Money Saving Mondays: Autumn Shopping

We’ve all been feeling it some of these cool and crisp mornings lately in New England – the season starting to turn from summer to autumn.

And just like the weather turning, savvy shoppers know that what’s a good deal in stores is turning as well. “September and October are great months to shop, because these are not prime shopping months, so these are great months to get really good deals,’’ says Jon Lal, founder and CEO of BeFrugal.com, a coupons, deals, and cash-back website.

Start with what’s likely to be the single most expensive thing you buy other than a home: A car. “The model-year changeover is happening,’’ Lal said. “So if you want a great deal, get a 2014 in September, and perhaps if you want to squeeze a few extra out of that purchase, do it close to month-end or quarter-end. That would be Sept. 30, when dealers are trying to meet their numbers.’’

Lal said the same logic applies to smartphones. “The new phone models come out in September, like the new iPhones coming out in September, so if you're looking to get a great deal, you may just want to get the old model at a great price in September.’’

If you procrastinated and didn't buy back-to-school clothes, it turns out you were smarter than you may appreciate. “The big shopping season for clothes is over in September and October, so anything that retailers have, they're trying to get rid of,’’ Lal said, and that also includes patio chairs, grills, lawn mowers, and other seasonal items stores are trying to clear out to make way for autumn and winter products.

Lal said if you’ve been thinking about a big item of jewelry, September or October may be a good time to buy, Lal said. “September or October are not gift-giving months. There isn't Valentine's Day or Mother's Day or Christmas or anything like that going on,’’ Lal said.

But at the same time, there are some things you should specifically "not" try to buy in autumn, like televisions or computers. “You're going to want to wait until Black Friday to buy the things that are going to be on sale then as opposed to now,’’ Lal said. “A lot of these things are used as doorbusters and headline items.’’