If you still have a bit of the shopping bug leftover for the holiday season, then January is probably one of the best times to get out and find some great deals. Everything from holiday décor to TVs will be displayed at a remarkable price that you’ll have to see to believe. However, there are a few items you should probably avoid if you plan on shopping in the month of January. These items are often sold at an average or even above average price, which won’t do your recovering budget any favors. Don’t stress if you do need these items though because in the next couple of months you’ll be able to find them all at an exciting price too.
1. Mattresses
With the holidays out of the way, you may find yourself feeling worn out and ready to catch up on sleep. However, if your mattress isn’t exactly cooperating then you may find it especially hard to find a good deal on a new mattress during the month of January. Generally, most furniture and mattress stores tend to lock up the deals after their holiday sales in hopes of building up interest during their Presidents’ Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day sales. So, you may not want to go shopping for a replacement during this time. If your bed is really keeping you up at night, you may want to consider a cheap, temporary solution like mattress pads or adding a couple of blankets under your sleep area. This should help you avoid to the average to high prices until you catch one of the unbelievable sales.
2. Jewelry
The holidays weren’t exactly the best time of the year to buy jewelry and the month of January doesn’t really change this trend much. Sure, you may be able to find a few discounts on the holiday items, but if you hold out even longer then you can probably get these items on clearance in the upcoming months. Not to mention, Valentine’s Day is rapidly on its way, which means most jewelry stores are getting an influx of items that they won’t want to sell at a low price. Holding out until after the major holiday is over should allow you to find some great deals that will leave you celebrating your patience. This is especially true when it comes to romance themed items that you may want to treat yourself or someone special to.
3. Spring Lines
When it comes to fashion, you might as well steer clear of getting ahead of the trends this month. Although spring fashion has already made its debut into our lives, you should probably stay away from it until much later in the year. Spring lines will still be at an above average cost, which will mean you’ll be able to spend less and less on your wardrobe if you want to be the trendiest person around. Instead, you may want to concentrate on winter looks that you can use for the rest of this season as well as next year. There will be many sales on these items to ensure you can get the look you want without having to worry about going overboard on spending. You may even be able to incorporate some of these looks into your own spring fashion attire.
4. Football Memorabilia
January means playoffs and the Super Bowl are finally upon us, which might bring on the temptation to grab some items to show off your favorite team. This can be a huge mistake, especially if your team is doing well this season. Usually, the items won’t go on sale until after the Super Bowl is over, but if your team makes it through to the final round or even wins the Super Bowl then you could look at spending more for several months after the big game. If you really need new gear to support your team, then you might want to consider shopping at thrift stores. Many will actually pull the football themed clothes out for display during the football season, so you probably won’t have to look through everything to find what you need. You could also create your own clothing to celebrate the success of your team. Don’t worry if you can’t find any items though, as clearance attire and collectibles will soon be on their way for you to indulge in.
5. Stocks
If you’re an investor, then you probably know there are certain times to buy and certain times to sell or sit back and hold your horses. The month of January is when all of the business from the holidays begins to affect the stocks you may be interested in buying. This means, you’ll have to put in even more money to grab one stock from the company you’ve had your eye on. This can be great if the stock continues to grow, but most fluctuate throughout the year. Instead of buying right now, wait until your stock begins to drop a little. If it’s a company you truly believe in then invest when the price dips. This will give you more for your money and will hopefully allow you to sell them for more money than you bought them for later on.
6. Luggage
January is one of the best times to grab hot deals on airline tickets, cruise packages and just about anything you can possibly need to travel on a budget. However, luggage isn’t included in the savings here. If you’re in dire need of new luggage, then try to hold out until January is over because you won’t find any deals worth your hard earned money. With all of the travel deals on the table, companies hope to make more money off of travelers who want to get out of the cold with fancy new luggage. Luggage that comes in a set will be especially pricey if you’re not careful, so try to avoid the travel store altogether. This is also because new fashions are coming out to entice spring and summer travelers. Thus, if you want to travel, you may find that waiting until closer to summer or even just until February will help you find better prices.
7. Winter Sports Supplies
If you plan on hitting the slopes this season or trying out some new winter sports, then you may want to consider holding out on shopping for your own winter sports supplies. With winter in full swing, all of these items are in high demand, which means you’re going to have to pay full price for the items you want. Even items from last season won’t be at the best possible price, so try to wait until the weather warms up so you can snag the items at a great discount. Renting the items might be a simple and cheaper solution if you are just trying them out, but you can also see if you can borrow from friends and family. By the time March or April rolls around, you should be able to buy all of the winter sports equipment you desire at a price that won’t leave you stunned and frightened. Of course, you should always remember proper storage techniques since you may not get a chance to use your new gear until next winter.
8. Heating Units
The cold weather is pushing its way into many areas, despite the prediction of a warmer winter. This could leave you shivering and unprepared to deal with such a drop in the temperature. If your heating is on the fritz, then you may be in even more of a bind. A heating unit or even parts to repair your current heating unit could cost you a small fortune. Try to hold out if you can because the prices will drop in just a few weeks when spring begins. However, if you can’t wait then try for refurbished or used parts just to get you through the cold months. You may also want to try out some heating alternatives that will cut the costs of your heating expenses while keeping your home a little more comfortable.
9. Calendars
With the New Year just starting out, you may want to grab a new calendar to go along with it. This seems like a pretty basic idea, but you may find yourself paying more for the item than you’d expect. This can be really bad if you want a more expensive calendar for all of your notes and schedules. Even if you want to be an early bird and shop a bit early for your 2017 calendar, you will probably be less than impressed with the price tag. Instead of shopping now, you might as well wait until February when the prices will drop. Until then, use the 2017 section on last year’s calendar or keep your notes in your phone. Custom calendars will also cost you an arm and a leg during this time of the year due to many people wanting to add their own pictures to a personalized calendar. So, be patient and you’re sure to get lots of options and deals if you can make it through January without showing off a 2017 calendar.
10. Snow Supplies
Unfortunately, if you’re preparing for a big snow storm and find yourself without some of the crucial items, you could wind up paying a small fortune during the month of January. This time is known for snow storms in many areas, so stocking up on supplies before the bad weather arrives is always wise. If you can, try to improvise with items from home to ensure you won’t end up spending too much of your budget on supplies. Cat litter, salt and sand that may be lying around the house can do a world of good if you’re in a pinch. You may even consider using a regular shovel if you don’t have a snow shovel on hand. There’s lots of great ideas to help make your snow maintenance possible online, so if you find yourself without some of the gear to keep up with your snow problems, then you may not be in as much trouble as you think.
January is a month that is perfect for getting in the shopping you missed out on during the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean you should go into it blindly. These ten items should be avoided if at all possible if you’re interested in keeping your budget in check. With a little luck, you’ll be able to get more for your money thanks to your patience, so sit tight and keep an eye on price tags.
