What to buy (and skip) in February
February brings Valentine鈥檚 Day, which often means buying flowers and other gifts on top of your more usual聽purchases. With so many things to buy, you need to ensure聽that your pocketbook won鈥檛 feel the pinch.
Use this list as your guide to everything you should聽聽(and skip) in the month of February.
Buy: TVs
February is Super Bowl month, which means shoppers are searching for discounts on big-screen TVs ahead of their viewing parties.
Handily, the beginning of the year is traditionally one of the best times to purchase a new home entertainment item. Sales have already begun at Amazon, Best Buy and Target, among others.
Skip: Jewelry
Retailers and jewelry stores will try to entice you with Valentine鈥檚 Day-inspired sale events this month, but these discounts aren鈥檛 as deep as the ones you鈥檒l find during other parts of the year.
If you absolutely have to get your sweetheart something shiny this Feb. 14, compare prices and don鈥檛 be afraid to negotiate the cost.
Buy: Winter products
February is typically still chilly, but with the season winding down, stores are eager to unload winter products and fill shelves with merchandise better suited for sunshine.
That makes this month a good time to聽score big savings on winter clothing, winter sports gear and more. You may not have much time left to use your finds聽this season, but you鈥檒l be prepared when聽next winter rolls around. Search for these聽clearance events at outdoors聽stores like Cabela鈥檚, as well as department stores like Macy鈥檚.
Skip: Mattresses
If you鈥檙e in the market for a new mattress, don鈥檛 buy it in February. You鈥檇 be better off choosing one聽later in the year, when you can take advantage of聽Memorial Day or Labor Day sales.
Buy: Home goods
Presidents鈥� Day falls on Feb. 15. And if this year is like previous years, expect popular retailers to host holiday聽sales聽鈥� many of which focus on home goods, such as bedding and small kitchen appliances.
Last year, we saw deals at retailers including聽Wal-Mart and J.C. Penney. For instance, J.C. Penney offered聽discounts of up to 50% on select home products.
Skip: Small electronics
Finally, avoid purchasing small consumer electronics this month. Items such as聽laptops, computers, tablets and video game consoles are best bought in November, during Black Friday sales.
If you鈥檙e hoping for a great deal on a聽smartphone, consider waiting until after September. That鈥檚 when Apple is expected to release its newest iPhone聽and聽lower prices on older聽models.
This article first appeared at .
