What to buy in January

 

What to buy in January

Welcome to 2014! We hope you had a great holiday.
Did you have to set the alarm last night and go back to work today? We don’t have any helpful tips about how to make it any easier. In fact, if you have any, leave them in the comments.
Today we’ll look at the best bargains in January and what to hold off on buying.
Our favorite resource at DealNews says now is the time to buy exercise equipment. In years past, there have been almost double the number of deals in January and don’t come back again until Spring. So if you’ve been wanting a total home gym, you may find them 30-70% off the retail price.
Now is also the time to purchase winter sports equipment like skis and snowboards.  It’s also a great time to buy winter apparel. You can typically find discounts of 50% to 80% off on coats and winter accessories at stores like Eddie Bauer, REI, Macy’s, and JCPenney.
Don’t buy gaming consoles. Right now, they’re still at full price.
New furniture will be released in February, so many stores are putting last year’s inventory on sale to clear out room. Now is also a good time to buy a new mattress. If you don’t buy this month, you will want to wait until May.
Look for Valentine’s Day presents. If you typically give jewelry, you can find good deals from the after Christmas sales. Prices tend to go up in February.
Buy your tax software now even if you’re not ready to start your taxes. The prices will be less flexible the closer you get to tax time. Keep an eye out specifically for deals that discount state filing; many services offer free filing for federal tax returns, but state returns typically require an additional fee.
Buy a bin and go crazy buying up Christmas goods like lights, ornaments, wrapping paper and other Christmas themed items. If you’ve ever wanted to switch to a fake Christmas tree, now is the time to buy.
The Consumer Electronics Show will be happening in Las Vegas next week. Once the new 2014 models are announced, you should see a drop in electronics like laptops, cameras, audio equipment, tablets, etc. But don’t look for drops in televisions until February. Also look for great prices on touch-screen laptops as their price has fallen dramatically.
Last year, 55″ 3D HDTV prices dipped an extra 6% during the month of February compared to the best price on Black Friday 2012.  And, name-brand 60″ 1080p LCDs dropped to their second all-time low, beating their best December, 2012 price by a whopping 16%.
So if you’re in the market for a new TV,  February is the month to buy. For 60″ TVs, $679 is the all-time lowest price; 55″ 3D HDTVs have averaged $700 for the past four months. Any deals you can find at or below these marks will ensure you’re getting the best price possible.
Looking for something free this January? To celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr Day on January 20th, 398 national parks will offer free admission.  You won’t get another shot at this until April.
What fruits and vegetables should you be looking to buy in January? Thankfully there are quite a few. And don’t forget to pull out your slow cooker to make some stick-to-your-ribs stews and soups since it’s so cold out.

• Apples
• Beetroot
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrot
• Cauliflower
• Celeriac
• Celery
• Chicory
• Clementine
• Grapefruit
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Kale
• Kiwi fruit
• Leeks
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Parsnips
• Passion fruit
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Pomegranate
• Potatoes
• Rhubarb
• Satsumas
• Spinach
• Swede
• Tangerines
• Turnips

Did you save any money for specials in January or are you still paying off December’s purchases?