The best time to save money when purchasing items of a seasonal nature is to purchase them towards the end of the season. Stores will offer substantial discounts when purchasing summer clothing at the end of summer or in the winter. Sports stores will offer substantial discounts for ski equipment in the middle/end of winter. Clothing and grocery stores will offer school supplies at a substantial discount after the fall semester has started. The stores want to eliminate as many items as possible from their inventory before the next season's inventory needs to be displayed. Ask a store clerk/manager for the dates of the special end of season discounts.

     Purchase items related to a holiday the day after the holiday to be used the following year. The savings can be upwards to 90% for an item offered at full price the day before. Since the holiday is past, the stores want to liquidate their inventory fast!

     The best and most economical time to purchase merchandise is after a holiday when the extra holiday inventory needs to be liquidated by stores. Even though it is not socially acceptable to celebrate an official holiday late, the idea may be a good choice for those wishing to make the most of their money. The results will be the same, but a few days late.

     NOTE: Depending on the item, you may be able to negotiate the price.

     Don't throw away used holiday items, such as wreaths, baskets, and decorations. Think before you throw them away considering if you can use them again next year or for any future decorative or gift purpose. Have you noticed the trend for placing gifts in a decorative bag stuffed with decorative paper. Save the paper and the bag, reusing at a later date for someone else's gift. The paper can also be used as wrapping paper as opposed to purchasing wrapping paper. Even consider using newspaper to wrap a gift. Why spend a lot of money for paper that will simply be thrown away after being unwrapped. Reusing the bag and paper will probably not be noticed by someone receiving a gift. Not to mention the fact of reducing the unnecessary trash disposed.

     Avoid paying for gift-wrapping services. The service costs more than an entire roll of wrapping paper along with the cost of a ribbon. Wrap the gifts yourself and use the suggestions stated previously.


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