What to Buy in January

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

Did you spend too much on Christmas presents? Are Christmas gift cards burning a hole in your pocket? Regardless which side of the fence you fall on, frugal shoppers will find plenty to buy in January. This is an excellent month to stock up on items like linens or to make big purchases like a name-brand HDTV.

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Christmas/Holiday Items and Winter Apparel. Starting the day after Christmas, prices on holiday items take a dive and continue to fall throughout January. By now you should be seeing prices at least as low as half off, but the selection is dwindling fast. Still, if you're deciding what to buy in January, consider stocking up on wrapping paper, ornaments, cards, and the like to stash away for next year.

Likewise, winter apparel prices will also continue to fall in January, reaching deeper discounts from those in the after-Christmas sales. According to retailers' calendars, spring is right around the corner and they need the shelf space. January is a good month to find a good selection, good sales, and decent stackable coupons. February and March will see even better deals on winter apparel, but the selection will be dwindling.

Electronics. Starting in November with Black Friday, electronics begin their downward price spiral. While November and December see huge discounts, buy in January for the best deals. The Consumer Electronics Show takes place early this month, which causes last year's models of HDTV's and digital cameras to hit the super-clearance aisles. Deal News reports that in previous years prices on 55-inch LCD HDTV deals were down 17 percent from December and those in the 46- and 47-inch class were down 5 percent from the previous month, which makes January the moment to spring for an HDTV.

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Linens. January is historically the best time to buy linens and towels given the "white sales" that pop up all over. That said, in recent years June has actually surpassed January in linen and towel sales. But they're good items to buy in January if you don't want to wait another six months.

Home Fitness Gear. A gym membership is not the thing to buy in January. Getting in shape is a popular New Year's resolution and the local gym has no lack of new members. But for frugal shoppers looking to score a deal and kick their fitness levels up a notch, home workout gear is a good buy in January. If you're outfitting an entire home gym you'll find bargain prices on exercise equipment. Or, if you just want to follow along with a fitness DVD after work, these too will be on sale this month.

Furniture. January is one of the best times of year to buy furniture, second only to November. Why? Because new models are released in February, meaning retailers start discounting old models the month before. Need a new sofa or dining set? Plan to buy one in January.

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Toys. While most toys won't see deep discounts in the month of January, some will, particularly those that are based on a new movie. For example, the Despicable Me 2 characters and associated toys that crowded the shelves this holiday season when the Despicable Me sequel debuted will likely see huge sales this month as retailers rush to clear out inventory before the film's popularity wanes. The same theory could apply to Monsters University toys and games.

Seasonal Produce. Starting a diet in January may be another New Year's resolution. Stick to it with these fresh and cheap in-season vegetables: beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, kale, leeks, onions, and parsnips. Add some sweetness with these healthy, seasonal fruits: clementines, cranberries, grapefruit, pears, pineapples, and pomegranates.


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