RedPlum's Viva la Value Online Radio Show Hosts Bestselling Author

LIVONIA, Mich., Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- RedPlum®, a leading provider of deals and savings on brands consumers want most, recently hosted Mark Di Vincenzo on its Viva la Value online radio show to discuss the best time to buy a variety items including groceries, home items, furniture and more. Di Vincenzo is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books including "Buy Ketchup In May and Fly At Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There."  An archive of the show can be found at www.redplum.com/vivalavalue.  

Each month, Lisa Reynolds, RedPlum's Mom Saver-in-chief, hosts guests on Viva la Value to help listeners achieve a value lifestyle in their daily lives from grocery shopping to dining, entertaining, teaching children about money and more.

"A little planning can go a long way to help you save hundreds and even thousands of dollars on your purchases over the course of a year," Reynolds said. "Mark shared some great tips on the best days, months and seasons to buy a multitude of items. I'd recommend taking time to plan out your larger purchases for the year, and really do research on sales, free shipping and package deals to save even more."

Di Vincenzo had plenty of tips to help listeners save on dining to cars to traveling. A budget item we tend to spend a lot of time, effort and money on is food. On Viva la Value, Di Vincenzo shared tips on how people can trim their food budgets by altering when they buy certain products or go out to eat. Here are some considerations when purchasing groceries or dining out:

• Eating dinner out: Plan to eat out on Tuesday. Most restaurants don't receive deliveries on Saturdays and Sundays, and many are closed on Mondays. Food served on Tuesdays is fresh and most restaurants aren't crowded that day, offering incentives and discounts to get you in the door.
• Grocery shopping: The best day for grocery shopping is Wednesday. Weekly sales almost always start on Wednesdays and end on Tuesdays, so the store will less likely be out of items. To reduce impulse buying, make a list and stick to it, and go to the store once a week or even two or three times a month. Shopping at night can be a good time to find deep discounts on perishable foods that will be tossed out if they aren't sold by closing time.
  • Reynolds adds to save even more, add coupons to your loyalty card. More and more retailers are allowing you to upload your favorite coupons to your store loyalty card or I.D. Take advantage and make sure to have your card ready at the register to cash in on the savings!
• Shopping for meat: Look for meat first thing in the morning on weekdays; you may find manager's specials which often may be sold by noon that day.
• Buying eggs: Buy eggs when they're on sale, which tends to be when they're reaching expiration. Eggs can be eaten three to five weeks after the expiration date.
• Scoring bread and other fresh-baked goods: Plan to buy in the late afternoon and into the evening. Many grocery stores with bakery departments start discounting their fresh bread by 50% around 4 p.m. because they don't want to throw anything out.
• Stocking up on condiments, salad dressings and napkins: Purchase in mid-May to early June. Companies offer deep discounts hoping you'll stock up and not buy their competitors' products.

For buying new items for your home, Di Vincenzo has several pieces of advice:

• Replacing your furnace: Do this in the spring or fall. Contractors are busy with emergency heating and cooling calls in the winter and summer and you're likely to get a good deal when they're not busy.
• Upgrading ranges and stoves: Plan to buy during holiday weekends and in September or October. Cooking-related appliances typically go on sale around the holidays, especially the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
• Buying a charcoal grill: Purchase a charcoal grill after Labor Day, when sales of up to 30% off begin and continue through December.
• Planting trees and shrubs: Purchase in the fall when nurseries drop prices after summer to clear out stock.
• Updating your home with furniture: Look for new furniture in January and July because retailers are trying to make room for new models, offering deep discounts during this time to sell older models.

Di Vincenzo had other general tips when traveling, searching for a new car and getting other great deals:

• Booking a Cruise: Book in April or November, when many cruise lines move their ships for route changes. They don't want to sail an empty ship, so you'll score major discounts.
• Getting a hotel upgrade: Ask in the evening, and as late as possible. By then, hotel staffers know how many rooms will not be filled that night.
• Buying a new car: The best time of year to buy a new car is the fall. In September, the next year model cars begin arriving, so you can expect to save 10 – 20% on the previous year. The best time of the month to buy a car is the end of the month when dealerships are trying to make quotas. Lastly, the best day of the week to buy is Tuesday or Wednesday, when you can get more attention pay lower prices.
• Negotiating a discount: The best time to negotiate is when you have the upper hand. For example, if you notice a floor model that isn't selling, ask for a discount, or take time to negotiate when you're shopping for highly comparable services such as cable, Internet and phone service.
• Returning merchandise: Plan to go at 10 a.m. when staffers are at their assigned post and more experienced workers typically work. While not a money-saving tip, this will certainly save you time.
• Shopping at a thrift store: The best time to shop at a thrift store is in the Spring, when homeowners start cleaning out their attics and having garage sales. Stores often have a plethora of new items in great condition.

Di Vincenzo worked as a journalist for 24 years, making a name for himself as a reporter and as a writer who made the complicated seem simple. During that time, he won numerous awards, then became an editor. He left daily journalism in the summer of 2007 to start Business Writers Group, a company that writes for corporate clients.

Lisa Reynolds is a busy working mom who lives and breathes the savings-oriented lifestyle she talks about on her radio show. When she's not at work, Reynolds is cheering for her sons at football games, hosting dinner gatherings with friends and family, and actively participating in her church community. She is also an avid cook with a philosophy of keeping it simple – less than five ingredients or meals in less than 30 minutes. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northville, Michigan. Reynolds is frequently quoted in newspaper, magazine and blog articles, and has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Forbes, Family Circle, 24/7 Moms Blog and more. For more tips on staying smart with your money, visit http://www.redplum.com/how-to-save-money.aspx.

SOURCE RedPlum and Valassis