The month of love is finally here, but with all of the expenses you could end up hating your budget. Luckily, February doesn’t have to be all about spending money on your loved ones. There’s actually some great purchases you can make during this short, yet sweet, month that can set your household budget up for success in the later months. With plenty of delayed holiday buys and a few travel surprises, you may find a lot more to love about February. So, grab your favorite Valentine and check out these deals before they’re long gone.
1. Jewelry
Valentine’s Day is a big deal during this month, so you’ll probably see sales everywhere for jewelry. The bad news is you probably won’t want to shop around for a piece of jewelry during the first half of the month. There may be some great Valentine’s Day sales going on, but if you’re patient you can save even more when this year’s must-have Valentine’s Day gift hits the clearance rack. February is also a popular month for proposals, which means rings should be at a high price prior to the holiday. Patience will become your best friend though if you wait for the engagement ring rush to disappear, as engagement season won’t pick up again for a couple of seasons. Of course President’s Day will also do you a huge favor, especially when it comes to online jewelers, so don’t feel bad about holding out until you find the perfect ring at the best possible price.
2. Flowers
You may want to steer clear of flowers for the first half of the month too, because everyone will be ordering them for the big day. However, the moment Valentine’s Day is over, you’ll be privy to some awesome deals on fresh flowers that are sure to make someone special. Of course, even if you’re not looking to gift the flowers, you’ll be able to find an assortment of flowers for your home or business. Bouquets of flowers aren’t the only floral purchases you should make during this month. Spring is right around the corner, so it might be wise to order your flower seeds and bulbs before planting season begins. You may be surprised by the discounts you’ll receive simply by shopping a little early. If you want, you can even get a head start on your planting by planting inside and using a grow light. This will allow you to have a burst of fresh colors the moment the warm weather arrives.
3. Gift Baskets
If you’re looking for an extra special gift for someone then you may want to consider a gift basket during this month. When Valentine’s Day is over, all of the romantic baskets will go on sale, which are generally filled with some pretty awesome wine and delectable chocolates. This will certainly make your day, even especially you aren’t planning on sharing with anyone. Apart from Valentine’s Day baskets, you should be able to get an incredible price on all of the old winter and Christmas baskets that went on clearance last month. As long as there’s no perishable items in the basket, you’ll be all set for Christmas gifting well before you even have to worry about gifts. Easter and summer inspired baskets should still be floating around on some gift basket websites too. Now is the perfect time for Easter baskets as last years will still on be clearance, so you can get stocked up before the holiday even rolls around. Also, summer barbeque or party supplies are always a must, especially when they’re clearanced. Of course, you also can’t go wrong with chocolate covered strawberries, cakes and cookie gift sets that drop in price after every holiday.
4. Furniture
Need to update the furnishings in your home? Now is the perfect time to do so. With President’s Day sales just around the corner, you may want to start looking around to see what your local stores have to offer. During this time of the year, all sorts of furnishing can be up to 60% off, which is sure to make your home renovation even more pleasing. Of course, you don’t have to just shop around locally. Many online stores will have deals that seem out of this world too. Some can even give up to 80% off retail price with free shipping included on certain items. You should always be aware when buying furniture online though. Make sure you’re shopping with a reputable website and that the dimensions will fit your home and are a proper size for what you’re buying. With a little careful shopping, you may find that it is possible to score a deal that will have all of your friends jealous. You might also want to consider shopping around for newlyweds or future grads on your list too, as furniture is a great gift for anyone getting a start in life.
5. Cellphones
If you’ve been waiting forever for new phone releases, then you’re probably on the edge of your seat because release dates are right around the corner. However, this also means you’ll have a great chance of getting a new phone at a reduced price. If you’ve been waiting to grab the latest Samsung or iPhone then February is going to be the perfect time. Since the new comers are about to hit shelves, retailers will be dropping prices to get the old models off of their shelves. This isn’t the only deal happening during the month of February, as many cell phone stores love to get on board with the Valentine’s Day magic by including 2 for 1 deals, or simply lowering the price for special gifts. You may even be able to get a good deal on your service.
6. Skis/Snowboards
Technically, ski and snowboard season isn’t over until April and since there’s still snow coming you may want to dive into some of the deals going on in the month of February. Generally, this is when stores try to clear out all of their gear for this season, so they can pack up and prepare for all of the goodies that next year will offer. Thus, you can probably get up to 60% off on a snowboard or a pair of skis if you look in the right places. Even if you don’t think you’ll be hitting the slopes again this season, you can still stock up for next season so you’ll be ready to go when the slopes open. If you don’t have a local snowboard or ski dealer around you then you can probably still get an outstanding deal. Just make sure you know what you’re buying and that you’re shopping with a reputable store. There’s lots of guides online to help you find your perfect size too.
7. Travel
Apart from a few romantic rendezvous, the travel world in February is pretty glum. Everyone is recovering from the holidays, paying off and debts and they simply don’t want to deal with the weather. So, now is the perfect time to get in a little traveling in if you have vacation time built up. Currently, you can find deals on hotels, cruises, rental cars and even airline tickets. Just about everything you need to book the perfect vacation will be a fraction of the price! Even some amusement parks will try to coax in travelers, so watch out for deals there too. If you’re not planning on traveling this month, you should pass up the chance to shop still. You may be able to find better deals on summer or Spring Break vacations as people still aren’t rushing to book just yet. Make sure you shop around though, as there’s lots of great hidden deals online!
8. Canned Foods
Did you know that February is actually National Canned Food Month? It’s a pretty exciting thing to celebrate considering canned foods have become a necessity in many households. This month, you should find some pretty awesome deals on some already cheap foods, so make sure to stock up as much as you can. You might even want to go through your pantry and donate old foods or foods your family didn’t like so you can clear up more space for the good stuff. You may also want to shop for some of the more expensive canned items you buy, like fruits, so you’ll never have to double-think on the canned pumpkin because it will already be waiting in your cabinet. If you’re a fan of canning your own foods, then you might want to check out supplies for this too as sometimes stores will loop them in for the holiday. No matter what you buy, you may want to use this time to stock up on your emergency food though, so you’ll be ready in case of an accident, financial problem or natural disaster.
9. Wedding
Although engagements are pretty big on Valentine’s Day, weddings aren’t exactly up there. This makes February a great month to get hitched. Sure, some days, like Valentine’s Day may be more expensive to book, but this period is a low point for the wedding industry. Most people prefer to get married in the spring or summer, which leaves a wide opportunity for the winter months. However, most of those who do marry in the winter do so in the early days because it’s easier to get people together and budgets aren’t as crunched as they are after the holiday season. You should be able to get a great price on a venue, caterers and even your dress. If you’re not looking to get married this month, then start booking everything now. You’ll beat the rush, which might save you a bit of money in the long run.
10. Air Conditioning/Humidifier
Although your heater may be going on full blast now, you’ll soon be longing for the days of the cold air. This is why it’s the perfect time to get an air conditioner. Whether you’re shopping for a small unit or looking to have a central air unit installed, you might want to consider getting it now. It’s too cold for most people to even consider an air conditioner, which means the business is slow. You should be able to get a discount on the unit itself as well as an install, so take advantage of the savings before everyone else catches on. Of course, be aware of the air conditioner you’re getting and how much it could affect your power bill. If an air conditioner isn’t what you’re after, then a humidifier might be just what you need. These especially come in handy during the allergy season as so many people suffer from pollen and other seasonal allergies. These are also great to have if your children get sick or are having respiratory problems.
February is a lovely month, but with such a big holiday on the horizon you may already be loathing it. Luckily, there’s a lot to love about this month when it comes to savings in many areas that will make the household happy. So, don’t let the high prices of chocolates get you down, you’ll find some pretty awesome savings when you look in these ten categories.
