Here's what to buy and skip in January

If finding deals is your New Year's resolution, January is a great time to start.

For those who want to make saving money a priority in 2017, here are our recommendations for what to buy (and skip) this month based on NerdWallet's analysis of historical sales cycles.

Buy: Christmas decorations

You may scoop up some post-Christmas deals on Dec. 26, but come Jan. 1, there will still be a handful of artificial trees, red ornaments and shiny wrapping paper spilling over in store clearance aisles. Stock up on holiday closeouts if you have the space.

Skip: Smartphones

Prices on existing phone models tend to go down whenever a new phone is released. For Apple phones, the sweet spot is usually September after the company's annual keynote product announcement. As for Samsung, tech enthusiasts speculate the Galaxy S8 could arrive around April.

Buy: TVs

Skip: Toys

Toys were hot during the holidays; if you haven't heard of a Hatchimal, you have probably been living under a rock. But with Christmas over, January likely won't see many worthwhile toy deals. The good news is your little ones are probably set for a while after all of their holiday gifts.

Buy: Fitness gear

January is a solid time to sign up for a gym at a discounted introductory rate, as many chains offer special New Year's rates. But don't spend that money unless you are sure you will use the membership. All too often, new members lock themselves in for a full year, then stop showing up after a month or two.

Skip: Mattresses

Buy: Bedding

You might not want to buy a mattress, but you can save on the sheets and blankets. January is the month when department stores host "white sales" to clear out their existing inventory of sheets, towels, blankets and more. Expect savings to be especially deep on clearance items. Last year, we saw several stores offer 60-70 percent off bedding basics.

Bonus: Martin Luther King Jr. Day sales

You may not associate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with shopping, but retailers certainly do. The holiday falls on Jan. 16 this year, and you can anticipate deals on clothing and home goods.

Highlights from the holiday's 2016 sales included 10 percent off select major appliance purchases of $396 or more at Lowe's and an extra 40 percent off sale items at Anthropologie with a coupon code.

It's not just sales to keep an eye out for this month. The calendar year is filled with days of observation for just about everything, and one of them — National Spaghetti Day — happens on Jan. 4. Use this day to get dinner on the house.

In 2016, Noodles & Company offered a free small bowl of spaghetti with the purchase of any entree.