Homeowners guide to get the best products at the best prices

Are you shopping around for furniture for your new house, or want to spruce up your garden? Maybe you just need a few more things for the bathroom? Don't worry, we'll give your our best tips on how to get the most for your money without compromising on quality, every month of the year. Pro tip: buy your Christmas tree in September and your barbecue in October...

With more time spent at home than ever before, Brits were inspired to move and improve in 2020. From tackling those forgotten DIY projects, completing room renovations to swapping the city for the countryside for a change in lifestyle, it was certainly a year of change.

However, in a world of what seems like never ending sales, how can homeowners with a shopping list of essentials ever be sure they are getting a good deal?

As 2021 gets underway, the UK’s leading independent comparison site, PriceRunner, has put together an essential 12 month buyer’s guide for homeowners. Christine Goudlthorp, Consumer Expert at PriceRunner, said: 

This guide has been created following an in-depth analysis of prices on 19,000 products from different product categories, looking at price history between June 2019 to September 2020 across 38 different product categories.

The analysis reveals what month is the best time to buy everyday home essentials, from kitchen appliances, BBQs, beds, lawnmowers, lighting, sofas, curtains and more, to ensure you get the best products at the best prices.

Key highlights from the analysis:

• You could save almost £500 by buying the top 10 most popular products in each category when they are all at their cheapest during the year
• If you’re watching your weight and your bank balance post-Christmas, save on spends with a high tech set of scales for less. Save 11% on the top product in the category, the Garmin Index
• Get set up in the home office for less in January, when nearly a third (27%) of computer monitors are at their lowest price
• Spring may be in the air in February with warmer weather on the horizon, but data analysis highlighted now is the time to buy the best-selling fireplace. A feature focal point in any living room, there is a 71% price difference to be enjoyed this month.
• With two Bank Holiday’s, May might be the traditional time for home makeovers, gardening, and DIY, but according to our insights, of all 19,000 products analysed, none were at their cheapest in May.
• We’re hoping for a sporting summer, with plenty to watch on the box. Be prepared to watch in stunning high definition, with many of the leading TVs at their lowest prices in June.
• In July, it’s all about the whitegoods. From dishwashers, ovens, fridges, freezers to tumble dryers, make the most of the summer sales, saving you to 20% on the top selling products, meaning you’ll get the best, for less.
• Thinking about Christmas in September? Good on you. If you want to prepare ahead of time, buy your artificial Christmas tree now as you will find the highest number of low-priced trees before the Christmas whirlwind starts.
• As retailers clear out older models from the past year in October to make room for new one’s next spring, now is the time to get a great deal on a BBQ.
• With the annual Black Friday event, November has been officially revealed as the best time to buy many items for your home, with a number of products at their absolute lowest price on this day during the whole year.
• Save a whopping 337% on the bestselling web camera in November, when prices drop to under £20, compared to its steepest price of £83
• Save 64% on the most popular patio heater if you buy in December, compared to its most expensive month

Homeowners buying guide, January to December…

January

What to buy:

• Computer monitors – 27% at lowest price this month
• Printers – January – 16% at lowest price this month
• Lamps – 11% at lowest price this month
• Bathroom scales – 10% at lowest price this month

Biggest savings to be made on: – Bathroom scales

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive month – 26%

Why to buy this month: After the Black Friday and Boxing Day sales have ended is usually a good time to invest in new home tech, as prices in January continue to drop on many items in this category and become even cheaper than during the sales.

February

What to buy:

• Fireplaces – 19% at lowest price this month
• Garden Power Tools – 13% at lowest price this month

Biggest savings to be made on – Fireplaces
How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive month – 15%

Why to buy this month: Plan ahead! Grab things for your garden early on in the year, before shops have re-stocked their supplies and raised prices, as things like garden power tools will have the highest amount of lowest prices in February.

March

What to buy:

• Cookers - 13% at lowest price this month

Biggest savings to be made on – Cookers

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive month - 14%

Why to buy this month: Most cookers are at their very cheapest early in the year, so you can save a lot by make sure to buy before suppliers get the newest models onto shop shelves, just remember to compare prices first.

April

What to buy:

• Hot tubs – 50% at lowest price this month

Biggest savings to be made on – Hot tubs

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive month - 18%

Why to buy this month: Planning for a sizzling summer? Get products like hot tubs before summer temperatures start rising and shops think about stocking our favourite summer products, as hot hubs are generally cheapest in April.

May

What to buy: Out of all 19,000 products analysed, none had the most amount of cheap prices in May. There will of course still be good deals to make on individual products, however if you can avoid this month then try to do so, if not always compare prices before you buy.

June

What to buy:

• TV’s – 16% at lowest price this month
• Routers – 12% at lowest price this month

Biggest savings to be made on – Routers

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive month – 23%

Why to buy this month: Some home tech such as TV’s and routers are best to buy mid-year ahead of the summer sales and Black Friday, contrary to popular belief, reaching the largest number of lowest prices in June.

July

What to buy:

• Dishwashers – 21%
• Ovens – 17%
• Lawn Mowers – 15%
• Freezers – 15%
• Fridge Freezers – 14%  
• Cooktops – 13%
• Tumble Dryers – 11%
• Vacuum cleaners – 9%

Biggest savings to be made on – Vacuum cleaners

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive month - 19%

Why to buy this month: The summer sale is on! No point waiting for Black Friday as July is a great month to buy new whitegoods such as dishwashers, tumble tryers and freezers as retailers discount a lot of high value products during the summer.

August

What to buy:

• Garden power tools – 12%

• Fans – 11%

Biggest savings to be made on – Garden power tools
How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive –11%

Why to buy this month: With summer temperatures rising to higher levels, August is a great time to buy certain new power tools for your garden as retailers will lower their prices after the summer sale has ended.

September

What to buy:

• Carpets & Rugs – 30%
• Christmas trees – 16%
• Home cinema systems – 10%

Biggest savings to be made on – Home cinema systems

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive – 22%

Why to buy this month: Thinking about Christmas in September? Good on you. If you want to prepare ahead of time, buy your artificial Christmas tree now as you will find the highest number of low-priced trees before the Christmas whirlwind starts.

October

What to buy:

• BBQ’s – 5%

Biggest savings to be made on – BBQ’s

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive – 4%

Why to buy this month: Some summer items like BBQ’s can be bought at their very cheapest in October compared to many other months, as retailers clear out older models from the past year to make room for new ones next spring.

November

What to buy:

• Sofas and desks – 14%
• Web cameras – 13%
• Outdoor furniture – 11%
• Steam irons – 11%
• Toasters – 11%
• Kettles – 10%
• Coffee makers – 9%
• Washing machines – 9%

Biggest savings to be made on – Web cameras

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive - 28%

Why to buy this month: November means Black Friday! Many items you might need for your home will reach their absolute lowest price on this day during the whole year, others at certain points during Black Week. Just remember to always compare prices before you buy to be sure.

December

What to buy:

• Patio heaters & parasols – 18% 
• Beds & Mattresses – 14%
• Curtains – 14%
• Microwaves - 12%
• Speakers – 11%

Biggest savings to be made on – Patio heaters

How much could you save on average if you bought the product with the biggest savings in the cheapest month compared to the most expensive - 23%

Why to buy this month: December is generally a great month to shop as prices keep dropping after Black Friday ahead of the Boxing Day sales. If you want to invest in a good nights’ sleep, you will find the highest amount of cheap prices on beds and matrasses at the end of the year.

Set up price alerts, compare best products and the latest deals, at Pricerunner.com.

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