China, flatware and bridal favorites
Whether you have to pick up a wedding gift or a few new place settings for upcoming holidays, September is the month when you can really save on china and flatware, says Hillary Mendelsohn, author of "thepurplebook" series of shopping guides and founder of ThePurpleBook.com.
This year's "patterns are being cleared out for new patterns to come in," so you can save up to 50 percent, she says. Large department stores are a good source for bargains.
And, coincidentally, September and October are the "second-busiest months for weddings after May and June," Butler says. Many items that typically end up on those bridal registries -- such as kitchen gadgets and small appliances -- will be marked 30 percent to 50 percent off, says Daniel Butler, vice president of merchandising and retail operations for the National Retail Federation.