Things are beginning to look a lot less like winter and a lot more like Spring thanks to the arrival of March. This month is rather busy this year though, with a few holidays that may force you to go beyond your budget to have a bit of fun. This month is also filled with lots of great savings though, which may make the month a lot more exciting for the entire household. With these ten savings categories, you may find that your budget can stretch even further as you find the perfect opportunities to purchase common goods as well as future gifts for upcoming holidays. So, breathe in the fresh spring air and let the month of March lift your spirits while making your budget celebrate.
1. Chocolate
Valentine’s Day has already come and gone, which means you should be able to raid a few of the clearance shelves in your local department or grocery store. Generally, stores will significantly reduce the price of their holiday specific candy, which will allow you to enjoy your favorite sweet treats without as much guilt. Of course, if you’re looking for luxurious chocolates or even fruits covered in chocolate then you might want to log in to some of your favorite gift websites. These sites will be filled with leftover holiday chocolate that will pretty much make you want to shop until you drop. March hosts St. Patrick’s day too, which isn’t really known for candy, but you should still be able to get some great deals on chocolate gold pieces. These can be used later for Hanukah or even fun games over the summer. Finally, Easter is in March this year, which means you’ll have a wide selection of clearance Easter candy to enjoy after the big day. This will offer you great options, including solid chocolate bunnies that could last for months.
2. China/Silverware
If you’ve been looking to start your own China collection or you’d simply like some items for fine dining, then now is the perfect time to buy China or silverware. Generally, these items are at high price because they tend to be in demand throughout the year. However, March is a great in-between month because the major gift giving holidays are over and the wedding season hasn’t quite started. Of course, when shopping for China and silverware, you should always make sure you know what you’re getting and if you’re actually getting the items at a sales price, opposed to the seller simply stating it’s on sale. Quick research should answer your question without a problem. If you find a good enough deal then you may want to buy in bulk for future wedding gifts or even to place in your child’s hope chest, so they will start their future off on the right foot.
3. Plants
With all of the greenery blossoming and the beautiful weather, you may find that you have plants on the mind. Luckily, this is the perfect month to go ahead and buy these items. In many areas, it’s still a little cold to start on the gardening tasks, so plants should be on sale. Luckily, most stores will just be beginning to stock them too, so you should get the top picks of their supply. You can keep your plants safe in your garden by covering them in plastic during the night to avoid freezing, or you can even leave them in the garage for a few weeks while the weather warms up. Just make sure to follow basic care instructions, no matter what you choose to do. You may want to avoid buying items like bulbs and other seeds right now though, unless you have a place to pre-plant them. Items like roses, trees and shrubs should be great though.
4. Holiday Decor
March sees two holidays this month, so there’s no doubt your budget may be a little tight if you plan on going all out on both of them. However, if you’re okay with using old decor then you may save a bundle by shopping the day after each holiday. This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on March 17, which means on the 18th most stores will have moved the holiday decor to the clearance section. You should be able to get unbelievably great prices on this decor too, since it normally doesn’t live up to the hype of other holidays. You should also check out dollar stores to get more for your money there. Easter can be an entirely different story as many people love to celebrate by decorating with religious items or even cute bunnies and chicks. This year the holiday takes place on March 27, so you have a full ten days to recover from the previous holidays. However, on the 28th you should find amazing sells on your favorite decor items that can also dual for other holidays. So, make sure you don’t go mad prior to the holiday if you want to really show off your decorating skills next year.
5. Frozen Food
March is actually National Frozen Food Month, which is good news for everyone who loves to peruse the frozen food section in their favorite store. If you have a large freezer then now may be the time to stock up on your favorite produce, so you’ll be prepared to whip up a wide assortment of meals for quite some time. If you want to maximize your shopping here, look for out for seasonal produce so you can enjoy your favorite foods all year without worrying about the price. This is also a great time to load up on frozen fruit for tasty smoothies that will help you get through the upcoming heat waves. Apart from these foods, you should also be able to grab easy meals like pizzas, TV dinners and snacks that will make your grocery bill a lot less when you have to feed the kids over the summer break. If you shop wisely, you should be able to cut down on your future grocery bills for some time, which will be great for your vacation fund!
6. Luggage
Spring Break should be happening sometime this month or next month, which means luggage is going to be going on sale. While most people are busy having the time of their life during Spring Break, you can easily find the perfect deal on the luggage you’ll need to travel in style over the summer time. You should be able to find all sorts of luggage on sale, even if you have special needs. For instance, water protection or hard shell cases should be just as easily found in the month of March for those who aren’t keen on fabric bags. If you love to shop vintage shops, then you should also be able to find great deals on these items too, because most people want to clear their stock. Make sure you shop sometime soon though because when summer nears luggage will become more expensive, which means you’ll have less money for vacation fun.
7. Home Fragrances
Spring clean is huge this season, but people also love to keep their house smelling nice and fresh too. For this reason, most stores will have some pretty awesome deals on home fragrances, which will allow you to make your spring cleaning go even further. The good news is, home fragrances can come in all shapes and sizes too, so you can stock up on a good number of items to help make your home smell good all season. If you don’t like to run the air conditioner much during the summer then you might want to stick to spray fragrances, so you don’t have to worry about candles or oils heating up the home. If you tend to smoke inside the home or you like to cleanse the air the incense is another great option that should be on sale too. Other than that, candles, oils and accessories, should make your home smell better for less throughout the rest of the year.
8. Golf Clubs
Technically, golf isn’t in season yet, but it will be soon. Thus, now is a great time to go ahead and grab new golf clubs. The weather will be nice enough to get in some early games, but you won’t have to worry about starting out a competition with a set of new clubs that you aren’t accustomed to. Plus, a lot of sports stores will be getting rid of their older models to make room for this season’s new and improved additions, which means you may end up saving up to 60% or more on your new golf clubs. Of course, this is also the perfect time to shop around for a Father’s Day gift or birthday gifts if someone in your life is a huge golf fan. You should make sure you know what you’re shopping for before you take the plunge though.
9. Craft Supplies
If you love to craft then you might know that March is National Craft Month, which is pretty exciting for anyone that loves to get the creative juices flowing. This month you should see a wide assortment of sales on all of your favorite craft supplies at department stores, art stores and even online. You may also be able to dig up some pretty awesome coupons that will help you save even more on your crafting supplies. Of course, these sales may only be on handicrafts like painting, scrapbooking, fabrics and yarns, so don’t be disappointed if you go to look for items for photography and end up empty handed. This may be the perfect time to try out a new craft though, especially if you’ve been considering something for some time. It may also be a good time to stock up on crayons, colored pencils and other common school supplies, so you’ll be ready for next year. Apart from buying crafts, you may want to see if there are any competitions that might earn you some money or free supplies.
10. Digital Cameras
Although this item won’t be covered for National Craft Month, you should be able to find some pretty awesome deals on digital cameras this month. Apart from Spring Break, there’s really not a whole lot going on for travelers, nor is there a bunch of special events or holidays coming up. Thus, digital camera sales tend to drop a bit, so that stores can actually make some sales. Apart from that, newer models will be coming out too, which means a lot of locations will want to clear their shelves, thus offering better sales prices. You should also be able to find some great prices on accessories too. However, make sure you check out reviews before you buy your camera and shop around to make sure you’re not going to end up with a deal that won’t save you a whole lot. You should also consider a warranty on your items too, just in case you run into a problem.
March is filled with all sorts of fun and beauty, so try to enjoy your month as much as you can! With these ten shopping suggestions, you should be able to save quite a bit of money during this month, which may even further your savings in the upcoming months. Now, you’ll have even more reason to love the great transformation that March springs to the world!
