What's Cheap to Buy in February
By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com
As you consider what to buy in February, remember that winter is halfway over and retailers want to get rid of seasonal merchandise. Also, stores usually have a lot of electronics left over from the holidays and must make room for new gadgets. And finally, President's Day falls in February, giving many people a three-day weekend and extra time to shop. Taken all together, you can count on February deals galore.
Electronics: GPS, TVs, Digital Cameras, and Home Theaters. With Black Friday and Christmas long past, retailers advertise cheap LCD TVs and home theaters for yet another national "holiday": Super Bowl Sunday. Game day meets up with January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to spur retailers toward February deals on things like HDTVs, speakers, surround-sound systems, and other components to make way for new models shown at CES. Snap up a new TV on the cheap and make your Super Bowl party the hottest ticket in town.
Related: Best LCD TVs under $500
If your budget allows, GPS systems, digital cameras, and audio equipment are good items to buy in February. Again, low prices reflect new model introductions at CES and retailers trying to shed last year's merchandise.
Video Games. New video games are usually released in early winter, just in time for holiday gift-giving. Wait to buy in February, though, when even the newest and hottest video game titles are usually discounted. For savings year-round, check eBay or Craigslist.
Winter Apparel, Bedding, and Towels. The three-day weekend over President's Day means big department store sales. Couple that with winter coming to an end and you can pick up next winter's clothing today. You'll find loads of February deals on coats, outerwear, gloves, scarves, hats, and sweaters. Cold weather accessories are an especially good buy in February because styles don't change much from year to year. Bedding and towels, too, sell at reduced prices this month.
Related: Best inexpensive desktop computer recommendations and reviews
Boats. On the off chance that you're yearning for a yacht, the winter off-season and mid-winter boat shows make February the right month to buy a boat. Dealers may offer discounts and deals to entice buyers, so be ready to bargain, whether at a boat show or on the showroom floor.
Romantic Gifts. Valentine's Day means jewelry, perfume, and flowers are in high demand all month, so don't expect any February deals. But if you hold out, sales will likely pop up once Valentine's Day is passed and demand plummets.
Chocolate. Like a kid in a candy store, chocoholics can satisfy their chocolate cravings on the cheap after Valentine's Day. The best bang for your buck will be the discounts on high-end chocolates that don't go on sale often. You can also raid the candy aisle to find enticing February deals on mid-range Valentine's Day packages as retailers try to sell off the holiday stash. And don't be afraid to stock up -- chocolate lasts for several months when stored in a cool, dry spot. Our picks for best cheap chocolate include Cadbury Royal Dark Chocolate and Lindt Lindor Truffles.
Tax-Filing Software. With tax day drawing near, look for falling prices on tax filing software. Sales on the software started in January, but will be much better in February and March, the closer it is to to tax day. But don't wait too long -- filing early means no rushing to meet the tax-day deadline.
Related: Best cheap chocolates taste test and recommendations
Foods in Season. Eat seasonally, proclaim the food gurus. And what a feast you can find this time of year. There are plentiful fresh and reasonably-priced foods to buy in February, including beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, clementines, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, lemons, onions, oranges, pears, sweet potatoes, and tangerines. Check Epicurious's peak-season map to see what's freshest in your area and try out new recipes, like Rachael Ray's Brussels sprouts with bacon or the Korean spicy fermented cabbage dish called kimchi.
More from Cheapism:
Save $400: take the frugal month challenge in February
Best inexpensive watches
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