The Best Time to Buy a TV

When Is the Best Time to Buy a TV?

Whether you want to watch the big game, unwind after a long day at work with your favorite movie or sitcom, or just check the weather before heading out for the day, owning a television is both an informative and entertaining home accessory. Nearly every American household has at least one TV. In fact, an average of 2.3 televisions were used in U.S. homes as of just a few years ago. 

Today's TVs come with a wide range of options and features from which to choose, from size to resolution and from refresh rates to HDMI ports. Unfortunately, a TV can be one of the priciest electronic purchases in your home due to all these fancy features. If you’re in need of a new TV but short on funds, consider a personal loan. You don’t even need to leave the house to apply for online installment loans. There are several times per year when TV prices drop, and TV sales occur. Consider the following factors when trying to find the best time to buy a TV.

TV Prices Dip the Lowest in Spring

Learning about the TV release cycle can be a great way of accessing low TV prices. Most manufacturers try to release new TVs on a yearly basis and the majority of them release new models in the spring. This is good news for you because it means lower prices on older models as stores will start heavily discounting them to clear space for the newest versions.

Since most new releases are in March and April, you can expect good TV deals throughout spring and even early summer. Depending on the model you look at, you could possibly save hundreds. Of course, while it is tempting to buy the newest and fanciest option, the reality is that the upgrades might not be worth it. Most new models are incredibly similar, with only one or two minor new features. Try to carefully research the different models and determine if you're willing to skip a few features in exchange for a far lower TV price.

You Can Get Great TV Deals by Shopping Around the Holidays

It's no secret Black Friday is one of the best sale days of the year and can be one of the best times to buy a TV all year long. Not into standing in long lines and arguing with other customers over a few TVs? Then the next best sale is literally just around the corner a couple days later on Cyber Monday. Keep an eye out for ads leading up to Christmas and New Year's as well for TV deals. 

Other holidays associated with shopping discounts include Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and New Year's Eve. However, it's always best to be cautious and do your research when shopping around the holidays. Some stores may artificially inflate prices for a few weeks before the holiday so that they can advertise a lower "sale" price. Certain manufacturers also release special, more cheaply made TV sets for holidays like Black Friday. To ensure you're getting a high-quality television, look up the model number and confirm it's not a cheap derivative.

Sales Prior to the Super Bowl

What's one of the biggest TV watching events of the entire year? You guessed it – the Super Bowl. But to watch the Super Bowl, you'll need a television. During this time of year, shoppers often consider upgrading their home setup before they host a big party.

The marketing and sales employees at major television manufacturers as well as retail outlets take advantage of this need by dropping prices in the weeks before this huge sporting event. This, in turn, boosts their profits. Even if you aren't interested in the big game yourself, you can still find truly impressive deals right before the Super Bowl.

Check Your Finances and TV Prices Before Buying

As with any major purchase, it's always a great idea to make sure your finances can handle it before handing over a lot of your hard-earned money. After all, TVs are a luxury item that can be fairly pricey, so be thoughtful with your spending. To see if you can afford a TV, look at your monthly budget and savings carefully. You can also find budgeting tips on our blog. Ideally, you should have enough money saved up to purchase a TV without impacting your ability to pay bills or causing you to dip into your emergency fund.

Saving up for a television can take longer than you might like but taking your time with any major purchase is a good thing. It gives you an opportunity to research your purchase and consider your options so you can find the best TV deals.

If you're unable to purchase your television by paying the full price with a single payment, try an installment loan. No matter if you have good credit or bad credit, an installment loan may be the right option for you. Installment loans may even have an added advantage for you if you have a poor credit score because consistent payments, made on time, may help to improve your bad credit score.