Everyone knows about sales on Black Friday or the Day after Christmas. But besides those big sales, retailers also discount items heavily depending on the season.
Knowing the best time of year to make major purchases can help you plan ahead - and save money. After all, why make an expensive purchase this month, if you know it’ll be on sale next month?
Check out our monthly guide to major purchases so you can plan ahead on your shopping!
January
Most people are watching their budgets in January, after spending (or overspending!) during the holidays. Smart shoppers, however, will leave some extra money in their budgets for these sale items.
Bedding
If your bedding is starting to look a little worn out, January is the perfect month to replace it. Retailers traditionally kick off the year with bedding and linen sales.
Christmas (and Holiday) Items
If you’ve ever dreamt of having an inflatable 6-foot tall Santa outside your door, now’s the time to buy it! Stores start marking down their Christmas items even before December 25th, but the biggest sales come in January.
Fitness Equipment and Gym Memberships
Raise your hand if you’ve ever made a resolution to “get fit.” Gyms know that everyone is ready to head back on January 1st, so they often offer discounts on their monthly memberships or enrollment fees to get a jump on their competitors. If you prefer to work out at home, fitness equipment also goes on sale. Think dumbbells, pull-up bars, and yoga mats.
Televisions
When the new models are revealed (every January), the older models go on sale. As long as you don’t mind having last year’s television model, you can save quite a bit of money.
February
Every February, we fall in love. With the sales, that is!
Jewelry
Jewelry goes on sale every year right around Valentines’ Day. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and catch a sale before the 14th, but the best sales come right after. Of course, your sweetheart would rather receive their present on February 14th, but if you can convince them to wait, you’ll catch some pretty great savings.
Mattresses
Most furniture goes on sale during Presidents’ Day, and mattresses are no exception. If your bed needs to be replaced, February is the perfect month to do it.
Winter Clothes
All those parkas and fluffy sweaters take up valuable floor space, which retailers will soon need for the upcoming spring season. To get rid of their existing merchandise, retailers will often place a large discount on anything that screams “winter.”
March
Spring is almost here! Celebrate with these sale items.
Bicycles
New models will be coming out soon, so it’s time to get rid of last year’s bikes. These are usually deeply discounted.
Luggage
Already have your Spring Break or summer vacay plans ready to go? Now’s the perfect time to drag your suitcases down from the attic and look it over. If anything needs to be replaced, shop in March for major savings!
Winter Sports Equipment
Kind of like with the bicycles, retailers need the floor space. If you already know you’re going to need a new sled or snowboard next year, don’t wait for November or December to roll around. Shopping now and storing your sports gear til next season can equal big savings!
April
Spring sales carry over into April, and you’ll find some pretty good deals.
Grills
Get them now, before the demand - and prices - spike during summer. Gas and charcoal grills and all their accessories can be cheaper this time of year.
Spring Clothes and Shoes
Between spring break and Easter, large retailers are expecting you to shop for new outfits. Look for sales to help you out, especially Easter weekend. If you need new shoes, especially dress shoes or sneakers, expect to see those discounted, too.
Vacuums
Ready for some spring cleaning? Major retailers and manufacturers traditionally offer deep discounts on vacuums in April. If yours isn’t going to last through the end of the year, take advantage of sale prices this month.
May
Memorial Day is one of the biggest sale weekends of the year, so expect to see big sales in May.
Furniture
Furniture stores traditionally have huge sales for Memorial Day. If you need any new pieces for your home, now’s the time to buy them.
Kitchen Appliances
These typically go on sale for Memorial Day. Replace any of yours that are getting old. Also, with wedding season in June, shop now for bridal showers or wedding gifts.
“Mom” Jewelry
Right around Mother’s Day, and especially after, jewelry for mom tends to go on sale. You know the ones: the #1 Mom bracelets and tree of life necklaces. Stock up now for her birthday or Christmas.
Refrigerators
The new models come out during the summer. Major retailers will be offering big discounts on older models, so they’ll have room to stock the new ones that are coming in.
June
Summer’s in full swing now, and so are the summer sales.
China and Cookware
Wedding season is going strong, and some stores will be offering discounts on the traditional wedding gifts. But it’s also a good time to replace any of your own items that are getting worn out.
Gym Memberships
Between the people who finally realized that they weren’t going to stick to their resolutions and the people who would rather enjoy the weather, gyms are usually pretty empty this time of year. You can find some good incentives if you decide to sign up now.
Outdoor and Sports Gear
All sorts of fitness and camping gear goes on sale during the summer. From tents and other camping equipment to summer sports gear such as goggles, you can find sales at sporting goods stores and other outfitters.
July
To retailers, the 4th of July means more sales! Although not as discounted as Memorial Day or the upcoming Labor Day, it’s still a shopping holiday for many.
Dehumidifiers
As the temperatures climb, so does the humidity. You can save money this month on an older humidifier model. It’ll work just as well, but be much more affordable!
Furniture
New furniture styles will be coming out in August, so retailers are looking to sell out of the styles they will be discontinuing.
Patriotic Items
Leading up to the 4th, you’ll usually find sales on red, white, and blue clothing and other items. You’ll also find discounts on beach gear (coolers, corn hole boards), since that’s a prime 4th of July destination for many.
August
For many, this month is all about going back to school. Expect to see all sorts of school-related items on sale.
Backpacks
If your kids need backpacks - or you simply like them - this is the month to find them discounted with “back to school” sales. Younger kids are particularly rough on their backpacks, so you might want to stock up and have a mid-year replacement available.
Computers
Computer manufacturers (except for Apple) generally drop their new models in summer, making this the perfect time to buy discounted older models.
Swimsuits
Swim season is almost over, so retailers are eager to get rid of any remaining swimwear. Stock up for next year while they’re on sale.
September
There’s another big shopping holiday this month: Labor Day. You’re sure to find great sales the entire weekend.
A House
This isn’t something you’re going to purchase every year, but it’s still good to know. Spring and summer are the busiest time of year, because families want to move in before their kids go back to school. But in the few weeks following the start of the school year, demand will drop - and so will prices.
iPhones
Apple usually unveils its new models at its September keynote. Once they do, existing iPhones tend to offer a significant price drop.
Thanksgiving Flights
Spending Thanksgiving with the family? September is the month to shop for flights to get the best deals.
October
Fall is in the air, so expect to see discounts that reflect the changing season.
Jeans
Fall fashion usually hits the stores in August or September. But if you buy then, the prices will be at their highest. Wait until October and you’ll probably be able to score some pretty good deals. The weather will be cool for months, so you’ll still have plenty of time to wear your new styles.
Leaf Blower and Snow Blowers
Now is the time of year to buy either of these. Retailers usually have some left from last year,so if you want the best prices check out some of the older models.
Outdoor Furniture
Retailers don’t want to have to store any unsold patio furniture until next year. They would rather offer deep discounts and have you take it home. If you think you’re going to need new patio furniture next year, and have room to store it, now’s the time to shop.
November
Black Friday is the busiest holiday shopping day of the year. If you’re going to shop the Black Friday sales, you’ll find almost everything you could possibly need, or even just want, on sale. The key is to budget ahead and now exactly what you’re buying, so you aren’t tempted to overspend.
Electronics
This is without a doubt the best time of the year for a new phone, tablet, PC, or gaming console. These are one of the hottest sales items during this time of the year. Major retailers will offer deep discounts.
Small Appliance
From your blender to the air fryer you’ve been dying to try out, this is the month to buy it! Hold off until the end of the month, when most small appliances will go on sale for Black Friday.
Tools
If you’re planning any home improvement project, try to figure out what supplies you might need. Tools, especially power tools, are popular items to purchase on Black Friday. Expect to see some big discounts on any you might need.
December
We all know which holiday is coming up! Unless you need something very urgently, you might be better off waiting until the day after Christmas, when almost anything and everything will be marked down.
Christmas Decorations
The day after Christmas, they’ll be put on sale. If you need a new artificial tree or lights for next year, go ahead and buy them now. In most cases, you’ll find considerable savings!
Spring Break Travel
You might not have a warm, sunny spring break on your mind quite yet, but it’s just about time to start making plans. December is usually the cheapest month to book flights for Spring Break.
Toys
The day after Christmas, expect to see discounted toys everywhere. If your kids (or nieces & nephews) have birthdays coming up, go ahead and stock up while you can.
So there you have it, a month-by-month breakdown of the best sales every month. Figure out what you might need, and work out your budget so that you’re ready when the timing is just right. You can save hundreds of dollars just by shopping at the right time.