BOOK a holiday, taxi or train during busier “peak” times, and it will likely cost you an arm and a leg.
But did you know that the same goes when shopping for… pretty much anything?
When it comes to grabbing a bargain, it’s all about timing
Use our exclusive shopping calendar, which tells you EXACTLY when to buy everyday items, and how to get the lowest price. Use it properly, and you could make mega savings of £6,200 over the year.
Prices go up and down throughout the year depending on supply and demand.
For example, July is the best time to buy school uniforms, while garden furniture is cheaper in October, and washing machines are at the lowest price at the start of the year.
Meanwhile, it’s cheaper to buy barbecues in winter and school shoes in March. Read on to find out the best times to buy everything you need.
JANUARY – MARCH
If your washing machine is on its last legs, the start of the year is the perfect time to get a new one.
Thanks to new year sales, these white goods cost £392 on average between January and March, according to PriceRunner, which compares over 3.4million products from across 6,400 British retailers.
The worst time to buy is in September, when prices hit £417 on average – which is £25 more.
If your washing machine on its last legs, the start of the year is the perfect time to get a new one Credit: PA
Kids’ school shoes also tend to be cheapest in March – shoppers can save up 10 per cent, or around £3.50, compared with October, which is the most expensive time of the year, according to idealo.co.uk.
If you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, consider looking in March for the best used car deals.
Lots of drivers tend to sell their cars for new ones around this time of the year, and in September, as it’s when new number plates come in, meaning dealers often have extra stock of used cars.
Clair Hughes, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, says you can see savings of up to £6,000 on some models around these times of year.
APRIL – JUNE
May is the best month to get a good deal on a paddling pool for the kids Credit: Alamy
Want to invest in a paddling pool to keep the kids entertained all summer? May is the cheapest month to nab one.
PriceRunner’s data show inflatable pools normally cost an average of £29 in May, before going up to £49 between June and August, with July the most expensive month to buy. That’s a potential saving of £20.
Karoline Bliemegger, finance expert at Klarna, which owns PriceRunner, says May is likely the cheapest for pools as retailers are keen to attract shoppers with deals at the very start of the summer season before the weather heats up.
For the best deal on a brand new car, try browsing the showrooms in June. March, June, September and December all mark the end of each financial quarter, and often see dealers offer deals as they try to hit their targets and earn bonuses, according to marketplace Autotrader.
JULY – SEPTEMBER
You’ll find the cheapest deals on school uniforms if you shop in July Credit: Getty
You might be in peak holiday mode in July, but don’t wait around to be hit by peak school uniform prices, as the best bundle deals can be found this month.
“Families who shop early can take advantage of bundle deals and lower prices before the last-minute rush pushes costs up again,” says Thomas Gibbons, budgeting specialist at debt charity Money Wellness.
“In some cases, families can save 20 to 40 per cent simply by avoiding that peak period in August.”
If your dishwasher needs replacing, waiting until September to buy one could save you almost £50.
They cost £399 on average then, compared to £446 during the peak months of April and May, according to PriceRunner. This is likely due to retailers offering early deals and discounts ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
September is prime time to stock up on toys for Christmas and save yourself some cash, with major supermarkets running huge toy sales in this month.
“Tesco’s autumn sale tends to start mid-September, with up to 50 per cent off big brands, and runs through to November,” says Clair.
“And, Asda has a long-running mid-September tradition: its Big Toy Rollback, which slashes prices by up to 50 per cent on brands like LEGO, Fisher Price, Pokémon, and more.”
OCTOBER – DECEMBER
Plan ahead for next summer in October, when you’ll find the best BBQ and garden furniture prices Credit: Alamy
If you’re looking for a trendy egg chair or stylish garden sun lounger, October is the cheapest time to buy – and you could save up to £89.
Garden furniture items – like patio furniture and outdoor sofas – cost £108 on average in October.
But prices go up to £197 on average in the peak months of April through August, PriceRunner found.
The same goes for barbecues – you could save over £90 by thinking way ahead to summer and buying one in October.
They cost £205 on average in this month, but £298 during the peak buying time between March and May.
“As the autumn sets in and demand drops off, it’s about as off-peak as it gets for these items, which is why you’re likely to find cheaper prices,” says Karoline.
And if you’re racing to the shops to get your baubles and tinsel the minute Halloween is over, you could be wasting your time.
Mid-December is the cheapest time to get your Christmas decor, the comparison site found.
Decorations like lights and Christmas trees cost £51 on average at this time, and are most expensive in early November, at £62.That’s a difference of 17 per cent – or an £11 saving.
