Knowing when to buy is just as important as knowing what to buy. Retailers follow a predictable calendar of sales, clearance events, and seasonal promotions, and once you understand that calendar, you can stop buying things at full price and start strategically timing your purchases to save hundreds of dollars a year. Everything in this guide focuses on buy month, giving you practical, actionable advice you can use right away.
How to Buy Month: Strategies That Work for Families
This guide breaks down every month of the year so you always know exactly what’s on sale and when to buy it. Bookmark this page and check back whenever you’re planning a purchase, the best time to buy is almost never “right now.”
Understanding how to buy month is something that pays dividends for the entire family over time. Families who commit to learning how to buy month consistently report better outcomes than those who take a more casual approach. The process of how to buy month becomes easier with practice; each small step builds on the last.
Monthly Shopping Guide, What to Buy Every Month
January
White Sales on bedding, winter coat clearance, post-holiday decor 50–90% off. See all January deals ?
February
Super Bowl TV deals, Presidents’ Day furniture, post-Valentine candy. See all February deals ?
March
Final winter clearance 75–90% off, frozen foods, spring break travel. See all March deals ?
April
Post-Easter candy 50–70% off, gardening supplies, outdoor power equipment. See all April deals ?
May
Memorial Day: outdoor furniture, mattresses, appliances, best of the year. See all May deals ?
June
Father’s Day tools and grills, swimwear first markdowns, graduation electronics. See all June deals ?
July
Prime Day tech deals, swimwear clearance 40–70% off, back-to-school starts. See all July deals ?
August
Back-to-school peak: supplies, laptops, tax-free weekends in many states. See all August deals ?
September
Best month for outdoor furniture, Labor Day mattress sales, lawn equipment clearance. See all September deals ?
October
Halloween costumes early, jeans deals, Columbus Day home sales. See all October deals ?
November
Black Friday & Cyber Monday: electronics, toys, appliances, year’s best. See all November deals ?
December
Post-Christmas clearance 50–90% off decor, toys, winter clothing. See all December deals ?
How to Use This Shopping Calendar
The smartest shoppers plan their purchases like they plan their calendar. Here’s the strategy that will save your family the most money:
- Buy seasonal items the season after: Winter coats in January–March, swimwear in July–August, outdoor furniture in September, holiday decor on December 26th.
- Mark the big sale weekends: Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are the six weekends worth planning around for big-ticket items.
- Compare prices before you buy: Not all “sales” are genuine. Use price-tracking tools to verify a sale price is actually lower than the usual price.
- Buy birthday and occasion gifts in advance: Stock up on gift items during clearance events, holiday gift sets, toys, and home items bought at 50–70% off in late December save significant money when gifted throughout the year.
Related Guides
- When to Buy Everything: The Complete Seasonal Shopping Guide for Families
- How to Win Black Friday: The Complete Shopping Strategy Guide
- The Complete Guide to Secondhand Shopping and Thrifting for Families
For independent buying advice, Consumer Reports shopping guides is an excellent free resource families can rely on.
Frequently Asked Questions About When to Buy Things on Sale
November is traditionally the strongest month overall for deals, thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, January, May (Memorial Day), July (Prime Day), and September (Labor Day + outdoor clearance) also offer exceptional savings depending on what you’re buying. The best month depends entirely on the category, see each month’s guide above for specific recommendations.
The best times to buy a TV are November (Black Friday) and January (post-CES new model releases push last year’s TVs to clearance). July’s Prime Day also delivers competitive TV prices. If those windows don’t work, the Super Bowl season in early February is the fourth-best opportunity.
Mattresses go on sale during the four major holiday sale weekends: Presidents’ Day (February), Memorial Day (May), July 4th, and Labor Day (September). These four events represent the year’s best mattress prices. The rest of the year, prices are significantly higher.
The best time to buy winter clothes is January through March, when end-of-season clearance brings discounts of 50–90% off. Buying for next winter in January or February, sizing up for kids, is one of the most effective money-saving strategies a family can implement. The catch: you’re buying out of season, so you need to plan ahead and have storage space.
September is the cheapest time to buy outdoor furniture, not Memorial Day, as many people believe. By September, retailers are done with the season and need the floor space, driving clearance prices 50–70% off. Memorial Day deals are competitive but retailers are still mid-season; September’s clearance is the genuinely deepest discount of the year.
Buy school supplies in July or early August for the best combination of selection and price. July offers excellent deals during Prime Day week and competing sales. By late August, popular items sell out and late shoppers face premium prices. Many states also offer sales-tax holidays on school supplies in August, check your state’s schedule.
Yes, the best times to buy major appliances are Memorial Day (May), Labor Day (September), and Black Friday (November). These three events consistently deliver the year’s most competitive pricing on refrigerators, washers, dryers, and other large appliances. If you can, plan appliance purchases around these sale weekends rather than buying when an appliance breaks (which forces a full-price purchase under pressure).
