BOSTON — Memorial Day weekend is here and so are the deals. This weekend is a great opportunity to save money on big-ticket items, but experienced shoppers say there are some sales you’ll want to avoid.
Consumer blogger Andrea Woroch explains which items to buy now…and which ones to skip.
WHAT TO BUY
Home Appliances- Woroch said the best time to buy pricey home appliances is over long holiday weekends like Memorial Day where you can find big savings and financing deals. For example, Woroch said May is Maytag Month from now through May 31, offering up to 30 percent off Maytag appliances at Lowes, Home Depot, Best Buy and local retailers. Plus, you can get a $200 rebate when you buy three select appliances, she said.
Woroch found $400 off this Pet Pro Top Load Washer and $800 off this 36-inch French Door Refrigerator.
“I see a lot of retailers also offering additional savings if you buy more than one appliance,” she said.
Mattresses- Woroch said you can find major savings on a new mattress like $325 off the Saavta Loom and Leaf Memory Foam mattress and 50% off this Beautyrest Plush Pillow Top Mattress at Mattress Firm. She said many mattress retailers will also throw in discounts on frames and bases, free delivery and 0 percent financing. You can earn cash back, like 9.5% at Mattress Firm through CouponCabin.com, Woroch found.
“Memorial Day has historically offered a lot of good deals on mattresses so if that’s something you’ve been considering upgrading, now is the time to do it,” Woroch said.
Home Furniture- Woroch said home furniture retailers offer big price cuts during Memorial Day. Ashley Furniture has listed their “Spotlight Deals” with 50% off select furniture like $500 off this Rawcliffe 3-Piece Sectional. Keep an eye out for more sales from Wayfair and specialty home good stores like West Elm and Pottery Barn, she said.
Winter & Spring Apparel- As spring fashion takes a back seat, Memorial Day offers clearance deals on spring and winter clothing. Woroch recommends you prep for next winter by sizing up for your kids. For example, Woroch said you can score this Patagonia Girl’s Fleece for 45 percent off at BackCountry.com and this Athleta Mendocino Coat for $99, originally $229. Expect clothing brands like GAP, Old Navy and The Children’s Place to run an additional 50 to 75 percent off their clearance styles, Woroch said.
WHAT TO SKIP
Electronics- Amazon’s Prime Day predictions suggest the popular two-day sales event will launch around July 11, when you can find a wide selection of discounts on personal gadgets like headphones, tablets and smartwatches, and deals on home electronics like TVs and speakers, Woroch said.
Laptops- Retailers release back-to-school sales on laptops starting in mid-July through the end of August, making this the best time to buy a new model. Woroch said during this time, expect sales from brands like Dell, Apple and HP and consider refurbished models to save even more.
“You will see some small sales on electronics and laptops over Memorial Day but the real deals will come in the summer and that’s because Amazon Prime Day typically hits around mid-July,” Woroch said.
Outdoor Entertaining Essentials- With the beginning of summer around the corner, Woroch said stores know people have outdoor entertaining on their minds. You may see a few small sales on select grills and patio furniture to make you think these goods are on sale, but most are at their peak price point. Wait until end of summer for the best savings, Woroch said.
Summer Clothing & Sandals. You may see some small sales of 10 to 20% off summer clothing and sandals but the real deals will hit mid-summer, around the 4th of July, Woroch said. Get by with what you have or grab a used option from resale sites like Poshmark for now, she said.
“Try to hold off. The better deals—if you can wait—will be over the Fourth of July weekend and of course at the end of the summer. Make do with what you have now,” Woroch said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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