If you enjoy shopping, you are likely aware that saving money and finding great deals is all about timing. One method to keep track of this timing is by maintaining a shopping calendar.
If you are aware of when seasonal items are expected to be discounted and when major sales occur, you will be more likely to capitalize on the discounts and resist the temptation to overspend.
To plan your purchases strategically, here are the dates of all the major sales events to mark on your calendar. Some of them have already passed, but be sure not to miss them next year.
- New Year’s Day.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Presidents Day.
- St. Patrick’s Day.
- Easter.
- Arbor Day.
- Mother’s Day.
- Memorial Day.
- Father’s Day.
- Fourth of July.
- Amazon Prime Day.
- Tax-free weekends.
- Labor Day.
- Halloween.
- Black Friday.
- Cyber Monday.
- Super Saturday.
- New Year’s Eve.
January
Things to buy:
- Winter attire. By the end of January, stores will be discounting heavy coats, sweatshirts, warm pajamas, winter boots, sweaters, hats, and scarves to make room for spring fashion. You can expect discounts of up to 50% on winter clothing.
- Bedding and bath linens. Major retailers like Kohl’s, Macy’s, and Pottery Barn typically have “white sales” on bath and bedding items during January.
- Televisions. Just before the Super Bowl is a great time to purchase TVs.
Important sales days:
- New Year’s Day. It may come as a surprise that numerous stores offer sales on New Year’s Day. Despite consumers being exhausted from holiday spending, major retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and others often have New Year sales featuring significant discounts.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Over the extended weekend, anticipate sales on apparel, beauty products, and household items.
February
Things to buy:
Tax preparation software. The deadline for employers to distribute W-2s and 1099s is January 31st. Therefore, in February, tax software companies such as H&R Block and TurboTax usually provide promotional codes and discounts for early filers.
Important sales days:
Presidents Day
Traditionally, Presidents Day is known for offering discounts on mattresses and appliances over the extended weekend. However, many retailers choose to discount a wide range of products during this three-day holiday.
March
Things to buy:
Outdoor apparel for warmer weather.
As the weather warms up, you will notice significant markdowns on outdoor running clothes and shoes. Additionally, stores selling camping equipment and patio furniture will likely join in on the sales. Prices will be more favorable for these products at the start of autumn, when demand is high, but the variety will be greater in early spring as retailers aim to clear out inventory.
Easter clothing.
Easter is scheduled for March 31, 2024. In the days preceding the holiday, there will be discounts on Easter Sunday attire, particularly children’s spring dresses and suits.
Important sales days:
- St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick’s Day, although not a significant sales holiday, presents a favorable opportunity to purchase Irish-themed jewelry and other green gifts at discounted prices. The best deals can be found the day after the holiday, allowing you to prepare for the following year.
- Easter. Stores are likely to be calm (and some may be shut) on Easter Sunday, however, the days leading up to it will be bustling with sales. Anticipate markdowns on spring clothing at department stores and promotions on gift baskets and flowers on gift websites. Immediately following the holiday, you can expect to find Easter candy and baskets on sale.
April
Things to buy:
- Home goods and appliances. April is the month when retailers offer discounts on a wide range of products, including vacuums and energy-efficient appliances. This is because many people engage in spring cleaning during this time. Additionally, there are sales tie-ins for energy-efficient appliances in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22, 2024.
Important sales days:
- Arbor Day.
- Arbor Day, April 26, 2024, typically isn’t a major sales holiday weekend. However, given that Earth Day falls on April 22, it wouldn’t be unexpected to see garden and outdoor stores offering significant sales on April 26 (or throughout the entire week) in order to attract lawn enthusiasts.
May
Things to buy:
- Spring clothing. Now is an opportune moment to update your spring wardrobe. With summer fashion on the horizon, stores are clearing out their spring inventory, leading to an abundance of discounted items both in-store and online.
- Appliances. Memorial Day, as well as the entire three-day weekend, is undoubtedly one of the prime opportunities of the year to purchase household items like refrigerators, washers, dryers, and other major appliances.
Important sales days:
- Mother’s Day. Begin searching for discounts on jewelry, perfume, and other commonly sought-after Mother’s Day presents a couple of weeks prior to May 12, 2024.
- Memorial Day. The upcoming long weekend will provide numerous opportunities to save on appliances and receive discounts on a wide range of retail products. If you didn’t get the chance to buy a mattress during President’s Day sales, this weekend presents a great opportunity to make that purchase.
June
Things to buy:
- Restaurant gift cards. On Father’s Day and during graduation season, numerous chain restaurants provide additional gift cards to the purchaser. This could entail receiving a $10 e-card or a discount on a $50 gift card when purchasing a $50 gift card for a restaurant.
- Tools and grills. If your father or significant other enjoys using power tools and takes pride in maintaining a well-groomed lawn, you might consider visiting a home improvement store for your shopping needs. These stores typically offer a wide range of items such as tool sets, garage organization products, grills, and more, all of which may be discounted as Father’s Day draws near.
Important sales days:
- Father’s Day. In the lead-up to June 16, 2024, watch for sales on watches, menswear, shoes, wallets, TVs, tools and other popular gifts for Dad.
July
Things to buy:
- Furniture. Independence Day promotions typically highlight furniture items, therefore, make sure to strategize your buying decisions for kitchen tables or sectionals accordingly.
- Tech. This is typically a favorable period for purchasing technology. The Fourth of July sales are underway, the back-to-school season is gaining momentum, and Amazon frequently holds Amazon Prime Day this month, offering discounts on smart home devices, gaming systems, TVs, and computers.
Important sales days:
- Fourth of July. Independence Day has a long-standing reputation as one of the most popular shopping holidays of the year, often featuring sales comparable to those seen on Black Friday.
- Amazon Prime Day. Amazon usually follows its standard procedure, so the official announcement for 2024 is not expected until a few weeks before the event, which traditionally takes place in mid-July.
- Tax-free weekends. Certain states provide tax-free periods in July, where the sales tax is exempted on clothing, school supplies, and electronics.
August
Things to buy:
- School supplies and laptops. The start of the academic year usually occurs from mid-August to early September, resulting in sales on notebooks, art supplies, laptops, and various products at large retail and office supply stores. Moreover, Apple customarily unveils its back-to-school tech deals in August.
- Summer clothing and swimwear. Autumn is approaching. Retailers will soon aim to sell off their inventory of summer clothing.
Important sales days:
- Tax-free weekends. August is a favorable month for tax-free weekends in some states. During this time, certain items like clothing, school supplies, and electronics are exempt from sales tax.
September
Things to buy:
- Outdoor furniture and grills. The grilling season typically concludes on Labor Day weekend, leading to discounts on outdoor entertaining merchandise. Patio furniture becomes scarce after September, especially in physical stores, as retailers tend to discontinue stocking it for the winter season.
Important sales days:
- Labor Day. Remaining garments from back-to-school promotions will be available for purchase, and as is customary, there will be numerous discounts on appliances and mattresses.
October
Things to buy:
- Older iPhones. Apple typically unveils its latest smartphones in September, frequently on the second Tuesday of that month, meaning you may begin searching for discounted previous models in October.
- Cozy clothing. Retailers are aware that you are looking to purchase warmer clothing, and they will provide attractive discounts on leggings, robes, sweats, and joggers. While you may find deeper discounts in January, a wider variety of options is available in October.
Important sales days:
- Halloween. Halloween is not typically a significant shopping day, however, the days following are ideal for purchasing discounted costumes, candy, and spooky decorations that were not sold earlier in the month.
November
Things to buy:
- TVs and electronics. Black Friday and pre-Black Friday sales are responsible for these discounts, which commence at the beginning of the month. This period is typically ideal for purchasing TVs, smart home devices, tablets, computers, and smart watches.
Important sales days:
- Black Friday.
- Black Friday falls on November 29, 2024, this year, which is the day after Thanksgiving. The event has transformed into a month-long celebration, featuring a plethora of in-store and online discounts and promotions.
December
Things to buy:
- Toys and games.As the holiday season nears, retailers begin to offer discounts on toys and games in order to prevent excess inventory once Christmas is over.
Important shopping days:
- Cyber Monday. On Dec. 1, 2024, Cyber Monday (the first Monday after Thanksgiving) will offer online deals and likely replay many of the Black Friday deals from Nov. 28. Clothing, travel, appliances – you name it, you can probably buy it on sale.
- Super Saturday. For individuals who have not completed their holiday shopping yet, there is positive news: The Saturday prior to Christmas (Dec. 21, 2024) and the days that follow are brimming with eleventh-hour bargains.
- New Year’s Eve. After-Christmas and New Year sales typically occur from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, before the yearly bargain hunting starts all over again.
