I love using my gift cards right after Christmas towards my purchases, but ever wonder if you're buying those items at the right time to get the best deal? Life Hacker's diagram (above) and the MSN Money article on The Best Time to Buy...Anything can help.

Airline tickets?  I get the best deals by signing up for fare alerts with Kayak & Fare Compare, and direct with the airline for their newsletters... and by booking at least 2 weeks prior to travel.  Check out USA Today's Best times to book your 2010 summer vacation for more travel tips.