You're liable to find bargains in the two weeks before Mother's Day at the cosmetics counter.
Look for fragrance and body care sets or gift baskets, says Daniel Butler, vice president of retail operations for the National Retail Federation. While specials vary from line to line, you're likely to see more products for the money rather than discounts, he says.
Personal care items are on sale in May, too. Many small electronics, such as foot spas and massaging chair pads, will have discounts of 25 percent to 40 percent, Butler says.
The combination of Mother's Day and the start of wedding season means a lot of retailers offer discounts in May on small housewares such as coffee makers and vacuum cleaners, Butler says. "There's not as wide a (profit) margin on those," so look for discounts of 20 percent to 30 percent, he says.