Best things to buy in January

Every month of the year, certain items are discounted due to overstock, holiday sales, or transitions from one season to the next. Here are the shopping highlights for January in Seattle-Tacoma area stores.

Of course, we think the best way to save money is not to spend it. But, when you need or want to, plan your spending to take advantage of the times of the year when what you buy is at the lowest possible price.

• Special events with shopping discounts and deals in January include Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday, January 16, 2023) and Lunar New Year (January 22, 2023).

Discounted seasonal items to buy in January

Christmas items

Most of the leftover Christmas décor is already gone, such as lights, ornaments, holiday kitchen gadgets and serving pieces, holiday gift wrap, and greeting cards. But if you identified some needs for next year and have the room to store it, definitely peruse the discount aisle and check over what’s left.

Retail gift cards

Retailers push gift card sales until Christmas but may be sitting on excess gift cards now. Check your favorite stores and restaurants and stock up if you find a gift card deal you know you’ll use (or gift) before the expiration date. (You always check these details when you buy gift cards, right?)

Desk and wall calendars

You’ll find discounts on desk and wall calendars for the current year towards the end of January and closeout prices in February on leftover stock.

Dressy party clothes

Leftover cocktail dresses and other party attire from Christmas and New Year’s celebrations will be marked down. So, think ahead to weddings you might be attending this year or for next year’s holiday season or any other expected need for sparkly, festive attire.

Toys and video games

There may be some deals on leftover toys and games. But retailers also often raise prices back to pre-holiday levels. Before Christmas is usually the best time to buy many types of toys (except those for summer play). But I like to find the discount shelf in any store and see if there is anything on my “need to buy” list.

Beauty product and perfume gift sets

Beauty products and perfumes are popular for Christmas. Leftovers may be deeply discounted. Think ahead to Mother’s Day, graduation, and birthday gifts you might need.

Sweaters and cashmere

Retailers begin closeouts on sweaters and cashmere. If you are in the market for a new ugly Christmas sweater, the ugliest ones should be leftover and deeply discounted! Prices on all sweaters will continue to drop through January and February. So, unless you have an upcoming event to buy for or a certain color or style in mind, then sweater prices will be lower later. However, as with most seasonal items, the selection will continue to dwindle as prices drop, so you risk not finding anything at all if you have a specific need in mind.

Winter sports gear

The winter season is getting underway. Many people purchase their winter gear by Christmas, so retailers start to discount current supply. Remember that the annual Seattle Ski Bonkers winter gear sale of new and used items is Labor Day weekend—-which is one of the best times in our region to buy for winter, perhaps trading in your current gear.

Televisions and home electronics

The January Consumer Electronics Show (CES) show in Las Vegas is usually the time when new technology is introduced. After CES, there is often leftover stock from Christmas that didn’t sell out and will be discounted leading up to Super Bowl Sunday…which is always the second Sunday in February. This goes for TVs as well as other home electronics, including “smart home”, surveillance, lighting, and energy-saving equipment. You’ll likely find video games discounted, too.

Furniture, carpeting and flooring

At the beginning of the year, furniture and flooring retailers may have discounted floor models and discount prices on leftover stock. With home & garden shows coming up, it’s a good time to consider purchases of remodeling and redecorating supplies and services.

New products to buy in January

Free days in Washington State Parks

Free park entrance days occur throughout the year, including New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, both holidays in January.

Valentine’s Day Flowers

If you normally send flowers—especially long-stemmed roses—for Valentine’s Day, order and pay for them by mid-January and you will likely see better prices than if you wait until February.

Gym memberships and fitness equipment

Many people make New Year’s resolutions that include getting healthy and keeping fit through diet and exercise. So, we’ve got 10 frugal ways to stay fit without spending a lot of money on gym memberships.

Many gym and health clubs also take the opportunity to offer deals and packages on membership. The investment can provide additional incentive to stick to a healthy living mindset. So, it’s a good time to consider a gym membership or CrossFit program.

Active wear and exercise accessories

Along with gym memberships, find deals on yoga pants and tights, dance wear and warm-ups, sweats and hoodies, athletic socks, sports bras, and sweat bands. Plus, find discounts on related exercise gear such gym bags, stretch bands, dumbbells, etc.

Business clothes

January tends to be one of the best months to buy a new business suit. You’ll find closeouts on the last of the holiday and party attire, new clothes for spring (think layering pieces, casual Friday), and other pieces suitable for office and retail workplaces. Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend sales are a great time for all types of clothing. 

Organizing and storage supplies

You might find closeout prices on red and green storage boxes. January is also a good time to buy all sorts of organizing accessories: storage bins, clothes hangers, drawer organizers, shoe racks, shoe boxes, and more.

Bedding & bath towels

“White sales” take place in January. The term originated in the 1880s, when retailers held sales of white linen bed sheets. Today, you can find discounts on all types of bedroom and bathroom “linens”, including sheets, pillows, pillow covers (allergies, anyone?), blankets and comforters, mattress pads, and bath towels.

Winter Fruits & Vegetables

The best deals are always local, in season produce. Of course, nothing is actively growing in the Northwest from November-March. But there are deals to be had on local storage crops, as well as seasonal produce from national growers. Check out the following:

• Washington Grown vegetables seasonal chart: bok choy, kale, chard, mizuna, leeks, onions, parsnips, celeriac, potatoes, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes, winter squash, and root vegetables (carrots, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, and turnips).
• Washington Grown Fruits & Herbs seasonal chart: apples, pears, frozen berries and cranberries, dry beans, garlic, fresh and dry herbs.
• National growers seasonal produce guide: avocados, bananas, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, citrus fruits (grapefruits, lemons, oranges, pomelos, tangerines), and pineapple.

Wheels & Watercraft

If Santa didn’t bring you a new car, it’s still a good time to buy some new transportation. January can be a good time to find a used car, because buyers who got that new Christmas ride will want to sell their old vehicle.

Winter is also a good time to buy a new motorcycle. When the weather is dreary, nothing could cheer you more than visiting a motorcycle showroom to start checking prices and dreaming of a summer road trip. However, if you plan to buy a used motorcycle, we suggest you wait until spring, when the new buyers are unloading their old hog.

If a bicycle is your idea of the best ride, spring through fall is the best time to buy—earlier for more selection and later for lowest price. But almost any time of year, you can peruse the closeout section of any bike shop (online or brick and mortar) to find a good deal on a good ride.

The big Seattle Boat Show is the West Coast’s Largest Boat Show featuring more than 1,000 recreational watercraft. At the show, you can find almost any type of watercraft that floats from stand-up paddleboards to superyachts and everything in between. The Seattle Boat Show also has acres of accessories, all the latest gear, and dozens of free boating and fishing seminars. The Boat Show begins in late January or early February, usually the 10 days leading up to Superbowl Sunday, which is the second Sunday in February.

Cruises and vacations

January-March is a good time to shop for cruises and vacations later this year. Planning a vacation during cold, winter months is great, because you get to travel vicariously while planning and enjoy the trip a second time when you travel. How fun is that?

In a normal year (which we hope 2023 will be), you want to book early for a spring cruise to Mexico or the Caribbean to find extras and incentives on shore excursions, upgrades, and on-board credit. However, cruise trip prices are usually lower for Caribbean cruises September-December because that’s hurricane season (in which case, buy travel insurance and confirm details carefully). Of course, the cruise industry is still in great flux, so you may want to pass on a cruise in 2023 altogether or book one later this year for 2024 or wait and see how the year progresses.

Winter is also a great time to book a summer vacation. You can typically find package deals on hotels and airfares to many locales. For 2023 you will likely find special deals as the country and popular destinations around the world return to “normal”.

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