The best time to buy . . . anything

Otherwise, a good rule of thumb to follow is to buy in the middle of the summer to take advantage of the back-to-school sales or the winter holiday markdowns.

Cookware

"There are two big seasons for cookware and cookware promotions," says Hugh Rushing, executive vice president of the Cookware Manufacturers Association. "One is in the spring, in April and May, coinciding with the graduation and wedding season. The other is in October and November, with promotions in regard to the holidays."

Furniture

New furniture hits the showrooms after the holidays, in February, and again in August. Jackie Hirschhaut, the vice president of public relations and marketing for American Home Furnishing Alliance, says there are two times of the year for guaranteed low prices.

"After the holidays, in January, stores have clearance sales to make room for new inventory coming in February," she says. "And in July, the same thing happens with fall inventory. For instance, it may be the same wooden frame for sofas with different upholstery in new colors for fall."

Gas grills

Ritchey says that, when it comes to gas barbeque grills, timing for the best deal is the same as shopping for air conditioners.

"Most people buy in May, June and July for backyard barbecues," Ritchey says. "But wait until winter comes to buy, when demand is low."

Jewelry

For jewelry, it's more a matter of when not to buy if you're focused on getting the best deal possible.

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"You're going to pay closer to full price around the holidays because most jewelers generate one-third of their annual revenues and almost 100% of their annual profits in those two months," says Ken Gassman, the founder and president of the Jewelry Industry Research Institute. "You're going to get great value the other eight months of the year." In general, avoid the fourth quarter, that's when most of jeweler's yearly profits are made.

Linens and bedding

The white sale was a marketing strategy originally devised by John Wannamaker in 1878 and it was so successful that retailers still follow his lead today. "January is kind of an industry standard," says Deb Dyer, of upscale bedding cataloger Cuddletown. "That is the time of the year when you are going to see a lot of white sales by everyone -- retailers, cataloguers, everything. Linens do come out seasonally, so you'll see new colors in stores for spring and summer and then fall and winter."

Just as with clothing, bargains can be found on the previous season's styles.

Mattresses

Is it always a good time to buy a mattress? It is if you ask Nancy Shark, the executive director of the Better Sleep Council, a consumer education project supported by the mattress industry.

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"There really isn't one best time to buy a mattress. Retailers always have sales and are always doing their own thing," she says. "The emphasis should be on looking for the best level of comfort and support within your budget. A mattress is a really personal choice based entirely on individual preference. In terms of shopping, look for store services, delivery and removal of old bedding and be sure to test out the mattress before buying."

Real estate

Buying and selling season starts in March and goes through the summer. Spring invigorates the real estate market, meaning there are more homes to choose from. "In the spring market, homes look the best, grasses are green, flowers and trees are in bloom. There's a whole new energy out there after the beginning of the year," says Tom Stevens, president of the National Association of Realtors. Because spring is historically the time of the year when inventories are highest, competition is at its peak as well. Contrarian shoppers may find negotiating more to their liking in the fall and winter.

Recreational vehicles

The market for recreational vehicles works somewhat like that of autos.

"The model years change over like cars, so there is some special availability of the previous years product during the fall," says Phil Ingrassia, vice president of communications for the Recreational Vehicle Dealers of America. Throughout the winter there may be some show specials that dealers offer or other incentives to entice people to buy.

Toys

Retailers open up the toy chest in October and November to kick-start their moneymaking season, says Reyne Rice, a toy trend specialist of the Toy Industry Association. "This is the time of year for games and puzzles," she says. "Retailers will usually do a buy-one, get-one-free promotion."

If you're buying a gift for someone, the important thing to consider is whether it's appropriate for the recipient rather than its status as the hottest new item. "It's more important to buy something that they'll love," Rice says.

TVs and home theaters

For home theater items, in general, the holidays are a good time, says CNET's Morris. New TV models that were announced earlier in the year at the consumer-electronics show in January arrive in stores in August and September. They drop in price a few months after their debut as well as knocking down the price on the older models.

Vacuum cleaners

Most new vacuum models come out in June, Ritchey says. The prices on the older models start winding down as winter comes to an end, just in time for spring cleaning.

Wedding

Getting married during the off-season can net big savings. Demand for wedding services wanes during the very cold months -- or if you happen to be in a tropical climate, the very hot months -- and that can work to your advantage. Read "7 ways to save on an off-season wedding" for tips on a winter wonderland wedding, or sweltering summer nuptials, as the case may be.

This article was reported and written by Sheyna Steiner for Bankrate.com.

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