CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Consumers know that advice is never hard to come by when purchasing expensive items. A beloved uncle might insist he knows which time of year to purchase a new car, while a coworker might claim to have the scoop on when to buy a new couch. Timing can be important when buying big-ticket items, but are there really ideal times to purchase such products? Though that question may not have a definitive answer, consumers may actually have an advantage when buying items like cars, appliances and home furnishings at certain times of year.

  • Cars: Automobiles are among the most expensive items consumers can purchase, but shopping in September or October might help car buyers find better deals. New models tend to begin arriving on dealership lots in September and October, and dealers may be looking to unload their existing inventory in anticipation of those arrivals. Some may facilitate that changeover in inventory by offering more buyer-friendly deals on the outgoing year’s models.
  • Appliances: The financial experts at NerdWallet cite various holidays as great times of year to find deals on appliances. Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, and Black Friday are holidays when consumers might be able to find great deals. Holiday-affiliated sales tend to be advertised weeks in advance, and on-sale items might go quickly. So consumers looking for deals around these holidays should do their homework in the weeks before the holiday and then be ready to pounce once sales begin. NerdWallet also notes the weeks after the popular technology conference CES, which is held each January, also might lead to more deals. New tech products are rolled out at CES each year, so consumers might be able to find great deals on outgoing appliance models in the months after the popular trade show.
  • Furniture: Consumer experts note two distinct times to buy furniture, and that depends on which type of furniture people are shopping for. NerdWallet notes deals on outdoor furniture typically can be found after Labor Day, which many view as the unofficial end to summer. As outdoor entertaining season ends, outdoor furniture retailers may be looking to unload their existing inventory to make room for new items that will be coming in the months ahead. American Home Shield® notes that the end of winter is a good time to buy indoor furniture, but great deals also can be found around winter holidays like Presidents’ Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Presidents’ Day in January might be an especially good time to find deals on furniture, as retailers confronting a post-holiday season slowdown may be more motivated to offer deals than they will be as the calendar gets further and further away from December.

Big-ticket items are expensive, but savvy consumers may find good deals when shopping for various items during particular times of year.