HARDLY anything gives me as much pleasure as planning my next vacation.

Except this - being able to time my trip to coincide with sale season. The myriad choices at marked-down rates make me giddy with gratification.

I’m talking summer sales, dearies, and in the fashion capitals - New York, Paris, London and Milan – no less.

It’s a conundrum which I love turning over in my mind.

See, if you go in June, that’s pre-sales time. So, you will get first dibs.

By July and August, the sales are in full swing in these cities, so the sale picks are endless.

But the later you go, the deeper the discounts as retailers try to offload the current stock to make way for fall/winter merchandise.

I've heard that upscale department store Lane Crawford in Hong Kong may knock prices off by up to 80 per cent on its current season's stock in August.

Tough isn’t it, deciding on the timing? But go, my dears. Then, spend September and October saving up – for the next sale season, of course.

This time, you head to the United States on Black Friday. That’s the last Friday of November for the uninitiated, the day after Thanksgiving and the day that kicks off the year-end holiday sales, which ends on Boxing Day (Dec 26).

For many Americans, it has become tradition to wake up at the wee hours of the morning (think 4am) and head to the nearest mall or hypermarket to queue up – in the bitter cold –and be among the first make a mad dash into the stores once the doors open.

You’ve seen the scenes, I’m sure, in movies like Confessions of a Shopaholic. Yes, the scared-to-lose syndrome extends beyond Singapore shores. 

While I don't recommend you open those peepers pre-dawn, it is an eye opener to pop by a mall later in the morning to observe conspicuous consumerism at its frenzied best.

And should you decide to dig in to unearth the buys – from refrigerators to toys – no one will judge: Everyone will be too busy ferreting items for the year-end gift giving.

For those who prefer to stay closer to home, the Malaysia Mega Sale kicks off at the end of November till early January.

With Kuala Lumpur practically a hop and a skip away in these jetsetting days, plus the favourable exchange rate, you can shop like royalty.  No wonder Singaporeans were the top spenders at last year's sale.

Finally, fashion-holics, always think local when you shop global. For example, go for Chanel in France, Topshop in England and Uniqlo in Japan. Buying country-of-origin stuff is always cheaper and there will be wider range to choose from in those places than back here.

Not to mention, each time you use what you've bought, it will bring back great memories of your sales holiday.