Best things to buy in February

Every month of the year, certain items are discounted due to overstock, holiday sales, or transitions from one season to the next. Here are the shopping highlights for January in Hawai’i stores. Of course, we think the best way to save money is not to spend it! But, when you need or want to, plan your spending to take advantage of the times of the year when what you buy is at the lowest possible price.

Special events with shopping discounts and deals in February include Super Bowl Sunday (February 12, 2023) and President’s Day weekend (February 17-20, 2023).

February is a good month to consider a new bike purchase – photo by guppys via iStockphotos by Getty Images

Discounted and seasonal items to buy in February

Perfume and cologne

January is usually a better month to buy perfumes on sale, due to leftover stock from the holidays. However, ahead of Valentine’s Day, you may find new scents being introduced at discounted prices or (more likely) find bonus fragrance products (buy the cologne, get the matching lotion for free).

Mattresses

The three best months to buy a mattress are February, May, and September.

Electronics

While February isn’t the best time to buy computers and televisions (November tends to be the best time of the year for all electronics) there are some exceptions:

Cameras: February (as well as November) is one of the best times of the year to consider a camera purchase.
TV and home theaters: The week before Super Bowl you might find a deal on new televisions and home theater systems—but be sure you know your prices, as sometimes these are impulse buys that are NOT a good deal.
Closeouts: Also keep an eye out for closeout prices on last year’s models for all types of electronics: TVs, smartphones, computers, laptops, and tablets.

Bicycles

Prices for bicycles tend to be best in the fall, September-October. However, new model bikes will be arriving in stores soon, so you might find closeout prices on last year’s models for anything from a tyke’s bike to an electric two-wheeler. Or maybe a good deal on a used bike that someone is selling to trade up.

Image: DIY Valentine card making via Depositphotos_38934129

New products to buy in February

Valentine’s Day Gifts and Entertainment

Actually, the best time to buy Valentine’s Day gifts is before February! Prices tend to rise on typical gifts (flowers, chocolates, jewelry) the closer you get to February 14.

President’s Day Sales

Every 3-day weekend holiday is generally a good time to shop. However, February is a slow retail month, so deals are slimmer than most other months of the year. Still, it can be a good time to check your “wish list” and look for discounted items or at least compare prices.

Avocados

Super Bowl Weekend is one of the best times of the year to buy avocados–people like to make guacamole for football parties. The fastest way I know to make a great “guac” are to mash one (or two) avocados with about one cup of red salsa (your favorite brand or recipe) or salsa verde (tomatillo salsa). If you want to feel like you put in more effort, chop a couple tablespoons of fresh cilantro and/or green onions and stir them in.

If you want to make your guacamole from scratch, try these Guacamole Recipes (avocadosfrommexico.com). If you are a newbie to avocado prep, find out All About Hass Avocados (californiaavocado.com). If you end up with leftover avocados, learn these easy Avocado preserving methods (homepreservingbible.com).

Canned Foods

Since February is National Canned Food Month, grocery stores will offer some of the best prices of the year on all sorts of canned foods, from beans and meats to vegetables and fruits. It’s best to buy only those foods you already like and use.

Look for manufacturer coupons for your favorite brands to save even more and stock up your kitchen pantry. Most canned foods can be stored up to two years, if they are kept in a cool, dry place.