Money Saving Tips

Have you heard the early bird gets the worm? In a lot of instances that can be the case when it comes to making purchases, but in these five instances it is better to wait until the last minute for the best deal.

1. Sporting Events & Concert Tickets

If you didn’t score tickets at face value when tickets went on sale for your favorite sporting team, band, etc., waiting until the last minute is a good strategy to get tickets at or below face value. Sometimes the venue will release more tickets through their ticket agency like Ticketmaster at the last minute and different ticket agencies are trying to sell last minute tickets. Individuals who also can’t make the event may also try to unload their tickets at the last minute and may be willing to sell it below ticket value because it is better to get something for the tickets than nothing.

Try Craigslist, Ace Tickets (aff. link), as well as other ticket agencies to see if you can get a great last minute deal– or even at the venue itself when the event kicks off. Keep in mind that some online ticket sellers will erase all their seats an hour or two before the show starts, so pay attention to ticket trends to find the best deal for you.

2. Seasonal Items

Holding off until the last minute (or until the season or holiday is over) is a great way to save money. Seasonal items are most expensive when items are in-season or the season beforehand when it is most in demand. If you can hold off or stock up for the next year, getting seasonal items at the last minute when they are on clearance is a great way to save money.

3. Meat and Grocery Items

Buying certain grocery items and meat at the last minute is a great way to save money. Meat and other items found at the grocery store are marked down a lot when it nears it’s expiration date. This is a great way to get food at a deep discount if you are going to eat it very soon or are able to freeze it for later.

4. Flea Market Items

If you are heading to a flea market or yard sale, head there at the last minute if you are looking to get the best buys. Items are deeply discounted because sellers do not want to pack up the items nor throw them away, and would like to make a little something instead. Inventory may be less, but the deals are best at the end of the day.

5. Farmers Market & Produce

Similar to flea market items, you can receive the best deals at a Farmer’s Market at the end of the day because sellers would like to get rid of the produce. Although produce isn’t always delicious at the last minute, but you can find good deals right before they expire. However, heading to a Farmer’s Market at the end of the day is a great way to get delicious produce at a great price.

Do you have any things to wait until the last minute to buy that I may have missed?