| Suppose you could always buy on sale. Imagine | | | | schedule of sales varies somewhat between |
| how much money you would save. While this | | | | regions of the country, especially north to south, |
| seems impossible, it is really quite simple. Many | | | | since seasonal changes occur at different times.Be |
| products go on sale regularly throughout the year. | | | | flexible. Since you are buying inventory that is left |
| If you know ahead of time, you can plan.You can | | | | over, you will not find the same selection you |
| find annual and semi-annual sales on everything | | | | would have found earlier in the year. Purchase |
| from cars to furniture, clothing to appliances and | | | | something that suits your needs, but don't worry |
| candy to stereos. These sales often happen when | | | | if the color is not exactly right.Get the same |
| seasons change or when new models come out. | | | | warranty as new. When you buy a discontinued |
| There are even annual sales on used items. The | | | | new item from the previous year, you should get |
| following tips will help you find the best deals | | | | the same guarantee as the latest brand new |
| month after month. | | | | product.There is one exception to annual sales: |
| Don't be afraid of last year's models. As a | | | | don't buy anything around Christmas. Almost |
| salesman at a national electronics store told me, | | | | nothing goes on sale from Thanksgiving to |
| "All models are discontinued eventually." So, for | | | | December 25. Yet immediately after, you can find |
| example, a brand new stereo that is being phased | | | | remarkable deals. |
| out can be a very good deal.Be aware of the | | | | If you think of these sales from the stand point |
| particular time when products change. For | | | | of businesses, they need to get rid of their old |
| example, almost everyone knows that new car | | | | inventory so they can pay for and make room |
| models come out in the fall. However, if you buy | | | | for new products. A business benefits by getting |
| after the new automobiles are actually on the | | | | rid of last season's stock and you benefit by |
| showroom floor - known as the new model | | | | getting products at deep discounts. Happy bargain |
| introduction or NMI - you will get a much better | | | | hunting!Richard Doble, M.A. is editor of |
| bargain than you would have gotten just a few | | | | Savvy-Discounts.com, a ten year old frugal living |
| weeks earlier.Some items like clothes may be | | | | web site. Information from his Internet site has |
| discounted long before the season is over. For | | | | appeared in Reader's Digest, Woman's Day (6 |
| example, summer clothes can go on sale right | | | | times) and ABC-TV's TheView. He was |
| after the Fourth of July because stores need to | | | | interviewed on the MSNBC cable channel. His |
| make room for fall clothing and back-to-school | | | | simple, down-to-earth strategies can save |
| merchandise.When you see an annual sale | | | | thousands of dollars every year. His tips cover |
| catalogue, save it and file it away. You can bet | | | | finding discounts for groceries, telephone costs, |
| that this sale will occur again about the same time | | | | clothing, automobile expenses, utilities and travel. |
| next year. Also save newspaper ads for recurring | | | | He is author of the book, Savvy Discounts, |
| sales such as founder's day and annual clearance | | | | published by a division of Penguin Books. For a |
| sales.Keep a calendar just for making notes about | | | | detailed month by month list of annual sales at go |
| sales that occur during the year in your area.The | | | | to the annual sales calendar section. |