Time Your 2010 Purchases to Perfection

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It’s early January and the time of year where many of us come out of the holiday daze and take a long, hard look at our finances in order to plan for the year ahead. 2009 was nobody’s idea of a blockbuster year economically, but even with the situation still less than rosy, cars break down, TVs go on the fritz and girlfriends demand flowers, so purchases must be made. If you’re young and less than fabulously wealthy, but still planning on making a few major purchases this year, what can you do to minimize the hit to your stretched budget?

Timing matters, says the blog Get Rich Slowly, and choosing carefully when to buy something can earn you substantial savings. So what time of the year is best to invest in a new car and when are bouquets available at the best prices for the frugal romantic? The blog offered tips on when to buy everything from mattresses to airline tickets recently. Here’s a sampling:

Real estate��March through August are active months for buying and selling, so a buyer looking for a deal will have better luck negotiating on an offer in autumn and winter. Furniture��January and July, when stores need to make room for new inventory. Air conditioner��Winter months, when demand is low. Flowers��Tulips are less expensive in February, peonies in May. Flowers are at their best when in season. Digital camera��The Consumer Electronics Show and Photo Marketing Association convention mean new models will arrive in stores. Shop in January and February for deals on last year��s models. New car��New models roll into the lot in fall, so shop in September for last year��s model. Shop on a weekday at the end of the month to get the undivided attention of a salesperson trying to make their monthly quota. Wedding dresses��After Thanksgiving and before Christmas. Boutiques are stocked with gowns for Christmas engagements, but it��s a slow sales period.

This is just small fraction of the tips, for the rest in categories including food (holiday competition drives down the price of champagne during the holidays; stock up next year), clothing, travel (for domestic flights, 21 days prior to departure) and electronics. For much more on personal finance, also check out BNET’s sister site CBS MoneyWatch.