January Is the Best Month To Buy These 16 Things

If you were lucky enough to get cash or gift cards for your holiday presents, January might be the month to head to the store.

A great way to save money shopping is to take advantage of post-holiday sales that can bring big discounts on a wide variety of items.

Bargain hunters will find some of the best deals on the following items in January.

If your Christmas tree is looking ragged or you need to restock your supply of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa candles, snag them and other holiday decor at a huge discount in January.

Later in the month, the savings tend to increase, allowing you to keep more money in your wallet. However, the inventory may be more picked over by that time.

Over the course of the year, you might need wrapping paper for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and other gift-giving occasions.

By focusing on generic prints and colors that aren’t holiday-specific, you can get a supply of marked-down holiday wrapping paper to use all year round for pennies on the dollar.

Big-box stores push small kitchen appliances hard during holidays. But not all of these blenders, air fryers, instant pots, and toaster ovens sell.

Stores often discount surplus inventory around New Year’s. So, if you need a new kitchen gadget, you could get a bargain if you shop during January sales

With the new year comes new resolutions, and many people pledge to get into better physical shape.

As such, January is prime time for deals on gym memberships. Many fitness centers reduce or waive sign-up fees during January to attract folks looking to start exercising.

Don’t fancy working out in public? January sales extend to in-home fitness equipment, too.

Treadmills, ellipticals, barbells, and even bathroom scales go on sale around New Year’s. Also, look for deals on athletic clothing.

As part of a longstanding tradition, bedroom and bathroom linens go on sale in January as part of a “white sale.”

In 1878, John Wanamaker of a Philadelphia department store created the white sale to promote bed linens that typically had slow sales during the time of the year.

Luckily, the trend has continued, making it easy for consumers to get bargains on towels, sheets, and other bed and bath essentials.

You can get holiday beauty products at a hefty discount if you don’t mind evergreen-scented lotion or candy cane-flavored lip balm.

Not all these stocking stuffers sell during the holidays, and stores are eager to offload scents such as hot cocoa to make way for spring florals.

Practically every big-box store’s Black Friday ad has a big-screen TV as a major promotional item. Once the holiday buying frenzy is over, unsold TVs are ripe for markdowns.

So, if you’re looking to upgrade your tech, January is a good month to do it.

You might not think about Valentine's for your loved ones as early as New Year’s, but you can save a lot of money if you order flowers early.

Flowers may not be at rock-bottom prices in January, but they will almost certainly go up in February. You can postpone the delivery date until closer to Valentine’s Day, so your gift won’t be out of season.

Fine jewelry is a classic Christmas and Valentine’s Day gift. You can score substantial savings by threading the needle between these two holidays and purchasing leftover Christmas jewelry to give to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.

Be warned, though, that this trend of January jewelry purchases is catching on. In January 2023, jewelry sales increased 6.5% from the previous year, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.

Clothing sales are cyclical, and markdowns on jackets, gloves, and other cozy winter clothes start after the holidays.

This can be an excellent way for parents with children to pick up next year’s coat, boots, and fuzzy pajamas at a steep discount.

We don’t often think of the depths of winter as an ideal time to buy fruits and vegetables, but many of our grocery store favorites are grown in warm climates.

Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit don’t mature until late fall or early winter, so January is their peak season and an ideal time to buy them at a great price.

The same is true for avocados and root vegetables such as beets, carrots, and yams.

Everything from sprinkles to muffin tins goes on sale after the holiday baking season comes to a close.

Retailers are anxious to get these items off the shelves to make room for healthier options that become popular around New Year’s Day.

Who says you can only eat chocolate gelt and candy canes in December? Holiday-themed candies are often the first items with prices that go on the chopping block in January.

Some of these sales start the day after Christmas, so act quickly to stock up for your sweet tooth.

Not every toy will make it under a Christmas tree. Those that don’t move to the clearance section, where you can adopt them for much less money than you would pay otherwise.

Consider stocking up on heavily discounted toys for your child’s next birthday.

January is the doldrums for the travel industry. It’s after the hustle and bustle of the holidays but long before spring and summer break.

That makes January a great time to save on travel. Flights and cruises tend to be significantly less expensive in January than at many other times of the year.

Gas prices also tend to be lower in winter, making it the perfect time to take a road trip.

Don’t blow all of your budget in December: Instead, leave a little wiggle room for the bargains that January brings.

After New Year’s is an ideal time to stock up on many products at bottom-dollar prices that help you to get ahead financially. If you’re keen on getting the most bang for your buck, keep your eyes out for sales and markdowns in January.