By The Atlanta Journal-constitution

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Sunday, February 17, 2013

February is a strange month. It is the shortest on the calendar, but it plays host to big shopping bargains. “Any time there is some sort of holiday where you are expected to make purchases, there are a lot of noteworthy promotions,” says Lindsay Sakraida, features director at dealnews.com.

Presidents Day: Look for deals on lots of winter apparel, tools, bedding, furniture and other home items. “Department stores really get into the weekend sales with discounts of up to 80 percent off,” Sakraida says. A lot of retailers online will offer additional coupons, so search for them to see if you can save a little extra money.

Other Deals: Tax software: “You may not feel the need to find a deal on tax software because it is such a necessity,” Sakraida says, “but we have already seen discounts on H&R Block and Turbo Tax. The deals are better now than they were last year. Look for prices around $20 or less.”

Winter apparel: It is still a great time to score deals on winter apparel, particularly if you need a high-quality coat. “It has been a mild winter. Some brands that specialize in winter apparel had a hard time pushing their stock. You can save hundreds of dollars on a down coat,” Sakraida says.

Winter fashion: North Face, a brand normally excluded from sales, is being advertised in twice as many deals this winter. Ugg boots, another brand that generally does not see many sales, are also available at a discount, Sakraida says.

Electronics: “A lot of last year's electronics hit lows around Black Friday, but now is a good time to get deals because 2013 models were just released last month and will slowly start making their way to stores,” Sakraida says. Look for the best discounts on audio equipment and HDTVs.

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