You may want to ditch the chocolate and flowers this Valentine’s Day when it comes to shopping for your sweetheart! We found February is actually a great time to score some amazing deals on other stuff your loved one is sure to love.
We worked with DealNews.com to find merchandise that’s actually marked down this time of year. Instead of marked up because of the fake holiday hype. Their shopping expert, Mark LoCastro says, “Out of the box gifts (non-Valentine’s Day themed items) is where you’ll see the best deals. Because demand isn’t as high.”
Here’s some deals you can score on right now:
1- Winter Clothing:
The chill certainly isn’t out of the air in most parts of the country. LoCastro reminds us, “Be on the lookout for end-of-season sales on winter clothing. In February, retailers will start shedding their overcoats to make room for lighter, spring apparel.” Come on, who doesn’t love a nice, soft fleece? A fancy ski jacket? Or how about some hot boots?
2- Lingerie:
Picking up something a little lacy or frilly is certainly romantic! LoCastro says look out for special deals. “Last year, Victoria’s Secret offered 20% off bras early in February and later offered free 2-day shipping (on orders of $100 or more), whereas Frederick’s of Hollywood offered a slightly better 20% off site wide with free shipping on any order.” And men, you can buy these for women… and ladies. You certainly can’t go wrong buying this to wear for your significant other!
3- Beauty Products:
Now here’s some fun gifts for women AND men. If you’re surprised about the “men” part, don’t be. They like this kind of stuff too! In fact a recent survey found women confessed they caught men using $30 worth of their beauty products a month!
LoCastro adds, “Based on last year’s sales, beauty deals are abundant in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. The Body Shop, FragranceX, and Elizabeth Arden are just a few retailers that took up to 80% off beauty items. And these sales were spread through the first two weeks of February, with deals coming in as last as two days before the big day.”
4- Jewelry:
If you must buy jewelry, DealNews.Com and LoCastro advises, based on last year’s numbers, that you should WAIT for good deals and use coupons. “In the two weeks leading up to the big day, you can also expect to see sales from ICE.com, Blue Nile, Szul, and Zales with discounts ranging from 20% to 85% off. Some stores like Tiffany and Kay Jewelers will offer free or expedited shipping. But for maximum savings, we recommend using stackable coupons to further increase your savings.
Limoges Jewelry, for instance, has traditionally taken off between 20% to 25% off marked down jewelry via a stackable coupon; last year Zales also took $40 off orders of $200 or more with one of its coupon codes. So while you’ll see plenty of standalone Valentine’s Day sales from the majority of jewelers, it’s the sales with stackable coupons that offer the best value.”
What are your ways to save on Valentine’s Day gifts? Let us know in the comments section below.
