Here’s the Good News if Santa Didn’t Bring You That HDTV You Wanted
On Feb. 5, people across America will gather to stuff their faces with jalapeno poppers while watching a bunch of grown men in stretchy pants tackle one another over an oddly shaped toy.
Yes, friends, Super Bowl LI is upon us.
And whether you’re a lifelong Patriots fan, hardcore Falcons devotee or just there for the snacks and cute puppy commercials (like me), you’ll more than likely be one of the 111.9 million Americans who will crowd around the TV to witness the spectacle that is the biggest day in television.
But if you just can’t stand the thought of watching the big game on your tiny, old television set, you’re in luck: January is actually the best time to buy a new TV (so a big screen is totally justified).
January is the New Black Friday
If you were considering buying a new TV but missed the holiday sales, you might have actually saved a few bucks by waiting until January.
At the beginning of each new year, companies unveil the latest gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In the weeks that follow, stores work to clear their shelves of last year’s stock to make way for the new models that will begin to arrive in February — which means big markdowns for customers.
And whether it’s serendipitous timing or a brilliantly calculated sales scheme from the TV industry (probably the latter), BestBlackFriday.com reports that 7 million people plan to buy a new TV before the Super Bowl.
But it’s a win-win situation: According to Consumer Affairs, TV prices drop as much as 22% in the weeks before the big game, so hardcore fans don’t have to feel bad about viewing it in high definition.
Shop Around to Snag the Best Deal
Whether you’re an avid online shopper or prefer to see the item in store, there are deals out there waiting for you — just be sure to do your research first. BestBlackFriday.com even has a side-by-side price comparison list to help you find a TV that fits within your budget and see if you can get a better deal now than you could have during Black Friday.
Just make sure that you’re paying attention to price vs. quality when you’re shopping for a TV. You don’t want to break the bank on a swanky TV that overserves its purpose (think: a 100-inch TV that your kids will end up watching Elmo on post-Super Bowl), but it’s a good idea to invest in something that’s going to hold up over the next several years.
And if you’ve been pondering other big purchases, check out our month-to-month guide on the best time to buy almost anything.
Your Turn: Will you buy a new TV before Super Bowl Sunday?
Grace Schweizer is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’ll be watching the game — although rather begrudgingly. Go Steelers!
