The arrival of spring is a wonderful time of year, but holidays and warm weather can make it tempting to splurge.
While you may need to pick up a few items for your spring cleaning session or your kids’ Easter baskets, there are others that you should probably hold off on purchasing. Find out what to stop wasting money on in April and when to purchase them instead.
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Mattresses
Unless you absolutely need one, hold off on getting a new mattress in April.
Mattresses are big-ticket items that are usually heavily discounted during holiday sales, and Memorial Day is just around the corner in May. Wait a month or so, and you can get a good deal on a great mattress.
Spring holiday decor
Try to avoid buying major spring holiday supplies during spring in general. Retailers generally mark up seasonal items until the season has passed.
It might be tempting to grab those cute Easter decor items, but wait until the holiday passes and stock up when prices are lowest.
Cars
Again, unless you absolutely need a car, try and wait until a major sales event, like Memorial Day, rolls around to get a new vehicle.
Especially in the current market, with car prices at record highs, it’s better to wait until those sticker prices are slashed to make such a large financial commitment.
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TVs and electronics
As with most major purchases, waiting until a sales event is a smart money-saving move. The same can be said for TVs and electronics like computers, tablets, smart devices, and cameras.
Also, new models are usually released during the spring and summer, so prices are bound to be higher. For big-ticket electronics purchases, try to wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Large appliances
With the exception of your refrigerator or stove breaking, it’s a good idea to wait until Memorial Day or the Fourth of July to purchase any major appliances.
Holiday sales can save you hundreds. And consider looking for opportunities to bundle with other appliances for even more savings.
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Small appliances
Even though they’re not as much of a financial commitment, you should avoid buying smaller appliances during April and wait until a sales season as well.
If you wait until Memorial Day, you can get a better item for the same price or less than you were going to spend.
Grills
Warm April weather brings on the start of cookout season, but you should hold off on buying a grill anytime soon.
In early spring, grill prices tend to skyrocket as demand increases and then plateau over the summer. However, if you wait until the end of the season, you’ll likely get a much better deal.
Outdoor furniture
If you’re in the market for new patio furniture, April is not the time to buy. Prices for patio furniture and other outdoor supplies will likely drop during late summer when retailers need to make room for fall seasonal items.
Again, wait until the end of the season, towards the beginning and middle of fall, when prices start to drop.
Summer clothes
The first day of warm weather in April will have you itching to stock up on new summer trends, but try and hold off.
These pieces will be overpriced as seasonal clothes roll out. If you have enough warm-weather staples in your closet, be selective when purchasing new clothes or use those shopping dollars to buy discounted winter clothing for the following year.
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Swimsuits
Similarly, refrain from buying swimwear first thing in April. Pools won’t open until May at the earliest, and odds are you have plenty of swimsuits that will do just fine.
It can be tempting to snag new finds as soon as they’re rolled out in stores but hold off until May or June when you know how many swimsuits you’ll need, what you’ll need them for, and so on. Or, ideally, wait until the end of summer and stock up for next year at discounted prices.
Mother’s Day gifts
Unless you have something specific in mind, wait to get Mother’s Day gifts until the actual date is closer.
Traditional gifts, like flowers, sweets, and so on, will be discounted closer to the actual holiday, so it's a good idea to wait until May.
Bottom line
April is a month for transitioning from cold, dreary weather to sunny skies and warm temperatures. It can be tempting to go overboard with new electronics, refurbish your patio, or refresh your wardrobe.
However, waiting for sales just around the corner in May and July will save you money in the long run. Use this time to take stock of what you have and what you actually need so you can save on everyday essentials now and shop smarter when those sales do arrive.
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