July 18, 2007

• The Cheapest Day to Buy Certain Items

  Airplane Tickets

  When to Buy: Wednesday morning.

  Why: "Most airfare sales are thrown out there on the weekend," says
  travel expert Peter Greenberg, a.k.a. The Travel Detective. Other
  airlines then jump into the game, discounting their own fares and
  prompting further changes by the first airline. The fares reach their
  lowest prices late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

  Books

  When to Buy: Thursday.

  Why: Price compare between major chains Borders and Barnes & Noble. The former releases its weekly sales and coupons on every Thursday; the latter, every Tuesday.

  Cars

  When to Buy: Monday.

  Why: "Car dealers live for the weekend, which is when they make most of
  their sales," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com.
  "On Mondays, the low foot traffic makes it seem like the weekend will
  never come." That dealer desperation, paired with fewer consumers on
  the lot, give you more negotiating power.

  Clothing

  When to Buy: Thursday evening.

  Why: That's the day when stores stock their shelves for the weekend,
  and when many retailers — including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and
  Express — start their weekend promotions, says Kathryn Finney, author
  of "How to Be a Budget Fashionista." You'll find great prices and the
  best selection. "It's an effort to get people to shop in the middle of
  the week," she says.

  Department-Store Wares

  When to Buy: Saturday evening.

  Why: Department stores have a lot to mark down for their Sunday
  circulars, so they frequently start the process on Saturday evenings
  before store closing, says Finney. "They're preparing for the big
  rush," she says. Bonus: Even if the markdowns haven't been made, many
  employees will honor the sale price if you ask. Print out the circular
  preview from the store's web site, and bring it with you when you head
  to the mall.

  Dinner Out

  When to Buy: Tuesday.

  Why: Most restaurants do not receive food deliveries over the weekend.
  "Sunday is the garbage-can day of the week," says Kate Krader, senior
  editor at Food & Wine magazine. "No doubt, they're cleaning out
  their fridges. Tuesdays, they're starting fresh." Dining out on that
  day offers the best odds you'll get a meal worth paying for, no matter
  your price point, she says.

  Entertainment

  When to Buy: Wednesday.

  Why: Plenty of movie theaters, amusement parks and museums offer extra
  discounts to consumers who visit midweek. Six Flags theme parks offer a
  $12 discount to AAA members — three times its usual discount of $4. AMC
  Theatres offers members in its free AMC Movie Watcher reward program a
  free small popcorn on Wednesdays. (This summer, it's also the day
  select theaters offer free Summer Movie Camp screenings.)

  Gas

  When to Buy: Thursday, before 10 a.m.

  Why: The price of oil isn't the only factor influencing costs at your
  local pump. Consumer usage plays a role, too — and weekend demand is
  high, says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com,
  a price-monitoring site. Prices usually swing upward on Thursdays as
  travelers fuel up to head out the following day. By hitting the pump
  before 10 a.m. (when many station owners change their prices), you'll
  beat the rush and the price jump.

  Groceries

  When to Buy: Sunday — or Tuesday.

  Why: Maximize savings by combining store sales, which run from
  Wednesday to Tuesday, with the latest round of coupons from your Sunday
  paper, says Mary Hunt, publisher of Debt-Proof Living, a money-saving
  newsletter. "It's a smart idea to wait until you have those in hand to
  match up with the week's sale items," she says.

  To snag savings on items you don't need just yet, shop on
  Tuesday, advises Hunt. Chances are, the store will have run out of the
  sale items. "That means you can pick up rain checks, which allow you to
  buy those items later when you need them, and at the sale price," she
  says.

  Hotel Rooms

  When to Buy: Sunday.

  Why: There are two kinds of hotel managers, and the kind that won't
  give you a discount on your room rate has Sundays off, says Greenberg.
  Call the hotel directly, and ask to speak with the manager on duty or
  the director of sales. These employees are open to negotiation, he
  says. They'd rather have a booked room at a discounted rate than an
  empty room. (The rest of the week, your call would get you a so-called
  revenue manager, who monitors profits — and is rarely willing to lower
  rates.)

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