The Great 'Counter Seasonality' Hunt

[MSE Martin]

What’s counter seasonality?

Companies traditionally ramp up prices for products at popular times of year, when they know everyone wants to buy their wares. Yet by doing the exact opposite of what they expect us to do – buying Xmas pressies in January, convertible cars when it’s snowing outside, home insurance the day before Xmas – it’s possible to save a packet. Counter seasonality's buying the right stuff at the wrong time.

What’s this hunt about?

I thought I'd tap MoneySavers knowledge on for the best counter seasonality tips; how to find the cheapest prices by swimming against the tide. To add your ideas, please reply below.

Please put:

The product or service.
The best time to grab it.
The logic behind your idea.

For a full guide to haggling, read the High Street Haggle article.

[lynzpower]

well the natural one is to think of getting your Xmas gear now.

Next clearance had some quality bargains the other day when I was in there

Boxes of cards 20p for 24
Loads of Xmas candle displays going on eg candles surrounded by pinecones, ribbon etc for a quid each

Next clearance is always a good place for swimwear, as was boots clearance loads of kids swimwear, flipflops etc & summer kit for a couple of quid

I got some gift tags from boots for 10p a pack ( for 10) ( boots clearance)

Also to say in Tesco extra theres lots of finest and ambre solaire sun tan lotions around the £2 mark. I believe that sun tan lotion lasts 12 months, so I presume last summers stock - OK if you are going away now or in the spring.

[gromituk]

Mini coolers.
Now.
No-one wants them in the winter.

Example: they're half price (£20) at Woolworths at the moment.

[snowbrow]

I bought a load of bday and xmas pressies yest from asos they've got some great stuff from £1
Plus i also got some flip flops for myself for £1
Plus I used a 10% off code thats lying around here!

[gooismeid]

School uniform is always a biggie for me and I hate the way it gets pushed at us in July/August when we're all in holiday mood. You KNOW your kids need it all year round and that they'll be growing all the time, but many people just buy in August the size that fits the kids at the time they go back to school in September. As soon as you see a special offer in Adams or Ethel Austin or Tesco, buy the basics in several sizes and keep them in the wardrobe, you know they'll get used!

[bluefish]

My friend got jeans at M&S for three pound a pair and lots of other great bargains too. I think they have reduced their sale items further!

[BusyMum]

Tesco have tons of Christmas Cards and wrapping paper for sale at silly prices.

[smartcat04]

A lot of the clothes shops are getting rid of their winter gear. Gonna get next years winter coat in the sales.
Bought a load of christmas socks reduced to 50p from Primark. They may have rudolf on but under my boots nobody sees them and at that price they are 1/4 the cost of the others.

[babybimbles]

School shoes in Clarks in the December Sales


My kids feet seem to grow in half size increments so I've bought them at least two pairs in bigger sizes for the last two years in the Clarks xmas sales as that's the only time they have black shoes on sale! They never have them in the summer sale as they know people will be wanting to buy them in preparation for September.

I've saved quite a bit like this

[deejay62]

I have just done all my Christmas (2007) present shopping at Collectables in Stockton on Tees. As a single mum on benifits I try to limit my expenditure to £7/8 for Adult friends and £5 for any children. (Family do get more spent on them!!) But have bought tree ornaments for £2.50 (and no they are not rubbish ones! They had been £6 each) and bone china trinket boxes (£1.50 reduced from £3) and some gorgeous sentiment boxes with a lovely verse on them and a beautiful friendship angel in them for £5. Normally £13 I'M IN THE MONEY. And I bought half price cards/wrap/tags from Asda. And I'm going to wrap them and write them now! Then I can sit back and enjoy next year. YESSSSS! Happy New Year everyone.

[hostie]

Buy your summer Bikini now in the January sales. I usually get mine in Next for about £3 though it does demand a lot of rummaging to get matching sets in the right size.

[hambrook]

Originally Posted by hostie

Buy your summer Bikini now in the January sales. I usually get mine in Next for about £3 though it does demand a lot of rummaging to get matching sets in the right size.

Thanks for the tip, will look out for one.

Should make the wife's eyes light up poolside on holiday this summer when I strut out in a 2 piece.

[Peartree]

I rarely get much in the clothing sales straight after Xmas. Many of the shops are just selling off their Xmas party type stock and a whole pile of stuff that mysteriously appears in the January sale that you've never seen before if you're familiar with their stock. Leave it until later in January when the decent quality winter stock starts to be sold off to make way for the new spring ranges. I've always done very well indeed doing this - particularly good for winter coats and the like.

Same goes for the summer sales. First wave, by and large, are the slow sellers and tat, second wave the decent stuff!

[sammyhammy]

I agree that it is a great idea to buy Christmas cards, wrap and presents now (my loft is nearly full!).

But, be warned that the Tesco cards have a message on the back stating that they can be recycled until the end of January 2007. If you don't care that people can tell they were cheap - that's fine - but if you are worried about keeping up appearances - be warned.

There are still loads of sun lotion bargains around. I picked up some high spf lotion in Tesco's recent clearance. Just check the best before dates - I've heard that it can lose some protection if it's too old.

[als1805]

I got some excellent bargains in Superdrug today, hair accessories, makeup and costume jewellery between 5p and 40p, shower MP3 player £1.50, USB mini christmas tree 49p, panic alarm/mini radio £1.50. that's this year's Christmas stockings sorted out early - they cost me a fortune to fill last year!

[mineallmine]

2007 Christmas pressies:
Superdrug in Fenchurch St, London had Olay eye-relaxing masks (pink) for...just 1p! They had loads there today.

Apart from the buy lots of Christmas things now, other things/bargains which spring to mind:

The product or service - thermal vests! Not exciting I know but Damart has been having a sale due to the warmer winter (at the moment) which has meant quite a few savings. In the past, I've picked up a few of these during the summer months from M&S at one of the discount shopping villages for just £3. Equally we bought a specialist extra-thick etc etc fleece from a camping shop around Springtime. All handy stuff if you work outside a lot or need to walk the dog come rain or shine.

[Broke Student]

Pankcake mix after pancake day. Not sure what the date on it is like but it appears in the days before pancake day for a sizeable amount of pocket change, but is almost given away for free in the days following.

Same with Halloween costumes. These can be used over and over for years but are less than half price when you buy excess stock following the event.

[lynzpower]

Xmas puds now if theres any left. M&S and waitrose particularly "age well" they taste well better the year after- if you can save it that long!

[Ken68]

Originally Posted by lynzpower

Xmas puds now if theres any left. M&S and waitrose particularly "age well" they taste well better the year after- if you can save it that long!

You beat me to it Linz.....Lidls Christmas puddings were £2.49p, now £1.99 and last year in late January 40pence.
Same with Stollen cakes. They last the year.

[grahawk]

Lawn mowers are often cheapest in the Autumn though these days the grass is still growing. It certainly the best time to buy them. My current £69 mower was bought for £39.