Do You Know The Best Months To Make Big Purchases?
Could you save tens or even thousands of pounds by buying at a different time of year?
New research suggests the stamp duty payment holiday isn’t the only reason Brits can make a saving on a property this month. September is officially the best time to buy a house.
Watch and sunglasses specialist Tic Watches has conducted research and worked with experts to reveal the best time of year to find a bargain for high value products including homes, cars and holidays.
The experts have compared prices to the peak time of year shoppers are searching for and buying products most frequently. It highlights how much people could really save with the right timing.
Here are the best times of year to find a deal:
January – Watches and sunglasses
Peak search time: December 22-28
Potential savings: 70%
Pic: Shutterstock
The January sales are a great time to pick up bargains on fashion items such as watches and sunglasses. Danny Richmond, managing director of Tic Watches, said, “For watches, the cheapest times of year to buy are generally Black Friday and January. This is when we run our biggest sales with discounts of up to 70%.
“For sunglasses, January sees the biggest discounts, of up to 40%. This is because it’s the period of lowest demand for summer products, so it’s a great time to get a bargain!”
February – A wedding
Peak search time: July 28-August 3
Potential savings: 50%
February sits in the middle of the wedding low season, which runs from November to April. This is generally seen as an undesirable time to get married, so as a result there are huge discounts available.
In some cases, you can have a Saturday wedding in winter for half the price of the same in high season.
March – New cars
Peak search time: March 10-16
Potential savings: 25%
For new cars, the best times to buy are usually March and September because of bi-annual targets. Many people are already wise to this, as can be seen from the peak search time. However deals are to be had at the end of each quarter, depending on individual targets and stock availability.
April – Mattresses
Peak search time: September 29-October 5
Potential savings: 53%
Pic: iStockphoto
Dale Gillespie, marketing director for bed and mattress retailer Bed SOS, said, “Retailers tend to release their new line-ups in April, so early spring is the best time to find the biggest discounts.
“Buying in early April, you’ll find some great value deals as retailers clear old stock to make way for the new ranges.”
May – Winter shoes
Peak search time: November 24-30
Potential savings: 70%
Buying shoes out of season will allow you to find the best value deals. May is a great time for this as there will be discounts on winter footwear such as boots, wellies and walking shoes, allowing you to buy good quality products for a fraction of the price.
Similarly, the best deals for summer footwear can be found in autumn and winter.
June – A gym membership
Peak search time: December 29-January 4
Potential savings: 20%
Pic: iStockphoto
The start of summer tends to offer some of the best deals on gym membership, with January being another good month for discounts.
There are often plenty of deals available through voucher websites such as Hot UK Deals, but if you’re signing up in person, a handy tip is to go at the end of the month. Sales staff likely have targets to hit and could be open to negotiating if they want to get their bonus.
July – An engagement ring
Peak search time: December 29- January 4
Potential savings: 50%
July to August is the peak of the wedding season, and with all the focus on weddings, sometimes you can find big discounts on engagement rings. Also, as it is not close to any big holidays, jewellers use this time to lure in consumers with discounts.
August – Holiday clothes
Peak search time: June 30-July 6
Potential savings: 75%
With summer drawing to a close, retailers look to clear as much seasonal clothing stock as they can.
This is a great time to snap up bargains on items such as swimwear and shorts, which can see discounts of up to 75% for bikinis and 43% for shorts. It’s worth mentioning that stocks go quickly, and there will be less choice than earlier in the summer.
September – A house
Peak search time: February 2-8
Potential savings: Subject to negotiation
Pic: Shutterstock
Ross Counsell, director at property firm Good Move, said, “The best time to buy is August or September. The majority of buyers start searching at the beginning of the year. Waiting until the end of summer, when there are fewer looking, you’ll have less competition.
“You’re also more likely to get a better deal. With fewer offers on the table, sellers may well be more likely to accept a lower price.”
October – Home appliances
Peak search time: December 15-21
Potential savings: 44%
Many manufacturers unveil new models in October, so older products in the range will often be discounted. For products such as fridges, buyers can save as much as 44% at this time.
November – Technology
Peak search time: November 24-30
Potential savings: 50%
Claire Roach at Money Saving Central said, “Without a doubt, November is the best month to get deals, particularly on tech. A lot of people make the mistake of waiting for Black Friday. The better deals are likely to be earlier on in November, because retailers try to compete with Black Friday giant Amazon.
“eBay, in particular, was 2019’s best place for tech deals, and the people who waited until further on in the month were left disappointed. Prices weren’t any better and stock was limited on highly sought after items such as the Nintendo Switch.”
December – Used cars
Peak search time: November 17-23
Potential savings: Subject to negotiation
Pic: Shutterstock
Tim Barnes-Clay, motoring expert for Euro Car Parts, said, “Nobody thinks about buying a car at this time of year. Most people will feel the pinch over the festive season. With some forward planning though, December can be a great time to get a good deal on a used car.
“This is purely because dealers will be more inclined to get sales under their belts. Therefore they may be more willing to offer you a deal or negotiate.”
“Plan ahead and maximise your savings”
Danny Richmond, managing director of Tic Watches, said, “It’s clear from the research that bargains can be found all year round, with the best deals coming at periods of low demand.
“It’s always best to plan your purchases ahead of time to maximise your savings. Don’t wait until winter to buy your winter coat, and consider buying a new phone at the start of November, rather than waiting until Black Friday. Doing so could mean huge savings!”
Find more information on when the best savings can be found.
Sarah Proctor
I've worked on a variety of regional newspapers and national magazines. My Weekly and Your Best Ever Christmas are fantastic, warm-hearted brands with an amazing, talented team. I'm a sub-editor and particularly love working on cookery, fiction and advice pages - I feel I should know all the secrets of eternal life, health and happiness by now, but hey, we all need that regular reminder!
