Oh, April, you cherry-blossom-imbued harbinger of summer to come. When the warmer weather hits, many of us feel the urge to get out of the house and get some exercise, and what better exercise than that American tradition, shopping? Here are some suggestions on what to buy in April.
Cruises
April is a shoulder season, and deals can be had for last-minute berths on cruise ships, especially in Europe.
Gym memberships
Who wants to be in the gym working out when they can be digging in the dirt in their backyard or taking the bicycle out for a spin on a local trail? This is the slow season for and you should be able to bench-press a hefty discount.
Thrift stores
Spring is the season for house cleaning and it's also the season that house cleaners donate more stuff to thrift stores. Keep an eye on their stock, because you never know when a gem is going to hit the showroom floor. This is also a good time to cruise garage sales, for the same reason. Check out WalletPop's .
RainwearApril showers means that stores stock up on rainwear, but the season isn't very long. Look for sales on slickers, hats and umbrellas later in the month.
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Televisions
The Japanese fiscal year starts April 1, so companies tend to clear out their stock at the end of the year. The result is an inventory glut at the retail level, leading to a commensurate price drop. This is a good time to pick up a big-screen to watch March Madness, which dribbles over into April.
Office furniture
Some people starting new home businesses wait until tax season is over on April 15, and office supply stores often schedule their sales on large pieces of office furniture to catch this wave.
Vacuum cleaners
Spring cleaning demands a good vacuum cleaner, and luckily, this is the time of the year when stores are clearing out stock to make room for the new models. So suck it up and get to cleaning.
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Homes
While you might negotiate a better deal in the winter, spring is when many more houses come on the market. Now you'll have a much better chance to find that perfect home.
CookwareWith weddings coming up and the graduation season looming, merchants traditionally offer some sweet sales on cookware in April.
Snow blowers
Stocks may be scant after a winter like much of the country has enjoyed (not), but stores would rather blow out prices on a snow blower than let them sit idly by for the next six months.
Notebook computers
Josh Smith of Notebooks.com says "April is a great time to buy notebooks because the latest consumer notebooks are finally on store shelves with the new faster Intel and AMD processors. But that also means loads of deals on last year's notebooks which will meet the needs of many users, especially since you can get more bang for your buck." Smith cautions that the Japanese earthquake could disrupt the supply chain and result in higher prices later in the year.