When you’re hopped up on pumpkin spice lattes and hearing Christmas songs everywhere you go, it’s easy to be pulled in by holiday sales and feel like you’re getting an unmissable bargain. Retailers cultivate that mood, but the fact is that different products go on sale at different times in the year, and you may get a better price later.
By planning ahead and knowing the right time to shop for big-ticket items, you can reap significant savings and make your dollars go further. We’ve made this easy by compiling the ultimate list of buying dates to help you get the best deal possible all year round.
Note that some items have more than one good time to buy, because seasonal holidays trigger sales on certain items (like mattresses) throughout the year. This flexibility can help you maximize savings by spacing out major purchases when redecorating or buying a new home.
January
If you’re looking to stock up on Christmas decorations and wrapping, there’s no better time than right after the holidays. Additionally, retailers will target New Year’s resolution makers with sales on diet and fitness products.
Christmas decorations
Bedding and linens
Exercise equipment, fitness trackers, and smart watches
Furniture
Holiday Sales: New Year’s Day
February
Valentine’s Day brings great bargains on traditional gift items, while the Super Bowl blitzes the market with deep discounts on televisions, home theaters, and soundbars. Presidents’ Day brings the first of the year’s holiday mattress sales, which recur at Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Black Friday.
Jewelry, perfume, chocolates, and other Valentine’s gift categories
Electronics, especially TVs and home theater components
Mattresses
Winter products and sports gear
Furniture
Holiday Sales: Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day
March
March is said to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb, but in between are sales on spring cleaning and yard items. And according to Consumer Reports, this is one of the best months (along with April and September) to buy replacement windows, which can improve energy efficiency and add to your home’s value.
Grills
Replacement windows
Vacuum cleaners
Space heaters
Air purifiers
Luggage
Holiday Sales: Easter (varies between March and April)
April
Warmer weather means more time outdoors, and April sales reflect that with price cuts on a wide array of yard and garden items. Meanwhile, prom season brings sales on formal wear, so this could be a good time to pick up a special occasion dress or suit. And while it’s not exactly a holiday, Tax Day usually brings sales on office supplies and services like document shredding.
Tax-themed items and services
Formal wear
Lawnmowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, pressure washers, and other yard equipment
Home improvement tools
Replacement windows
Holiday Sales: Easter (varies between March and April), Tax Day
May
Mother’s Day and Memorial Day sales cover a wide gamut of items, from airy spring dresses to actual air conditioners. Since retailers seem to think that moms really want kitchen and cleaning appliances on their special day, this is a great time to get that air fryer you’ve always wanted. (But hey … maybe get Mom something more personal. She deserves a treat.)
Small kitchen appliances, such as air fryers, instant pots, mixers, and toasters
Air conditioners
Freezers
Mattresses
Carpet cleaners
Holiday Sales: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day
June
Mom got her vacuum cleaner, so this month, Dad gets power tools. Before starting all those summer home improvement projects, take advantage of Father’s Day sales to get cordless drills, belt sanders, and screwdrivers galore, or a grill to create the perfect summer dinner. (But again … maybe Dad would really like a new fishing pole or tickets to a baseball game. He works hard all year.)
Dishwashers
Tools
Grills
Summer sports gear and camping equipment
Holiday Sales: Father’s Day
July
America’s birthday has traditionally brought blowout sales on mattresses, appliances, and more, but Amazon has carved out its own July retail extravaganza with Prime Day. And even though there is plenty of hot weather left in the season, this month often starts the clearance process on summer clothes, swimwear, and pool accessories. Start shopping now if you’re planning a Labor Day beach trip, because by August, inventory will start to dwindle.
Major appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves)
Personal electronics
Dehumidifiers
Home security cameras
Microwaves
Summer clothing and swimwear
Holiday Sales: July 4th, Amazon Prime Day
August
Even if you don’t have kids going back to school, you can take advantage of this month’s sales on clothing, organizing items (marketed for dorm life), laptops, and more. Some states have a tax-free shopping weekend on certain items, and stores in those states often slash prices to Black Friday levels on those days. This is also the last hurrah for outdoor furniture.
Back-to-school supplies and clothes
Dorm furniture and accessories
Laptops, printers, tablets, wireless routers
Patio furniture
Indoor furniture
Holiday Sales: Back to School (all month), tax-free shopping days in some states
September
Because Apple usually announces new products this month, there is typically a flurry of sales on iPhones and other Apple products. Beyond that, Labor Day brings discounts on mattresses, furniture, and appliances, so if you’re not spending the long weekend at the beach or pool, you’ll have plenty of shopping options.
iPhones
Major appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, stoves)
Mattresses
Bicycles
Replacement windows
Furniture
Holiday Sales: Labor Day
October
January 1 is several months away, but to the auto industry, the “new year” begins in October. That means fantastic deals on “old” new cars (meaning cars that have never been off the lot but that are being replaced with newer models). The new models will also come with sales incentives, and used cars can be found at good prices because dealers want to make room for the incoming models. This is also the month to replace your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
New vehicles
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Thermostats
Snow blowers
Holiday Sales: Halloween
November
What isn’t on sale this month? Look for great bargains on fall home décor, cookware, dishes, and kitchen appliances early in the month, as retailers court everyone planning for holiday gatherings. Beginning on Thanksgiving Day and through Cyber Monday, you’ll find deals on toys, gifts, computers, home entertainment, and more. This is also a good month to shop for flooring, which could give your home a gorgeous facelift for the holidays.
Computers, computer monitors, and tablets
Cookware and small kitchen appliances
Flooring
Home entertainment (TVs, DVD players, wireless speakers, and soundbars)
Headphones
Cameras
Smartwatches
Holiday Sales: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday
December
Many of November’s discounts continue through this month as retailers offer their holiday deals. This is also a good time to invest in a carpet cleaner (for the inevitable holiday spills) and home security cameras. (Don’t worry: We have it on good authority that Santa Claus won’t trigger any alarms. He has his own stealth technology.)
Toys and games
Home entertainment (TVs, DVD players, wireless speakers, and soundbars)
Headphones
Cameras
Carpet cleaners
Home security cameras
Smartwatches
Tablets
Holiday Sales: Hanukkah, Christmas