Staying ahead when hunting for deals involves a mix of good research, using the right tools, and understanding shopping trends. Here are some strategies to help you predict the best shopping deals:

1. **Get to know the sales cycle**: Retailers often follow a sales cycle during the year. Public holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Labor Day, and so on, bring incredible discounts, as do times when stores are making space for new inventory, such as end of season sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are known for big sales across many retailers.

2. **Sign up for newsletters and alerts**: By subscribing to the newsletters of your favorite retailers, you'll be the first to know about upcoming sales and promotions. Similarly, price tracking tools like Google Shopping or CamelCamelCamel can notify you when an item's price drops.

3. **Use apps and browser extensions**: Price comparison apps and extensions like Honey, Capital One Shopping, or Rakuten can automatically find and apply coupon codes at checkout, tell you if a product is cheaper elsewhere, or even give cash back on purchases.

4. **Follow brand social media**: Many brands announce sales or exclusive deals on their social media. Plus, some platforms like Instagram now even allow you to shop directly from posts or stories.

5. **Understand pricing strategies**: Some retailers use strategic pricing methods. For instance, .99 prices are often used for discounts and "charm prices", while ".00" or ".50" endings might indicate a new, full-priced item.

6. **Take advantage of loyalty programs**: Reward programs often offer members early access to sales, special discounts, or points that can be used for future purchases.

Remember, getting the best deals doesn't have to mean constantly hunting for sales. With these strategies in place, you can comfortably navigate sales and get alerts when your favourite items are discounted!

Absolutely! Retailers typically offer discounts during certain periods of the year, known as sale cycles. Here are some examples:

1. **Winter Clearance Sales (January/February)**: Retailers clear out their winter inventory to make room for spring collections, making this a great time for deals on winter clothing, boots, ski equipment, heaters, and holiday items.

2. **Presidents' Day Sales (February)**: Presidents' Day is known for sales on large appliances and home goods.

3. **Spring Sale (March/April)**: You can catch discounts on gardening tools, luggage, and home decor.

4. **Easter Sales (April)**: Discounts on Easter decor, candy, and apparel are common.

5. **Memorial Day Sales (May)**: Retailers typically discount spring clothing, appliances, furniture, and mattresses.

6. **Summer Sales (June/July)**: Look for sales on swimwear, sandals, grills, patio furniture, and air conditioning units.

7. **Back to School Sales (August/September)**: During this time, you'll find deals on school supplies, laptops, and back-to-school clothing. 

8. **Labor Day Sales (September)**: This is a great time to buy summer clearance items, appliances, and garden tools.

9. **Columbus Day Sales (October)**: Similar to Labor Day, this is a good time to catch end-of-season clearance sales.

10. **Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales (November)**: These are among the biggest sale days of the year, with discounts across all categories including electronics, fashion, beauty products, and home goods.

11. **Holiday Sales (December)**: This is the season for discounts on gift items, holiday decor, and winter apparel.

Please remember these cycles can vary between sectors and retailers. It's always worth signing up to newsletters or following your favorite stores on social media so you can stay informed about their specific sales events.