Best Deals for Spring Shopping

Like so many things in life, when it comes to saving money, timing is everything. Or at least it can be.

See also: Re-purpose to save money.

No one knows more about when to get the best deals than Mark Di Vincenzo, author of the best-selling book Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There. I interviewed Mark at noon on a Wednesday, and given the boatload of money-saving advice he had to share with me, I'm convinced that Wednesday at noon is the best time to interview a discount druid guru.

Here's the skinny from Mark on the best spring deals:

March: January through March is an ideal time to go boat shopping. Also, spring is the season to start thinking about replacing your furnace. You can also catch the tail end of post-holiday video-game sales. With spring just around the corner, take advantage of post-winter deals and buy a snowblower.

April: Cookware sales — pots, pans and the like — start in April and run through May. April is a good month to buy jewelry, as are July, August and September. Also, in addition to December, April is prime time for electronics deals.

May: Refrigerator sales start in May and sometimes spill over into June. If you love veggies, you'll find deals on fresh broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach, which are in season. And of course, don't forget ketchup (remember, the title of the book is Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon). Other condiments and salad dressings are also on sale.

If you're thinking of a vacation, Puerto Rico, Cancun and Bermuda offer good weather and deals. Around Memorial Day, seek out savings on appliances like laundry machines and dishwashers.

Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches, The Cheapskate Next Door and Don’t Throw That Away. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com and you can friend him on Facebook at JeffYeagerUltimateCheapskate or follow him on Twitter.

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