salina Journal/AP/FIle

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Everything from the Bible?to popular country songs suggests the importance of timing ? being in the right place at the right time.

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Proper timing is also important when it comes to shopping. Nearly every product and service has its own sales cycle, so the calendar can help you score the lowest price on anything from a kitchen renovation to clothes.

While there are no absolutes ? any retailer can discount their merchandise any time ? here?s a list of common purchases where proper timing may score a deal?

Air conditioners: Retailers look to clear out air conditioning units after summer ends, so expect the biggest savings in October.

Back-to-school gear: Backpacks and other back-to-school supplies are marked down during the first week in July and continue throughout September. Some laptop manufacturers roll out their back-to-school sales in August for shoppers with student IDs.

Bicycles: As cooler weather arrives in September, particularly on the East Coast, bikes are parked on the sales racks, with markdowns of up to 30 percent.

Boats: Prices on boats and personal watercraft tend to sink in March.

Cars: New Year?s Eve may be the best time to buy a new car. What?s driving these bargains? The calendar is just about to flip, which makes the current models sound dated. And after experiencing a lull around the holidays, dealers want to meet their annual sales quota to get a big year-end bonus.

Clothing: January marks the end of the winter clothing season, so expect to find coats, hats, scarves, and flannel pajamas up to 70 percent off.

Beachwear is typically marked down 20 to 25 percent in January and February ? and then again in July, when savings reach up to 70 percent. In fact, many summer wardrobe items are deeply discounted in July at 50 to 75 percent.

Spring promotions begin in March and continue throughout April, which is the perfect time to stock up on clothes if you wear a size that?s hard to find. In May, you?ll save even more on your spring wardrobe, but at the cost of a reduced selection.

Denim and other fall apparel items hit sales racks in September and are usually discounted more throughout October.

Cosmetics: Cosmetics and fragrances are typically marked down two weeks before Mother?s Day in May ? just when spa specials are also tempting shoppers.

Electronics: Black Friday in November is a bargain hunter?s paradise for deals on TVs, laptops, tablets, and other consumer electronics. But if you?re not willing to fight the crowds, look for deals on Cyber Monday. December is also a good time to buy a new TV.

Grills: Barbecue bargains start in April and heat up in May and June, leading up to Father?s Day. Since Memorial Day jump-starts grilling season, you?ll also see deals for soda, condiments, charcoal, and other barbecue-related supplies.

Halloween costumes: Another shopping trick: plan ahead for Halloween. Shop online for costumes in September to beat early October?s price hikes.

Homes: The best time to go house-shopping is when nobody else is ? typically right after the holidays when the weather is cold, the kids are in school, and everyone is tapped out.

Home furnishings: Memorial Day and Labor Day are the big weekends for deals on everything from mattresses and sofas to dining room sets.?Showroom models ? particularly appliances, furniture and lighting ? also hit their sales peak in December, as stores gear up for next year?s models. Homeowners looking for deals on patio furniture should hang tight until March.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/xvn2ezUty5U/Air-conditioners-backbacks-and-the-best-things-to-buy-in-Fall

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