With short days and crisp winter air still upon us, it’s easy to spend entire days, or even weeks, indoors. But if you were willing to bundle up and head outdoors, you could probably save a bundle on off-season items and winter clearance.
The fact is, spring will be here before you know it, and retailers are in the midst of planning their seasonal strategies. In many cases, that means out-of-season models and winter-themed merchandise will soon go on clearance — if it hasn’t already.
If you plan to get out there and save, consider stocking up on these must-have items:
Winter Coats and Clothing
With only a few short weeks left this winter, retailers will soon get antsy to start unloading their hats, gloves, snowsuits, and coats in order to make room for new merchandise. If anyone in your family needs a new coat for next year, now is the perfect time to start browsing. You can even go ahead and buy your kid’s winter wear for next year — just make sure to buy one or two sizes larger! And no matter what, buy gloves. They never go out of style and kids are notorious for losing them.
Boats
According to Bankrate, winter is the perfect time to upgrade your boat or purchase new boat supplies. According to Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, winter boat show season, which runs January through March, is the perfect time to find the best deals possible. And if you wait any longer, you’ll be boat shopping in the thick of spring, the most expensive time of year. So buy your boat now — or you might end up paying full sticker price.
Chocolate and Candy
If you love something sweet, you might want to clear your calendar the week after Valentine’s Day. Because once V-day comes and goes, you can score big by stocking up on drastically reduced candy. And the longer you can wait, the better the deals will get. Most retailers will mark holiday candy down at least 50 percent the day after Valentine’s Day, but discount it even further in the following weeks. So stock up on those Valentine’s Day chocolates and peanut butter eggs while you can — and save big!
Gas Grills, Air Conditioners and Lawnmowers
Working in the yard, grilling out and enjoying the warmth of summer are probably the last things on most people’s minds right now. But that indifference can be used to your advantage if you need new outdoor gear and can work up the energy to get yourself out there. It all depends, but many retailers are looking to unload their off-season merchandise in order to make room for new or better models. And if you’ve got the money, you might as well buy now. Stop by your local improvement stores and scour the home and garden section for deals. Or better yet, if you know you’ll need a new air conditioner, you could easily find the lowest prices now and get it installed ahead of the warm months to come.
HDTVs
If you need a new flat screen and don’t mind scooping up last year’s model, February is the perfect time to shop. Because new models are debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, retailers are already discounting older models to make room for new. Why not take advantage? According to Offers.com, HDTV prices could drop by as much as 60 percent this month. The older model you end up with might not have the newest technology, but you probably won’t even notice.
There is a season for everything, and that includes stocking up. So don’t spend the rest of winter sulking and counting down ’til spring. Get out there and save while you can — the warm weather will be here before you know it.
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Stock Up While It’s Cold: 5 Things You Should be Buying Now originally appeared on usnews.com