Best Time to Buy Patio Furniture

It's no fun hosting a pool party only to witness your attendees standing around the entire time because you don't have patio furniture. Before your next gathering, turn your backyard into your second living room. When it's not pool party season, you can usually find a discount on outside table and chairs.

Below are the times of year when you can save a nice chunk of change on patio furniture, along with which times are better than others.

May

Bring on the warm weather. That's right: the month of May comes the sunshine that you've been eagerly waiting for and a new supply of patio furniture. And that's terrific news for you because you can actually begin enjoying the great outdoors from the comfort of your own home without breaking the bank.

To get a deal this month, you'll have to do your shopping around the Memorial Day weekend and keep an eye out for super specials. They may be harder to find than other times of the year and may go quickly. Be sure to see if there are any coupons and promotional offers before you shop. You'll find a ton in the days leading up to the holiday weekend. Last May, a big-box retailer offered discounts of up to 50 percent before the big weekend. If you procrastinate, you'll have to wait until after Independence Day to see price reductions again.

August

Summer is coming to an end, and this means that the demand for patio furniture has plummeted for all but the deal seekers. Retailers will mark down their excess inventory in an effort to make room for fall merchandise. (It also helps that patio furniture is bulky, so it takes up a ton of space that must be freed up before the seasonal shipments begin to arrive.) In some instances, you may be able to save anywhere between 25 to 75 percent on remaining merchandise, particularly in the areas where cooler temperatures are already present. But if it's still warm, don't expect the prices to fall as low as you'd like them to just yet.

September

During the month of September, the sales on patio furniture are really beginning to heat up. The back to school rush is over, and the temperatures are steadily decreasing. So there probably won't be a ton of outdoor gatherings at this point. The most optimal time of the month is after Labor Day, when the steep discounts go into effect.

Other Tips

Have you missed these windows of opportunity? Here are a few tips to help you save on patio furniture:

1. Be patient. Do you have a particular set in mind, or are you keeping your options open? Either way, inquire with a customer service representative about upcoming sales or reductions and continue to follow up via phone to avoid wasting a trip. (Hint: if there are a ton of items in stock after the summer months have passed, be on the lookout for major price reductions.)

2. Shop online. Peruse the Internet for discounted patio furniture. The inventory may not be identical to what's offered in the store, but you can definitely save some cash. Try Walmart, Target, Kmart, Amazon, Sam's Club, or Costco.

3. Garage sales. One man's trash is another man's treasure, so don't write off garage sales too quickly when in your pursuit of patio furniture. If you don't mind a little wear and tear, you may be in luck.