February seemed to fly by with major holidays like Valentine’s Day and President’s Day to leave your budget a little out of sorts. Luckily, March will be a little easier on your budget with a break from any major gift-giving holiday though, so now is the perfect time to recover a little from the holiday season. That doesn’t mean that it’s safe to shop for whatever you want in the month of March though. In fact, there’s quite a few items that you’ll need to avoid if you plan on saving money in the long run. With any luck, you’ll be able to shop around these no-buys with ease, so you can enjoy larger savings at a later date.
1. Swimsuits
In some areas, the weather may still be a little chilly which would leave some people to believe that it would be safe to go shopping for bathing suits. However, with Spring Break on the way, swimsuits will be at a high meaning you may want to wait until after the major break is over to look for the perfect suit for you. During this time, all new lines of swimsuits will be put out to appeal to students who plan to travel to warmer climates in order to enjoy their break. Once the break period is over, usually in late April, you will find lots of older swim suits on the clearance rack. You will also see a decrease in the new lines of swimsuits since most people will have gone ahead and purchased the look they want for the season. You may want to take this time to stock up on a couple of different swimsuits so you can have options when pool and beach weather officially arrives.
2. Lingerie
A lot of people think that just after Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to go shopping for lingerie. However, lingerie really doesn’t go on sale after the holiday. In fact, you will probably find better deals on lingerie on Valentine’s Day then the period directly after it. If you can hold off for a while, then you will more than likely find better deals on lingerie in the summer months during the iconic Semi-Annual sale that Victoria Secret hosts. This sale is usually followed by other lingerie companies hosting competing sales, so you can take advantage of it while you can.
3. TVs
With the Super Bowl over and all of the big holiday sales, you can kiss TV sales goodbye too. Most of the items on the market now will return to their pre-sale pricing, which won’t do you any favors if you’re in the market for a new TV. Usually, it is best to wait and get a new TV during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. However, you may get lucky during the summer months if you’re still hunting for a TV. There’s often really big sales around Memorial Day, but you may find that some stores will host sales to help make up for the lack of purchases during the summer months. Before you go shopping, make sure you plug in the TV into a shopping app to make sure that it is actually a decent sale before you buy. More often than not, these sales won’t actually save you much at all, so be careful.
4. Vacuum Cleaners
It’s almost time for Spring Cleaning, so of course, you probably won’t find the best deals possible on a vacuum cleaner. There may be small discounts on the must have machine, but if you can hold out on the item then you should. Generally, in April or May the vacuum cleaners will go back on sale, which will allow you to buy a more powerful model that can help keep your home cleaner than ever. This may mean putting off a lot of your Spring Cleaning routine, but it will definitely give you more time to organize and sort through your items before you handle the carpet. If you are in dire need of a vacuum cleaner during this month then you may consider renting one or borrowing one from friends or family. You’ll be thankful you held out on the purchase when you find one that meets your standards and your budget in the upcoming months.
5. Outdoor Furniture
In most areas, March brings some really nice weather that many want to take advantage of. It’s not entirely cold, nor is it so hot that you feel uncomfortable, which makes it the perfect time to get out and socialize. This is why so many people get the itch to buy patio furniture during this month, which retailers are quite aware of. Thus, the price of the furniture is hiked up a little or remains at retail price. If you are a little patient and wait for the upcoming months, you should find amazing deals on the furniture that will make you want to endure the heat just to enjoy your awesome savings. From table sets to fire pits, as soon as the temperatures begin to rise many retailers try to push the items out the door. You’ll also find great deals on them during the Memorial Day sales.
6. Appliances
This time of the year is when a lot of new kitchen appliances hit the market. Thus, you may want to skip out on shopping appliances during the month of March. Since it is wedding season, this also works against you as most retailers know people are on the hunt for wedding gifts as well as items for future college students to take with them for their first semester on their own. Luckily, the prices for these items won’t stay high for long, so you should be able to try out the latest kitchen trends in no time at all. Until then, you may want to consider holding on to your used item to sell at a later date, as many people will pay a lot more than you’d expect for a used appliance. This may even help you put back a little money for the new appliance that you’ve had your eye on.
7. Pools
It may seem a little too early to find yourself shopping for pools, but if you choose to purchase in March you’re likely to pay more than ever before. When it comes to inground pools, most people put in an order to begin the process as soon as the ground has thawed enough to dig. Thus, waiting until March could mean you’re hitting peak season for these orders, which is sure to leave you spending a fortune. If you’ve already waited this long then the best thing you can do is wait for the summer months to die down as this will mean demand is down and you should be able to find the deal you need. Shopping for an above ground pool may also not be wise. The item isn’t really in season yet, so you might have to special order it. However, if your department stores are already displaying them then you will probably find them at retail price, opposed to on sale. The pools and accessories will take a price decrease as soon as the weather gets really hot and sales begin to slow down.
8. International Flights
With Spring blossoming, you may get the itch to travel, especially to locations that you know are beautiful this time of the year. This urge is why the prices for plane tickets can go up substantially during the month of March. During this time, many people are planning a last minute Spring Break or they are looking to book their summer vacations. Although it may sound like a lot of fun to book a vacation last minute, there’s actually a specific amount of time you should begin your search for the special trip. In fact, if you don’t plan ahead a year in advance for some locations, you may end up paying a fortune on your tickets. So, make sure to plan wisely and avoid shopping around in March during the Spring Break and summer vacation rush.
9. Tax Software
In this case, the early bird gets the worm and since tax season is already almost over, you will probably have a hard time catching a good deal on the software you need to do your taxes. However, if you do wait until April to get your software then you will probably stumble across some last minute deals that will save you big money. March just so happens to be in the center of tax season, so people have already either finished up their taxes or still aren’t in a huge rush to do them. This doesn’t make for great sales, therefore most stores can’t afford to put the software on sale just yet. You may luck out and find a price cut with some vendors, but you shouldn’t expect anything great while shopping around.
10. Gardening Supplies
With Spring on its way, a lot of people are starting to get excited about working in the garden again. This causes a surge in gardening supply purchases during the month of March, which makes retailers want to keep their prices steady so they earn more money. Even if the weather is still icy in your area, you will be surprised as to how many partake in pre-seeding which allows them to begin gardening before it’s safe to plant outside. This keeps the price of seeds high too, so you won’t even find a relief in the high prices in this area either. The best thing you can do is wait until Spring is actually here. Most retailers get in lots of plants at once, which rarely ever sell out. Thus, they have to do lots of work to maintain the living plants, which costs them money. Also, many of the plants can’t survive for long in small containers, so you should have your pick of the lot in just a few weeks after the plants begin to show up. Patience will definitely become your best friend when it comes to gardening though, so make sure to hold out until everyone else has started to work in their garden.
March is a great time to save money, especially if you manage to avoid these ten items while shopping. With a little luck, you’ll be able to find an amazing deal later in the year, which will leave you thankful that you did without in the month of March. With all of the savings you’ll find this month, you’re sure to enjoy your Spring Break all the more.
