What to Buy When: April

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April showers bring May flowers, right? And April also brings great savings–as long as you know what to buy when. Remember, it pays to know your sales cycles.

What is a Sales Cycle?

The rotation of featured sale prices is called a sales cycle, and it’s important to know about because it will save you money. Three to four times a year, nearly every grocery item will go on sale at its rock-bottom price. Saving the most money means that you will make your purchases when that item is at its lowest price, and you will buy enough of that item to last you until the next time it goes on sale at its lowest price. For example, when I find toothpaste on sale for $1, I usually have a coupon to pair with that sale, making it free. I will stock up on toothpaste so that I have enough to last my family until the next time it goes on sale (in about three months).

What is on sale in April?

There are certain items, however, that only go on sale in April. This year, Easter falls in April. The deals on Easter candy and dressy spring clothing won’t cycle around again until next April. It’s important to know how to budget so that your purchasing dollars are ready to stock up on these items—buying enough to last you over the next twelve months.

At the Grocery

During April, you’ll find sales on:

Easter Seal theme – Find coupons and other promotions

Earth Day — In celebration of Earth Day, you will find lots of good deals on organic foods this month. Be sure to read my post, 8 Tips for Eating Organic on a Budget HERE.

Eggs – for coloring and for baking, be sure to stock up on eggs the week before Easter. Learn How to Freeze Eggs HERE. I’ve also got tons of Freezer-Friendly Egg Recipes HERE.

Asparagus

Butter

Coconut

Horseradish

Jewish/Passover items: Kosher foods

*Find corresponding coupons on Coupons.com and my Coupon Database.

April In-Season Produce –Click on the links to go straight to great recipes!

Asparagus
Avocado — See all my Avocado recipes HERE.
Basil — Tomato Basil Soup, Basil Pesto, Tomato and Basil Bruschetta, Basil and Lemon Spaghetti
Beans — Northern Beans and Corn Cakes
Beets
Berries — Now’s the time to make healthy, great-tasting smoothies!
Broccoli — Oven Roasted Broccoli
Cabbage — Cabbage Soup, Bierocks (Cabbage and Beef Pockets)
Chinese Cabbage
Cucumbers – Cucumber Sandwich, Carrot and Cucumber Ponzu Salad
Radishes
Head or Iceberg Lettuce
Mangoes — Mango Avocado Salad with Cumin Dressing
Okra
Sweet Oranges — Any Fruit Smoothie
Papayas
Peas
Chile Peppers
Sweet Peppers
Rhubarb
Shallots
Spinach
Summer Squash — Summer Squash Pasta
Turnips/Turnip Greens — Learn How to Cook Turnip Greens HERE

*Print out my full listing on my Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables Chart. (Post it as a reference on your refrigerator.)

National Sales Events

April is a month with several National Events going on.* Keep your eyes open for sales that are promoting:

April Fool’s Day – Sunday, April 1st
Easter – Sunday, April 8th
Income Tax Day – Since the 15th falls on a weekend, this year Income taxes are due on Tuesday, April 17th.
Earth Day – Sunday, April 22nd
Arbor Day – Friday, April 27th

*SOURCE: Holiday Insights

Clearance Items

Easter decor and candy will be on sale the week after Easter. Don’t miss this opportunity to get Easter decorations, table linens, and baskets.

DO BUY:

Computers
Digital cameras
Lawn mowers
Spring clothing (Lower selection but higher discounts will come next month.)
Home Improvement
Jewelry – If you’re planning on giving gifts of jewelry for Mother’s Day next month, the time to buy is now. Jewelry, while promoted and “on sale” around Mother’s Day, will not be discounted like it is this month. (SOURCE: Deal News)

Have you always wanted to take a cruise? April is your month! According to DealNews.com, April is the best month to book a cruise.

BUT DON’T BUY:

Indoor furniture
Outdoor furniture
Camcorders
Gas grills

SOURCE: Consumer Reports

You might also like:

Find out What to Buy When Every Month of the Year on Faithful Provisions.

Do you have any tips or sales you look forward to in April? Please share them in the comments below. If you liked this post, please share it on Facebook!

What to Buy When: April