Key takeaways:
Timing your big purchases throughout the year can unlock serious savings, since many high-cost items follow predictable sales cycles driven by supply and demand.
Setting SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound — gives you a clear deadline and helps you budget and save well before you buy.
Buckets and boosters in an Ally Bank Savings Account help you organize goals and automate your savings, so you're ready when the right deal arrives.
Everyone loves a deal. Between coupons, discount codes and blowout sales, there's no shortage of tricks to shave a few dollars off your shopping list. But one of the most reliable ways to land the lowest price is mapping out the right time to buy — especially for higher-cost items. Keep an eye on the calendar and you could spend less on everything from cars and furniture to wedding rings and your next home.
Every sale has its season
When you're gearing up for a major purchase, don't rush it. For many items, the time of year makes a real difference on the price tag. Many of these deals come down to simple supply and demand. Products like kitchen appliances, bikes, boats and more move through sales cycles based on consumer interest. When demand dips below supply, or when sellers are ready to clear out last year's models, prices tend to drop. A little extra research can go a long way toward finding the best timing for your wallet.
Your major purchase calendar
Here’s a month-by-month breakdown for some of the best times to buy these big-ticket items:
Month | Big-ticket item(s) |
|---|---|
January | House, bedding and linens, fitness equipment, TVs |
February | House, jewelry, mattresses, appliances |
March | Winter clothing and gear, luggage |
April | Outdoor and garden items, grills, vacuums |
May | Mattresses, appliances, patio furniture, baby gear |
June | Electronics, tools |
July | Appliances, electronics |
August | Laptops, back-to-school tech, mattresses, patio furniture |
September | Smartphones, mattresses, appliances |
October | Mattresses, outdoor tools, kitchen appliances |
November | Electronics, TVs, laptops, appliances |
December | House, car |
Save the SMART way
Even if you snag a great deal, you may still need to play ahead for a big purchase. A clear, reasonable deadline can help you budget and save well before you buy. That's where the SMART framework comes in — it stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Here's how it might look for a big purchase:
Specific: Define your goal — "save $6,000 for a used car."
Measurable: Break it into monthly targets — for example, $500 a month for 12 months.
Achievable: Trim spending or automate transfers so the amount fits your budget.
Relevant: Prioritize the goal that matters most to you right now.
Time-bound: Set a firm deadline — "buy by next October."
The more time you have to build up funds, the less you'll stash away each month. Setting SMART goals can help you balance your priorities while saving for different phases of life, growing your emergency fund or planning a vacation.
Preparing for your purchases is key
Planning your purchases also lets you put different strategies and savings tools to work. That's where buckets and boosters — both features of an Ally Bank Savings Account — come in. Buckets are like customizable digital envelopes that let you set multiple goals and keep them separated, all while still viewing them in one place. You can create up to 30 savings buckets, each dedicated to a different goal — a new car, a kitchen renovation, a wedding ring — and set a target amount and date for each.
Boosters, meanwhile, accelerate your ability to save by automating the heavy lifting. Surprise Savings analyzes your linked checking account for safe-to-save money and moves it to savings, while Round Ups rounds your purchases to the nearest dollar and transfers the spare change once you've accrued $5.
Spend with confidence
A major purchase can be exciting — and getting a good deal on something you've been saving toward makes it even more rewarding. When a big item lands on your wish list, remember to plan ahead, set goals and leverage smart savings tools to your advantage.
