It feels great to save money doesn't it? Some people are born “savers” while others are born “spenders", but wouldn't it be awesome to be both? A full quarter of the year has already gone by, which means stores are slashing prices on winter-centric goods and other seasonal items. Here are the best things to buy this month, so now you can spend and save simultaneously.
Every month, we look back at the best times to shop for anything during the year, and pull out items each month to remind you what's coming. Obviously, none of this is to say you should go on a shopping spree—but if you've been holding off for a lower price on something, these are the things that get the sale treatment in April.
ALL SPRING
Televisions and Other Electronics:
The Japanese fiscal year ends in March, which means Japanese-made goods—like the electronics we all love so much—are going to be on sale as they try to get rid of old stock. If you didn't grab a TV during the pre-Super Bowl sales, now's the time to grab one. These sales are probably even better than the February ones anyway, as long as you're comfortable buying last year's model. Note that it's probably not worth getting a 4K TV just yet—there isn't a lot of content out for them. Wait for them to drop in price more.
Houses:
According to Bankrate, spring is a great time to buy a house. Prices aren't quite as low as they can be in the winter, but you'll have a much larger selection to choose from, so you can take the time to find your perfect dream home. The spring weather makes the yards look great, and everyone comes out of the woodwork looking for a new home, which makes competition fierce. A lot of families start buying and selling at this time so their kids have time to make the transition during summer vacation, too.
Cookware & Kitchen Accessories:
As graduation season draws closer, you'll see a lot of sales for common graduation gifts. Kitchen tools and cookware are at the top of the list, says Bankrate, so even if you aren't heading off to college next year, take advantage of the graduation-centric sales to stock up on any must-have kitchen tools now.
Digital Cameras:
While last year's digital cameras start going on sale in February, you're probably going to find the best deals during the second quarter of the year, according to Digital Photography School and Digital Camera HQ. Not sure what camera you want? Check out the best selling Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera with EF-S18-55mm Lens and Sony HD Flash Memory Digital Camcorder with 27x Optical Zoom.
Thrift Items:
It's spring cleaning time, which means you can not only sell all your old junk, but buy other people's junk too! If you're a thrift store shopper, now's a good time to get even better bargains than usual, since places like the Salvation Army will be getting lots of new inventory.
Vacuum Cleaners:
Speaking of spring cleaning, if your vacuum just doesn't have the sucking power that it used to, it's the perfect time to buy a new one. New vacuums usually don't come out until June, so Bankrate says you should grab the old models now as they're clearing them out. Today's vacuums are easy to assemble, snap together with 4 parts or less, so you're ready to clean in no time.
APRIL
Cruises:
April isn't a traditional vacation month, so things like cruises are going to be a bit cheaper, says Dealnews. If you can get the time off from work, now's a great time to take a vacation. And, if cruises are really your thing, and you want to splurge on yourself you will love this vacation.
Sneakers:
If you fell off the workout wagon this winter, it's time to get back on that horse and start a new health and fitness routine. Since most of the less serious runners start exercising again in April, TIME says you're likely to find some pretty good sales at your local running store.
We'll be posting updates for you guys every month, so you're aware of the deals going on all year round. And, if you know of any deals we didn't mention, share them in the comments below.