October is already nearing an end, which means the holiday season is barreling towards us with no sign of slowing down. Holiday shopping can be a huge frustration, especially if you’re looking for the deal of a lifetime for someone special. There’s lots of shopping aids out there, but sometimes it’s better to know when the best time to shop for specific items is. If you already have a list of items you’d love to have under your Christmas tree then these ten tips should help you determine when you should actually go shopping for them. You may be surprised how early shopping can help you out when it comes to holiday expenses. Of course, you may also feel relieved to know which last minute items won’t cost you an arm and a leg if you end up waiting too long.

1. Toys
There’s no doubt about it, toys dominate the holiday time, especially if you have kids in your life. Thus, knowing when to shop for toys can be the best thing in the world if you’re trying to get the best items at the lowest of prices. January is actually the best time to buy toys, because of holiday clearance, but this isn’t always plausible because children lose interest in some items. Of course, you could always shop for stocking stuffers for the following year if you really are looking to save. The month of December is probably the best time to work out the newer releases because stores are trying to clear as much stock as possible to build up their profits. You probably shouldn’t shop too late if you’re looking for an “it’ toy though as they may be totally out of stock by the time you get around to it. There are a couple of days you should look out for when it comes to shopping though. The first is the day before Thanksgiving as many stores will try to offer great deals to compete with Black Friday. Of course, the second is Black Friday, but you’ll have to be fast here because most deals will disappear faster than you’d imagine.

2. Televisions
Another hot gift for the holiday season is TVs, which tend to be pricey throughout the year. February is actually the best month to buy a TV, so if you’re great at keeping a secret for long periods of time and you love to shop early, then this is the perfect time. Other than that, you’ll probably want to try your luck at a Black Friday sale. Generally, you can get TVs discounted more than 50%, which may leave you so excited about your new purchase that you might want to grab two. Of course, you should never simply buy a television based on the price. Before Black Friday gets here, do a little research to make sure the TV will last you and has features you actually need.

3. Electronic Devices
When it comes to electronic devices, your best bet is to hold out for Black Friday. Everything from laptops and gaming consoles to phones and tablets will be at a great price during this special shopping event. In fact, a lot of stores will base their sales around getting rid of as many devices as they possibly can, so you might want to sign up for Black Friday alerts to see if you can find the best deal in a hurry. Of course, even though these gadgets are on sale on Black Friday, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get one on this day. It may be best to keep up to date with your shopping apps, so you can choose one store to try as this will give you better odds of getting what you need. Some stores will even allow you to reserve an item, so make sure to call around to see which stores offer this option. Of course, you may also want to try out stores that offer layaway on Black Friday prices, so you won’t have to stress about having the money upfront. If you’re looking for an older model iPhone or iPad then it may be easier just to try buying in September when the newer model is released.

4. Clothes
If you love giving clothes as gifts, or your kids simply need new clothes, then you may want to go ahead and buy in advance during the back to school sales. Although this is already a tight period for your budget, it may save you the most money to shop this way, especially when it comes to jeans and the latest fashion items. Another tip to help you get past all of the clothing prices is to shop last season. Generally if there’s basic items you want to buy then this won’t harm the gift recipients fashion sense in the slightest bit. Shopping this way is particularly good if you want to give items like summer clothing as gifts, which is great especially if you plan a warm vacation in the middle of winter. You may want to chart our future growth patterns if you’re shopping for children though. Of course, if you like to stick to the classic sweater gifts then buy these items in spring. You may want to factor in how much children will grow during the extended amount of time though.

5. Candy
A lot of people love to give sweet treats for the holidays, which is great if you can buy them at the appropriate times. Of course, some even prefer to add these beloved sweets to the dessert table during holiday feasts. If you can’t get enough candy during the holiday season then you may want to begin shopping for the treats around Mid-October. Generally, this is when Halloween candy goes on sale, but you can always find non-themed candies around this time too. You may also be able to find supplies to make your own candy at a low price, which is perfect if you’re a fan of holiday fudge. You can keep shopping for candy throughout the month of October, but you may find the best deals at the beginning of November because all of the candy will be clearanced to make room for other dessert items for Thanksgiving. So, if you want to stock up for gifts, hurry before the last of the candy is gone. Even if you only find Halloween candy on sale, you can easily re-wrap it to suit your gifting needs!

6. Vacations
Although it may be too late to help you out for this year’s holiday seasons, you can easily book a vacation at a low price in January. This is perfect for someone that is willing to go the extra mile to see someone smile during the holiday season. It doesn’t matter when you want to go on the trip, booking in advance will cut down the price of your airline fees, even if your flight is rescheduled later on. You should also be able to find fantastic prices on cruises, which will cover most expenses. If you use certain sites or get together with a travel agent then you should be able to book an entire vacation without having to worry about a thing. This is perfect if you’re planning on going overseas as you can easily buy passes for transits and entertainment, which means all you have to do is worry about what wrapping paper you’re going to use.

7. Appliances
If you’re planning on adding to someone’s kitchen then this year then there’s a few different time periods you should keep in mind. For starters, if you’re looking at smaller appliances then you should shop in advance in January. During this time, you should be able to get coffee makers, blenders and anything else you may want to gift at a price that will leave you speechless. This is especially perfect if you know someone will be starting a new chapter in their life around the holiday season. Larger appliances are best purchased in September because newer models are released in October. Dishwashers, refrigerators and other larger items should see a significant price drop during this time. Last but not least, cookware can be found at its best price in April, which will allow you to stock up on potential gifts as well as everything you’re going to need to create your holiday meal.

8. Tools
If there’s a handy person in your life that’s always asking for tools during the holiday season then you may want to begin your shopping in June. Generally tools take a price drop during this month due to Father’s Day, which means it’s the perfect time to stock up so you’ll be prepared for the holiday season. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for small tools or heavy duty tools because everything should be at a great price. Of course, if you don’t want to shop 6 months in advance, you should be able to find some amazing deals on tools just before Thanksgiving or during Black Friday. This is probably the best time to shop for larger tools as you should be able to get them at a major discount.

9. Holiday Decor
Even if you’re not looking for gifts, you may be looking for some decorations to make your holiday amazing. The best thing you can do in regards to decorations is to shop after the holiday season is over, This will allow you to find great items at an even greater price, so when the next holiday season rolls around you’ll be prepared. Of course, if you really need some new decor then it may be more beneficial to go ahead and shop last year’s clearance. If you start in the summer time you’ll get some amazing deals, but you should still be able to save big on items from your favorite department store if you look online. This will help with the bigger items and will help keep your holiday budget frugal, so you can spend more on gifts.

10. Food
Of course, one of the bigger areas of the holiday budget often enough goes to the holiday feast. Don’t worry though, there’s a few things you can do to help maximize your savings here too. For instance, you can easily grab items like stuffing, canned vegetables and cranberry sauce at an amazing price after Thanksgiving is over. You may also be able to get rolls and freeze them to help cut the cost of your meal in the future. If you’re shopping for turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner then you should try to shop way ahead of time. The closer to the holiday you get, the pricier the turkey will be. Of course, if you tend to have turkey for other holiday feasts too, then it may save you money to go ahead and buy two. As long as you freeze the extra meat properly, you should be good to go for the next holiday. However, if you plan on having ham during your holiday meal, you may want to buy it during Thanksgiving, as they aren’t in as much demand during this time.

Holiday shopping can be stressful, but with these ten tips you can cut down on the price tag, so you can have a bit more fun with it. These tips will help you find the perfect times to buy the gifts you’ve been hoping for and will allow you to save the money you worked so hard to earn.