STS Tax Talk: The Best Time to Buy Anything in 2012 (Lifehacker)

A bit of planning can save you a ton of money when it comes to buying... well, just about anything. Here's your comprehensive guide on the best times to buy everything in 2012.

Originally Posted on Lifehacker By Whitson Gordon

Jan 3, 2012 8:00 AM

Each year, we compile a list of the best times to buy stuff based on when stores are trying to push out old stock, when they're dropping prices for upcoming holidays, or even when they start having sales for no good reason. This year, with more research and help from our readers, our list is bigger and more comprehensive than ever. Check out the chart below for an easy view of the year, or read on for more details.

We've drawn this information from a lot of places, including our original sources, Freeshipping.org's Best Time to Buy guide from last year, and PC World's gadget-specific buying guide. We've also learned a bit from Mark Di Vincenzo's book Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That, and Go There, as well as comments from you guys.

First Quarter (Jan/Feb/March)

Gas Grills & Air Conditioners: They're obviously off-season (at least in the colder states), and unless you're a serious air conditioning enthusiast, you probably aren't itching to get the latest and greatest.
Wedding Supplies: Everyone wants a wedding in the spring, which means it's a lot easier to find a venue and negotiate prices for a service in the winter.

Photo by woodleywonderworks.

January

Bicycles & Sporting Goods: The dead of winter isn't when most people are buying their summer gear, so you're likely to get some good deals. Again, this could vary if you're in a warmer climate.
Broadway Tickets: Broadway's slower months are in the winter and fall, so January's a great time to seek out some discounts. You probably won't find them for the more popular shows, but if you're looking to branch out, this is the time to do it.
Calendars: Paper calendars make a great stocking stuffer, so if you aren't too picky about what you get, grab them after the holidays for some bargain bin deals.
Carpeting & Flooring: According to Carpet SuperSite, most people buy carpets at the end of the year in preparation for the holidays. Once January rolls around, prices will go down.
Digital Cameras: After the big trade shows like CES come around in mid-January, you'll see that older model cameras drop in price to prepare for the newly-announced ones.
Furniture: Most furniture companies release new products twice a year: in February and August. That means they'll be giving some sweet deals in January to make room for the new products next month.
Gift Cards: You wouldn't think there would be a best time to buy gift cards, but you'd be wrong. Just after the holidays, you're bound to find better deals on gift card exchange sites like Plastic Jungle, where everyone's trading in their unwanted cards for cash.
HDTVs & Home Theater Gear: These stay on sale pretty much right up until the super bowl, so even if you aren't a football fan, you can take advantage of the sales brought on by extra competition.
Digital Frames: Because this is one of those things everybody seems to give for Christmas.
Linens and Bedding: Ever since John Wannamaker started the first "white sale" in 1878, January has been the best month to get bedding and other linens. Of course, just as with clothing, keep an eye out all year round, since retailers will put last season's stuff on sale when new products come out.
Motorcycles: It's really cold outside. Not to mention icy. It doesn't make for great cycling weather, but if you've been mulling over a motorcycle purchase, get it in January and then wait to ride it when the snow melts.
Office Furniture: Business is best for office furniture retailers in January, likely due to new offices buying up stock for the new year. Grab your new ergonomic office chair now, or in April after tax day.
Video Games: Most new video games come out in late fall for the holiday season, and they'll go on sale after the holidays are over. Check out Steam and other gaming retailers for discounted prices.

February

Boats: February is boat show season, and since manufacturers are clearing out the old models, you can often get some pretty good deals. Some people recommend waiting until after the actual boat shows, so you don't have the other expenses they carries with them.
Broadway Tickets: February still falls into the slow season for Broadway, so grab discounts on tickets to the less popular shows.
Digital Cameras: Since the newest cameras will have just come out post-CES, you can grab last year's models for less.
HDTVs & Home Theaters: Up until the Super Bowl, grab great prices on those new TVs.
Video Games: Again, since video games come out in early winter for the holidays, you can grab a lot of those new games at a discounted price now.

March

Boats: As we mentioned above, once boat show season is over, you can still grab good deals on last year's models before the brand new ones come out.
Frozen Foods: It's National Frozen Food Month. It may be strange, but I'm not about to argue with them.
Gardening Tools: It may not be time to break them out yet, but if you shop for those gardening tools ahead of time, you can usually get a sweet price in late winter/early spring.
Golf Clubs: New models are coming out for the summer, so your local golf shop is pushing the old ones out the door. Grab last year's set cheaply and you'll forget all about how awesome the new ones are.
Luggage: It's in between vacation seasons, so shops are dropping prices. Grab any extra bags you might need for the summer in March.

Second Quarter (April/May/June)

Televisions and Other Electronics: Japanese manufacturers' fiscal year ends in March, so they're eager to get rid of old stock.
Houses: Home buying is a tough process, but if you do it in between winter and summer, you'll find a better deal than you would in the middle of the big seasons.
Boots & Winter Wear: Because who thinks about winter clothes when it's finally getting warm again?
Cookware & Kitchen Accessories: Graduations are coming up, so even if you're well out of school, take advantage of the grad-based sales for everything kitchen-related.
Vacuum Cleaners: New vacuums come out in June. This is pretty convenient, since you can buy a vacuum for a low price beforehand and get started on your spring cleaning.

Photo by Ming-Yen Hsu.

April

Car Accessories & Parts: Since most people head out to fix their cars in the summer, you can get in on the game early for a good price. Some of you have pointed out some good places to get car parts online, too.
Cruises: Since it isn't a traditional vacation month, you can often grab a cruise last-minute for less.
Laptops: Laptop prices are even lower in April than they are during the back to school season. For no apparent reason.
Office Furniture: If you shop after tax day—when most home businesses start up—you can usually find some great deals on those office chairs and desks.
Sneakers: As the weather starts getting warmer, the less serious start getting back into the swing of working out, which means it's a great time to take advantage of spring sales at your favorite running or footwear store.
Snowblowers: Obviously, no one's buying snowblowers after it's all melted. If you got snowed in this year, though, you might want to pre-emptively buy one for next year for a discounted price.

May

Mattresses: Manufacturers are rolling out new products in the summer, so the best time to buy a mattress is now, while they're making room for all the new ones.It should still be easy to pick a great one with a bit of pre-shopping research.
Patio Furniture: Warm weather cometh, along with new patio furniture. Stores are going to start clearing out any old stuff to make room, so get the deals while you can. You might want to check out garage sales before you do, though.
Party & Picnic Supplies: The season of outdoor eats is on its way, and even if you aren't having a barbecue until July, stock up now while the deals are good.
Refrigerators: People are cleaning and upgrading their homes, and new refrigerators are coming out soon. Grab good deals on an older-model icebox in May.

June

Champagne: Since wedding season comes around at this time, champagne makers are in furious competition with one another, and you can grab a good deal.
Dishware: Wedding season brings deals on dishes to everyone, including those not getting hitched.
Gym Memberships: Everyone's forgotten their New Year's resolutions, so gyms are a bit more desperate for members (not to mention everyone's working out outside). Haggle yourself a good price.
Paint: The summer heat means death to painters, but it also means low prices—so if you're considering a new coat of interior or exterior paint, find your shade now and buy it for later.
Tools: It's hard to complain about gender stereotypes when power tool prices are this low. Shop before Father's Day for a good sale.
Suits: Like power tools, Father's Day brings low prices on the suits every dad must have.

Third Quarter (July/Aug/Sept)

Computers: Intel and AMD start ramping up for new stuff in July, and back-to-school sales get pretty good here too.
Big Appliances: Newer appliances are coming out at the end of the year, so you can get great discounts on the bigger ones all quarter.
MP3 Players: In the later two thirds of the quarter, you can often find some pretty good deals on MP3 players, not the least of which is the illustrious iPod, which always has its refresh in the fall.

Photo by Masahiro Ihara.

July

Broadway Tickets: Once again, tickets are a bit cheaper in July when fewer people are seeing shows. Even if you're buying tickets for later in the year, you can get a pretty good discount on them now.
Furniture: August is the second time of year that new furniture comes out, so once again you can get good deals the month before as manufacturers are trying to get rid of the old stuff.
Grills: Borrow your neighbor's grill for Independence Day, then grab a great deal after the 4th instead.
Paint: As noted above, it's still pretty hot outside, so grab your paint now while it's in low demand.

August

Linens & Storage Containers: As the kids head off to college, lots of stores have sales on new dorm supplies.
Outdoor Toys & Camping Equipment: The weather won't be warm for much longer, and stores want to get rid of these summer toys that take up tons of space. You'll find some pretty great deals here if you shop around.
Kids' Clothing: It's back to school season, so lots of more kid-oriented stores are having sales.
School Supplies: Again, back to school sales mean good deals on lots of office supplies. You can either buy now, when the sales are going on, or later in September, when stores are getting rid of leftovers.
Wine: It's still early in the harvest, but you can fine some smaller-run wines for cheap during the month of August.

September

Bicycles: New models come out at the end of the month, which means you can get discounts on the old beaters before winter comes around.
Cars: New cars usually come out at the end of the summer, so lots will be clearing out their 2012 models around this time. It should be easier to haggle down the price, too. Buy at the end of the month for extra savings.
Grills & Lawnmowers: Stores have to make room for all their winter gear, which means the big summer staples will be on sale.
Holiday Airfare: We've mentioned before that you should buy plane tickets two months in advance, which means now is the time to prepare your holiday visits to friends and family.
Patio Furniture: Like the grills and lawnmowers, out with the summer, in with the winter.
School Supplies: As mentioned above, stores'll be clearing out their inventory from all the back to school sales. Anything you don't need the first few weeks of school can be bought in September for even less.
Wine: It's harvest time, which means this is the best time to stock up on wine.

Fourth Quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec)

Cars: As we said in September, now that the new models are out, the old models are going for less. Haggle your way down to good prices on 2012 models for the rest of the year.
Cookware & Kitchen Accessories: Holiday deals start pretty early, and cookware is one of the more popular items that you'll find on sale all quarter.
Gas Grills & Air Conditioners: Again, we drift into the cold off-season, and stores start to push their older stuff.
Shrubs, Bushes, Bulbs, etc.: If you have a cellar or other area that can store plants until the spring, you can pick them up now pretty cheaply.
Toys & Games: Again, the Christmas sales start early at places like Toys R Us, and will continue through most of the holiday season.
Wedding Supplies: Winter's back, which means finding a venue and negotiating those services is going to be a lot easier. The more deeply into winter you wait, the better it gets.

October

Broadway Tickets: Yet another off-month for Broadway shows, so grab your tickets now for less.
Health Insurance: If you're lucky enough to have a choice in when you buy, October is when most health plans accept new members, so shop around and see if you can find better benefits elsewhere.
Jeans: Hit the mall in between back to school season and holiday shopping season for some mad prices on jeans.

November

Aluminum Foil & Plastic Wrap: Yeah, it's weird.
Televisions & Other Electronics: Hit the stores during Black Friday and Cyber Monday for insane deals on all sorts of electronics.

December

Champagne: Again, this is one of those few times that prices drop because demand is so high. Champagne companies are all trying to compete with each other, so grab it now for your holiday celebrations.
Golf Clubs: It's the off-season, so golf clubs are cheaper to come by.
Pools: It may seem like eons away, but if you buy a pool now, you can get a great discount on next summer's fun. There are a few smaller sales during the summer, but you'd have to keep a sharp eye out to catch them.
Televisions & Other Electronics: The sales continue after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, usually all the way up until the super bowl.
Tools: Holiday sales are perfect for grabbing cheap tools, especially if you have a winter-related home repair you need to make.

General Buying Tips for Any Time of Year
Apart from the above time periods, there are other days of the week or year that are best for buying certain items (which is great if you can't wait three months for a new computer). We've mentioned a few of these around the site before, but in the interest of being comprehensive, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Appliances tend to be cheap on Sundays, when most people are out buying new ones. In addition, you're bound to find great deals on any major holiday, like Memorial Day or Independence day.
- Computers & other electronics are cheapest on Mondays, when manufacturers apply their rebates. This applies to TVs, cameras, and video games as well.
- Entertainment venues like museums and amusement parks often have discounts during the middle of the week, when they're less crowded. Plus, smaller crowds are always nice. Some museums might even have free admission days, so check out the venues you're interested in for more.
- Gas prices are higher on the weekends, hitting their peak mid-morning on Thursday to anticipate all the weekend drivers and travelers. Fill up on Wednesdays or early morning Thursdays for the biggest savings. Also, if you fill up in the morning when it's cold, your gas will be a bit denser and you'll get a bit more fuel for your money.
- Jewelry is best bought on Wednesdays, when most people tend to shop for it. However, stay away from gift giving months like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas.
- Chocolate is great to buy after any holiday that involves chocolate: Halloween, Christmas, Easter, and Valentines's Day, for example. They'll be clearing out all their holiday-themed candy, so you can grab them up if your kids already ate their chocolate rabbits and Santas.
And with all things, if you find an item you like, monitor it regularly. Things go on sale for no reason all the time, whether it's a Shell Shocker on Newegg, the end of a clothing season, or when a particular product goes through a refresh (like Apple computers).

That's our big list for the year. We'll be updating you at the beginning of each month, reminding you of the best things to buy, but this should help you plan for the year ahead.