Things always seem to be expensive exactly when you need them. A bikini in May? Zero percent off. A tank of gas before your Saturday errands? Not cheap. That January vacation in the Caribbean? No one would call it a bargain. American women spend trillions on consumer goods and services every year, and a lot of them pay full price simply because it’s convenient.

But by planning ahead — which doesn’t require more time, just better use of your time — you can get great deals. Wait for the right day or month and invest time in making purchases instead of shopping on the fly, and you’ll see the annual savings start to add up.