Best Things to Buy in April
Welcome to spring cleaning season! You're probably currently in the process of reducing clutter, simplifying, and trying to streamline your life as much as possible right now. You may not get a summer vacation like you did in grade school anymore, but getting yourself organized in spring will make your summer feel breezy, even if you do still have to go into work each day. Your shopping habits for April should focus on organization, simplification, and getting ready for summer. Here are the best deals of the month:
Vacuum Cleaners
You can't do your spring cleaning without a good vacuum, and now that allergy season is here, it's a good idea to keep your home regularly vacuumed. Good news -- with new vacuums introduced in April, older models go on sale now. Hot Prices: Dyson DC24 All Floors Ultra Lightweight Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner for $369.99 | Hoover Tempo Blue Bagless Upright Vacuum for $68.39 | iRobot Roomba Cordless Robotic Vacuum for $193.77| More Vacuum Cleaners
Tools
April is the perfect time to get started on home improvement projects. All kinds of tools are traditionally on sale in early spring, and the nice weather will motivate you to spend some time outside working on your projects. Hot Prices: Makita BDF452ZW-R 18V Cordless LXT Lithium-Ion 1/2 Compact Drill/Driver for $59.95 | KD Tools 5 Piece Hammer Set for $78.99 | Craftsman 283 Piece Mechanics Tool Set with box for $299.99 | More Tools
Barbecue Essentials
The backyard BBQ scene doesn't really heat up until the kids are out of school, but all the grilling goodies are on sale right now. If you wait until the week before Independence Day to load up on your barbecuing necessities, you'll pay inflated prices. Shop now, and take advantage of the nice weather to have some friends over for the first cookout party of the year. It's not too early!Hot Prices: Grills Minden Stainless Steel 4 Piece Barbecue Grill Set for $39 | Corn on the Grill Basket and Serving Set for $29.95 | More Barbecue Accessories
Vegetable Seeds
In most parts of the US, April is the perfect time to start planting seeds in your outdoor garden. If you wait much longer, it will be too late. You want to plant vegetables once the soil has warmed up for the season, but you need to do your planting early to get the timing right -- if you wait until summer, you probably won't see the best results. Plan your garden now and get to planting!Hot Prices: Sprouting Seed Super Sampler for $32.95 | Certified Organic Alfalfa Sprouting Seeds for $8.65 | More Vegetable Seeds
Refrigerators
What better way to put the finishing touches on your spring cleaning than to update your appliances? New refrigerator models typically come out in early spring, which means the previous year's models go on deep discount. Now's the time to upgrade your fridge without putting a big dent in your wallet.Hot Prices: LG Electronics 25.0 cu ft Energy Star Refrigerator for $1359 | Hotpoint Energy Star 16.6 cu ft Top Freezer Freestanding Refrigerator for $413.10 | Frigidaire 20.6 cu ft Energy Star Top Freezer Refrigerator for $809 | More Refrigerators
Spring Clothes
Even though the spring weather is only just beginning, shorts, sun dresses, tank tops, and flip flops have been on store shelves for over a month already. Now that the weather is actually right for that type of outfit, everything's on sale! Hot Prices: Men's Linen Shorts from $14.95 | Fun, Spring Dresses from $11.97 | Plus-Size Floral Dresses from $16.79 | Alternative Apparel Women's Eco-Heather Racerback Tank Top for $12.00 | More Tank Tops
What not to buy in April
Laptops & other new computers -- You can almost always find a deal on computers somewhere. They're one of those items that you never expect to pay full price for, because there's always some kind of special going on. That's true even now, but if you can hold off a little while, you'll find the best deals at the very end of the school year, in June. That's because demand drops sharply when students turn in their last research paper of the semester.
Swimsuits -- Retailers put out new swimsuits around this time, and it's tempting to grab a new one now when you see all the hot new styles, but wait just a bit. Why pay full price now when the pools won't even be open for two more months? Swimsuits will be on sale before you're ready to get in the water, but wait a few more weeks.
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Comments page 1 of 2
Highest Rank
Loren said 4-05-2010 @4:38PM
Frigidaire should be cheap its a piece of junk. I have been an appliance repairmen for 33 years and there is nothing worse than Frigidaire and LG. Stick with what you know Whirlpool, Maytag or GE for refrig's or you will be sorry.
replyHighest Rank
cindy said 4-06-2010 @12:04AM
What are the best brands for washers and dryers? (Front loaders)
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ileen said 4-05-2010 @5:33PM
what brands are the best to buy in washers and dryers.
anything negative about a regular washer and dryer stacked on one another.
heard the one piece piggy backs are awful.
was told to buy a reg. washer and dry-but what brands are good.
how is the maytage 300 series.
thanks ----confused
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Loren said 4-05-2010 @6:33PM
Out of all front loader washers LG is the easiest to maintain and cheapest to repair. All front load washers are a pain in the butt if you don't correctly operate them. Remember Maytag is now owned by Whirlpool, and the Neptune washer and dryer was the nightmare that sunk Maytag. As far as full sized stack units it depends on whats inside. The greatest machine there is is the least expensive whirlpool, which is the same as Kenmore, Roper, Estate and I have seen resently some Maytags that are the Whirlpool design. Even Kitchenaid is nothing more than a glorified Whirlpool you pay for the name. Absolutely the same inside.
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Loren said 4-05-2010 @6:37PM
If you need further info you can email me at occhurchpastor@aol.com, I'm now a full time pastor so don't let that fool you.
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marty said 4-05-2010 @7:24PM
Repairman thank's for the heads up on LG I was going to purchase one this week.
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bob said 4-05-2010 @7:32PM
Loren, You sure haven't learned much in 33 years..........
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Loren said 4-05-2010 @8:27PM
Zbob truer words were never spoken HAHAHAHAHA
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mtoma2az said 4-06-2010 @3:27AM
Maytag is HORRIBLE! JUNK! I moved into a house with an all-Maytag kitchen purchased in 2002. I've had to replace the washing machine and dishwasher already, and right now I have a very large hot plate sitting here - only 2 burners on the stove work; the other 3 blew out twice, had it repaired, and the second time the repairman said 'don't bother the 3rd time, just go buy a new range'. Well, they blew out again. And a few weeks ago the oven died too.
As for the microwave above - the plastic around the door has literally disintergrated. So I'm watching the sales for a GE range and microwave. I have always bought GE and had good luck. My new dishwasher is KitchenAid, all stainless, I got a deal on it as it was a floor sample. So far so good with it. Doesn't sound too promising after reading the above, though.
Highest Rank
Donna said 4-05-2010 @5:12PM
Anything still made in the good ole USA?
replyNeutral
kyron2046 said 4-05-2010 @5:21PM
Yes Donna, Sub Zero and Wolf are home appliances still made in the US. their manufacturing plants are located in Madison Wisconsin, and Phoenix Arizona.
Highest Rank
Tooki said 4-05-2010 @6:04PM
I wouldn't give you two cents for a dyson. They are a piece of crap, and their customer server is horrible, they are rude and don't take the time to listen to you.
replyHighest Rank
Westmond said 4-05-2010 @7:05PM
I bought a Dyson four years ago, and have been sad about that decision for ALL of those four years. They are not as good as just about ANY "less than $100" vacuum you can buy. All hype and lousy vacuum. If you've EVER considered buying one, PLEASE reconsider that thought!
Highest Rank
Harold said 4-05-2010 @6:21PM
I bought a Dyson, I'd never buy another.
replyThe machine is very heavy and if you a senior citizen you might have trouble using it.
I bought it to see what was special about it, absolutely nothing.
The reason it was so expensive, the maker says no matter how full the canister gets it still has the same suction power as if it were empty. So a person pays all this extra money
for nothing, I just chance my sweeper bags in my Kenmore, more often.
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Wendy O said 4-05-2010 @7:32PM
Add me to the list of customers extremely dissappointed in the Dyson vacuum. All that hype/expense and it only rates "fair" for one thing...vacuuming flat surfaces. Otherwise it is heavy and I don't know what idiot designed the hose....certainly no one who ever really used a vacuum. It only extends about 18". You can't use it on furniture, stairs, cowbwebs, reaching into crevices, corners, etc. I will never spend another dime on a Dyson.
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Carole said 4-05-2010 @8:15PM
Harold and the rest of you that are unhappy with the Dyson you bought..I am so sorry to hear that..FIRT OS ALL: I DO NOT work for Dyson, OK? I bought one about 4 years ago...It hasn't let me down in all of that time and I used the thing a couple times a day for the first 6 months...It was fun to use....I LOVE my Dyson...and as for the HELP telephone number..I found them nothing but helpful, polite and could talk me into making a very easy fix...I had put it into a terrible position that NO vac should be in and when I tried to straighten it out something on the side came un-done..Scared me to pieces cause I thought I had broken it and needed a new part...I called the HELP line and they laughed and reassured me I did NOT need a new piece...They had me get comfortable and then they talked me through the fix step by step. within 5 minutes it was all over and I was one happy customer...Still am to this day..Wish you all had had a better experience!.
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Micah Jones said 4-05-2010 @6:29PM
I recetently bought the Dyson Ball Vac & I have nothing but good to say about it. The weight is very manageable for myself and my wife. It can be operated with the same performance as adevertised in the comercials. Dyson recieves two thumbs up from me!
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Loren said 4-05-2010 @6:52PM
The biggest problem with all front loading washers is the mold and smell that will grow in them if you use too much detergent. Front load washers only need 2 tablespoons of detergent per load no matter the size of the load. Then about once a month you have to run white vineger through them to clean them. The smell and mold come from deposits left behind by the detergent that builds up over time and turns to mold. Once its there it is very difficult to get rid of. With some it is so gradual you don't realize your cloths stink but others do.
replyNeutral
Dena said 4-05-2010 @7:46PM
I was told that you have to keep the door wide open on the front loading washers when not in use to avoid the mold from forming. Of course I wasn't told that in the store, but by the installer. It still smells funky and the door hangs open all the time. I really think that's how they should display them in the stores. I miss my 30 year old Maytag!
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Donna said 4-05-2010 @8:17PM
I thought I was the only one who hated my brand new washer and dryer.
Oh what I would give for an old fashioned machine that actually filled
up with water and you could see your clothes were being washed.
I hate, hate, hate my machine! I liked to put my whites in at night and
let them soak before washing the next morning can't do that with this
new crapola machine.
$1200. for a washer that you can't even see where the water level is.
First yard sale I see with a good ole washer and dryer that still work~
SOLD!