People think winter sports gear goes on sale after the holidays, says Hillary Mendelsohn, author of "thepurplebook" online shopping series and founder of ThePurpleBook.com. While it "may go on a slight discount, it won't go on a deep discount until after the winter sports season," she adds.
Expect better deals: starting in March, April and May, says Mendelsohn. At that point, you'll find everything from skis, snowboards and winter sportswear at 50 percent to 60 percent off, she says.
What is on sale in January: fitness equipment and gym memberships.
If you want to outfit that home gym, you can find some deals in January. Big-ticket fitness items, such as treadmills and elliptical machines, will be 15 percent to 25 percent off, Mendelsohn says.
Or you can save on a gym membership. While many gyms run January specials, there's always room to negotiate, she says. "Whatever special they're advertising, you can always probably get more," she says.
So take that January special as the start to negotiations, says Mendelsohn, and "ask, ask, ask."