After all the shopping you did for Christmas, you may not want to open your wallet again for a long time. But there are a few things in January that may be worth purchasing.
Here’s what to buy in January:
Christmas Items
Now that Christmas is over, the stores are trying to rid their shelves of Christmas stock. Expect deep discounts on wrapping paper, Christmas cards, Christmas candy, decorations and pretty much anything Christmas related!
Organization Products
Organization tends to be a top priority in January. Look for sales on plastic containers (Rubbermaid for example), baskets, clothes hangers, storage ottomans, shoe racks, or anything related to organization!
Exercise Equipment and Weight-Loss Products
Perhaps your New Years resolution is to get more active? You’ll find anything related to exercise equipment (treadmills, yoga mats, athletic shoes, athletic clothing), dieting, gym memberships and even programs like Weight Watchers on sale.
Linens
Now is the best time to purchase sheets, duvets, pillows, towels, table cloths and more since they go on sale in January during what’s known as a White Sale.
Winter Clothing
January is the perfect time to buy winter outerwear, sweaters and boots since they’re on high demand this time of year. Once spring stock starts to arrive, look for these items at even greater reduced prices.
Computers
Right around Boxing Day, you’ll start to see computers/laptops/tablets go on sale as new models are introduced. You may even find the newest models with a bit of a discount. But if you don’t mind not having up-to-the-minute technology, then you’ll find the greatest discounts on older models.
Cold & Flu Products
Unfortunately, January is cold and flu season, well, winter in general, which means you’ll find medicine and vitamins on sale this time of year.
Tax Software
The dreaded tax season is commencing. If you do your own taxes, look for sales on tax software such as Quicken and TurboTax.
Homes
January is a great time to get a “deal” on a new house. Since the winter months are the slowest in the real estate business, many home sellers are willing to drop their prices just to get the home sold.
What are some other items that are great to buy in January?
Here’s a great new money saving post from Lorraine! Enjoy!
The following is one way that we stretch our holiday gift budget:
We make up a list that includes people that we plan to give gifts to right after the Christmas holiday. While we’re out and about, during the months of January, February and early March, we shop the clothing sales and purchase anything that will be appropriate for the people on our list.
During the rest of the year, we keep an eye open for deals such as jewellery, household items for our young up-starters, and specialty teas/coffees when they are on sale.
We also do the rounds right after Christmas to purchase supplies for the next season; ex. gift wrap, greeting cards, chocolate, candy canes, decorations (only if we need new additions). Last year, I bought over $100 worth of merchandise (gifts, wrapping paper, bows and Christmas cards) for approximately $17.00! As a result of that amazing haul, I will not have to spend a penny on these items this year or next!
Thanks, Lorraine! I love that you look for specific items during certain months of the year. It’s important to know when particular items are at their lowest price point so you can get the most bang for your buck! Check out this post: The Best Time of Year to Buy Anything in Canada.
So, you want to learn how to save money on transportation. Well, when it comes to saving money on the cost of transportation, sometimes public transit is the way to go. Especially when you take in the expense of running and owning a vehicle. Its maintenance, the cost of gas, insurance, and other things that mean money is coming out of your pocket in order to get you where you want to go.
If your city offers a monthly pass at a reduced rate and you are a frequent traveler, then it would be more cost effective to purchase a transit on a monthly basis. If you don’t travel too often by public transit, it would make more sense to buy your public transportation tickets as needed.
Here are some other ideas to help you save:
Carpool
Another great way to save on transportation costs is to carpool. Check out eRideShare.com or Car-Pool.ca to find someone to carpool with. Or if you work and live in close proximity to a friend or family member, consider carpooling with them. They could drive one week and you could drive the next. Of course finding a coworker that lives in your vicinity would also work!
Bike
When the weather is warm enough, jump on a bicycle and ride to work during the summer months. Get some exercise and avoid those traffic jams! This could be a great way to save on your transportation costs, if you don’t live to far away from your workplace, of course. Make sure that you follow the laws in regards to riding a bike in your city and/or province. This means to wear the proper safety gear and adhere to the laws of the roads.
Walk
Another way to save on transportation costs is to walk to where you need to go when the weather allows. There’s no need to purchase gas for the car, or even buy public transit tickets. Just liking biking, you will also get some fresh air, and some exercise.
Combine Activities
If you’ve got an appointment one day, consider doing your grocery shopping and other errands while you’re already out and about so that you’re making less trips home and back into town again. Also, if you’ve only got a short distance to travel, think about walking or biking instead of taking the car.
Following the tips above will surely help you to save some money on the cost of transportation!
How do you save on transportation costs? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
When it comes to purchasing clothing for the family, it can become rather expensive quickly, especially if you have small children! Since they grow so quickly, it may feel as though you're throwing money away often to keep them dressed. In order to save money on kids clothing and clothing for the rest of the family, follow these tips and suggestions to learn how to save.
Think about colour and size
Consider buying shirts that are dark in color. This way, stains will not show as much and the clothing will last longer. You'll also be able to sell the clothing at a higher price because it still appears to be in great condition. As for pants, buy them a little longer in length. Sew the pant hem under without cutting the material. This way the seam can be taken out when your child has a growth spurt. Or simply roll the pants up!
Hand me downs
Another way to save money on clothes is to pass down clothing. Items that you have bought for your older children can be passed down to a younger sibling. Give old clothing a brand new look by using embellishments. This way your younger child feels as though the clothes have a special touch just for them when pieces of fabric, rhinestones, or other embellishments have been added. Also, I tend to always accept any clothes from friends and relatives that their children have outgrown.
Shop second hand
You will save yourself a bundle if you check out local consignment shops or thrift stores. You'll find a vast array of clothing for your whole family at greatly reduced prices. More often than not, the clothing is in great shape simply because someone might have outgrown it quickly, or decided that they did not like the style anymore. I've also had great success with buying bags of clothing off our local Facebook buy & sell page.
Shop the end of season sales
I don't like to pay full price for clothing, ever. It's actually quite rare that there isn't some sort of sale going on somewhere. But, be sure to make plans to purchase items during the end of season sales. This is when retailers offer big discounts in order to clear their shelves for new stock. Many times the item is offered at a discount of 50% or more. You will definitely save a bundle of cash when you purchase clothing items this way.
Use coupons
Much like buying groceries, using coupons on clothing purchases can help you save money. Make sure to sign up for the free newsletters that your favourite retailers offer. They often send printable coupons for in-store shopping or coupon codes for online shopping!
Knowing where and when to buy clothing for your family will help you to save money. The above tips might help you learn how to save even more!
Do you have any secrets to saving big on clothes for the family?
