DECEMBER
Annual Sales And Seasonal Discounts Calendar
A List Of Sales For Clothing, Automobiles, Furniture, Appliances
Computers, Televisions, Audio-Visual Equipment
Plus Fruits and Vegetables
Frugal Living Tips
--CHEAPER AROUND CHRISTMAS
Some things are actually cheaper during the season. It's that old supply and demand thing. 7 1/2 watt Christmas tree lights can cost as little as 10 cents apiece. These are the same lights that go into nite lights (usually white or clear) that many people use to illuminate their hallways. Yet if you go to a store for a nit elight bulb you can pay as much as 70 cents apiece. So buy a bunch.
The same is true for candles. If you like to burn a candle or two other times of the year, you will pay a small fortune. Yet at Christmas, candles are cheap. We live in an area where the power seems to get knocked out during a hurricane or a winter storm so having a supply of candles is very comforting.
Stock up on these two items and buy enough to last you until this time next year.
--FREE CALENDARS, PLANNERS
You can often find free calendars at restaurants, hardware stores, utility companies and many other locations. You may be able to find quite a variety including desk calendars, small wallet size calendars about the size of a business card and even some on bamboo such as we got from a Chinese restaurant or full wall calendars with phases of the moon and Farmer's Almanac type information.
Also banks and tax services often give out a number of different record keeping books. For example, free planners may be available from banks, but often you have to ask. Tax log booklets for recording tax deductible expenses are often free from tax services.
- BEWARE: When you exchange or get a refund for a Christmas gift make sure that you get what you're owed:
- #1. Get a refund or credit for the price that was really paid. Since so many items go on sale right after Christmas, clerks may only credit you for the current sale price, not the actual price that was paid. This is not proper. Insist on getting a full credit or refund.
- #2. Make sure that any tax is also refunded. Stores have a way of "fogetting" to refund the tax.
BEWARE: Jewelry stores often promote big sales around Christmas, but the savings are often not much more than the regular price. Don't be fooled.
TYPICAL ANNUAL SALES: The day *AFTER* Christmas prices drop dramatically. We suggest parents give their kids some cash to spend on sales during this time period. Items like bathrobes and sweaters can be cut in half along with other Christmas items.
MAJOR PURCHASES TYPICALLY ON SALE:
December: Don't buy anything around Christmas.
TRAVEL: Early December is a great time to go to Florida when it is often a good bargain and less crowded.
NOTE: With some produce now available all during the year, many people have forgotten when fruits and vegetables are really fresh. Buying in season means that these items are often cheaper, fresher, taste better and that money may be going to local farmers.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES: apples, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, cranberries, endive, grapefruit, kale, mushrooms, oranges, parsley, rutabagas, winter squash, turnips.
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