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The Best Things to Buy in September


Summer may be slowly drawing to a close, but that doesn't mean September can't still be awesome. Soothe your summer sadness by getting in on great deals this month.

Every month, we look back at the best times to buy anything during the year, and pull out items each month to remind you what's coming. Obviously, none of this is to say you should go on a shopping spree—but if you've been holding off for a lower price on something, these are the things that get the sale treatment in September.

All Summer

  • Computers: Digital Trends notes that most new computers come out in June, since Intel and AMD are ramping up for their new stuff. If you want the latest and greatest, now's the time to buy, but if you're okay with last year's models—that might have slightly lower graphics power and battery life—you can probably catch them at a discount while all the new stuff rolls out. Lots of sales are geared for back to school, too, so you may be able to find some discounts there—especially if you can get your hands on a student discount (even if you aren't a student).

September

  • Appliances: Refrigerators are best bought in May, but for all other appliances, look no further than September and October. Most new models start coming out around this time, says Bankrate, so pick up last year's leftovers at a discount.

  • Bicycles: Cycling season is drawing to a close, and manufacturer's are announcing next years models this month, says Bicycling.com. Those two things coupled together equal great deals on last year's bikes for you to ride all throughout the winter. (Of course, if you want to go really cheap, you could just buy one on Craigslist.)

  • Cars: According to Consumer Reports, auto manufacturers start rolling out next year's models at the end of the summer, which means they're starting to clear out the older ones. If you don't mind getting a 2014 model, you can probably get a good deal right now—especially if you haggle down the price. Buy at the very end of the month for even more savings.

  • Lawnmowers: You probably won't be mowing the lawn once it's freezing outside, so stores are getting rid of their summer gear in favor of winter-oriented items (since, as Forbes says, no one wants to store all that stuff). Grab that new lawnmower now for the best price.

  • Holiday Airfare: The best airfare deals come eight weeks before you travel, which means that September is the month to start buying your plane tickets for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other end-of-year holidays. It's just one more way to make sure you have the perfect, stress-free vacation. Make sure you hack those prices even further for a cheap ticket home.

  • School Supplies: Back to school sales have been going on for awhile, but now that school's actually starting for everyone, you may discover a few things you forgot to buy. As we mentioned last month, you can often find them for even less in September, since the sales are starting to come to an end.

  • Wine: Harvest season is in full swing, says Forbes, and most winemakers are releasing new stuff, so now's the time to stock up. Grab enough, and you'll have enough extra to try out that oh-so-intriguing hyperdecanting technique to make it taste better.

We'll be posting updates for you guys every month, so you're aware of the deals going on all year round. If you're curious to see what's coming up, you can always check out our full best time to buy guide to see the entire year at a glance. And, if you know of any deals we didn't mention, share them in the comments below.