Memorial Day Weekend/ Your Shopping Dos and Don’ts

This post Memorial Day Weekend/ Your Shopping Dos and Don’ts appeared first on Daily Reckoning.

Memorial Day is one of the biggest three-day-sale weekends of the year, and retailers will be slashing prices on almost everything, from mattresses to appliances, outdoor gear and more.

But while Memorial Day sales cover almost all product categories, there are some deals that are better than others.

To make sure you get the best deals and skip the worst, I’ve compiled a list of what to buy and what not to buy this Memorial Day weekend.

What to Buy

Mattresses

Historically, Memorial Day is one of the best times of year to buy a new mattress, even eclipsing major shopping holidays like President’s Day and Fourth of July.

This year, Layla Sleep is offering $125 off their signature Layla mattress, plus you get two free pillows with purchase. Serta is offering up to $600 in savings on its iComfort mattress set and you can snag $50 off twin and twin XL mattresses and $100 off all full, queen, king, and California king at Purple mattresses.

Appliances

Memorial Day sales rarely disappoint when it comes to deals on appliances — especially refrigerators.

Big players in this category include Best Buy and Lowes, which have offered in the past fridges and other major appliances up to 40% off.

This year, online retailer Made In is offering 15% off all individual items from May 24 to May 27.

Home Goods

Home goods deals are everywhere during Memorial Day weekend. Kohl’s and Macy’s have in the past hosted giant sitewide sales, while Overstock.com has taken 20% off area rugs, home decor, bedding and bath.

This year Birchlane is offering discounts up to 70% off in categories including outdoor furniture, rugs, sofas and sectionals, beds and headboards, dining tables, chairs, and lighting. Jet.com and Wayfair.com are also offering major deals starting May 20 through May 28.

Tools

Some of the best Memorial Day sales you’ll find are at home improvement stores, it’s a good time to stock up on tools right before summer and Father’s Day.

In the past, Home Depot has offered Memorial Day specials, including up to 50% off tools and hardware. This year Lowe’s has sales ranging anywhere from 10-25% off most tools.

Spring Apparel

With summer around the bend, stores are wanting to get rid of spring merchandise and make way for summer styles. Last year, high-end clothing retailer Lord & Taylor offered an extra 25%-60% off clearance styles.

Express.com has sales of up to 40% off, and department stores like Macy’s, JCPenney and Dillard’s all join in on Memorial Day weekend with deep discounts of their own.

Some stores will even throw in a free gift with purchase to entice shoppers.

Travel

If you have big summer travel plans, Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times to book travel deals.

You’ll find better-than-average prices on flights, hotels, and more from sites like Travelocity, Expedia, and CheapOAir. As the summer nears, travel deals will become sparse so consider booking your travel this Memorial Day weekend if you haven’t already.

What Not to Buy

Summer Apparel

Watch out for enticing displays with bathing suits, sandals, and beach towels this Memorial Day weekend. Several stores will run promotions on summer styles, but even bigger savings can be had at the end of the season.

If you can wait until August and September, you’ll see discounts up to 90% in some stores. That said, if you need to buy summer clothes, look for basic tees, tank tops, and flip flops.

Retailers like to offer big discounts on these staple items to hook shoppers into stores and online.

Grills, Patio Furniture and Outdoor Gear

You’ll see lots of patio furniture and barbecue grills on sale during Memorial Day weekend. You might be able to snag 20% on some of these items but if you wait until the end of the season, after Labor Day, you’ll save 50-80% off.

TVs and Electronics

Steer clear of most electronics deals during Memorial Day sales. You’ll have better luck during Amazon’s Prime Day and Black Friday in July sales.

In the past, retailers have run Black Friday in July sales with deals on laptops up to $200 off and TVs $700 off. On Prime Day, Amazon shoppers were offered a 75-inch Samsung 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $2,000 ($800 off what was then the current price). If you can wait until Thanksgiving weekend to buy your tech, do it.

You’ll find the best deals over Cyber Monday.

Apple Products

Every June, Apple hosts its Worldwide Developer Conference where they unveil the latest new Apple products.

If you’re in need of a new Macbook or iPad, wait until after the conference ends because retailers will begin discounting older models. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are also good times to buy Apple products.

Memorial Day sales are always something to look forward to.

Make sure you don’t spend what you don’t have to, and enjoy the time off with friends and family.

To a richer life,

Nilus Mattive

— Nilus Mattive
Editor, The Rich Life Roadmap

The post Memorial Day Weekend/ Your Shopping Dos and Don’ts appeared first on Daily Reckoning.