Timing is everything when it comes to shopping for the best deals, so knowing when to buy is a key to saving money. Holidays — and the days right after — are often the best time to find certain deals. Seasons also play a role in when you’ll find the best prices on specific items.

A savings account that earns a competitive yield is a good way to build up the cash for your planned purchases — and to earn some interest on your money.

Here is a month-by-month guide for the best times to buy a variety of goods. Also included for each month are one or more freebie days, on which you may find establishments giving out complimentary items such as coffee, ice cream, cookies and more.

Top deals statistics

Many Americans wait until things go on sale to make purchases, and 9 in 10 reported using a coupon within the previous year. More than half reported cutting back on spending recently due to inflation.

January

January is the best time to buy exercise equipment and other fitness-related items to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions. You’ll also find deals on holiday leftovers in the electronics department. Many retailers mark down sheets and other bedding this month. And with people spending most of their time in dry, indoor air, it’s also a good month to shop for humidifiers.

January sales holidays in the U.S.

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Things to buy in January

Fitness Items

Total spent at health and personal care stores in January 2022: $32.2 billion

  • Bathroom scales
  • Exercise equipment
  • Fitness trackers

Technology items

Total spent at electronics stores in January 2022: $5.2 billion

  • Soundbars
  • Wireless routers
  • Smartwatches

Comfort items

Total spent at department stores in January 2022: $8.8 billion

  • Sheets, pillowcases and other bedding
  • Humidifiers

Freebie day: National Spaghetti Day, Jan. 4

February

Presidents Day weekend is when mattress deals abound. February is also a good month for furniture sales. Look for markdowns on TVs ahead of the Super Bowl along with clearance prices on computers and other electronics. As winter starts to wane, expect lower prices on snowblowers, space heaters and winter clothes. Also, sales on tax software begin this month, ahead of the mid-April filing deadline.

February sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Valentine’s Day: Spending in the U.S. for Valentine’s Day reached $23.9 billion in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), with an average expected spending per person of $175.
  • Presidents Day

Things to buy in February

Technology items

Total spent at electronics stores in February 2022: $4.9 billion

  • Cameras, cellphones, cell phone services, printers, tablet computers
  • TVs
  • Tax software

Winter items

Total spent at clothing stores in February 2022: $13.2 billion

  • Winter clothes
  • Snowblowers
  • Space heaters

Home items

Total spent at furniture stores in February 2022: $6 billion

  • Mattresses
  • Furniture
  • Dishwashers

Personal items

Total spent at department stores in February 2022: $11.4 billion

  • Jewelry
  • Perfume

Freebie day: National Frozen Yogurt Day, Feb. 6

March

Springtime means giving the home and yard a thorough sprucing up, so expect markdowns on house-cleaning and lawn equipment. As you get ready to open up the house after being indoors all winter, you’ll see deals on new windows. March ushers in college spring break season and many consumers start thinking about summer vacation plans, so it’s a good month for luggage sales. Retailers get more aggressive about clearing out their winter clothes inventory, too.

March sales holidays in the U.S.

  • St. Patrick’s Day: Adults in the U.S. were expected to spend an average of $42 on St. Patrick’s Day items in 2022, according to the NRF, which reported an expected $5.9 billion in total consumer spending.

Things to buy in March

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at hardware stores in March 2022: 3.3 billion

  • Replacement windows
  • Space heaters
  • Air purifiers
  • Weed eaters

Personal items

Total spent at department stores in March 2022: $10.6 billion

  • Luggage
  • Winter clothes

Freebie day: Pi Day, March 14

April

If wintry weather lingers into April, look for bargains on equipment to help you get your home and yard looking tidy again. Expect markdowns on bike helmets and grills as the weather warms. You’ll see discounts on formalwear during high school prom season.

April sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Easter: Easter spending in the U.S. reached $20.8 billion in 2022, with consumers spending an average of $170 on gifts and celebrations, according to NRF data.

Things to buy in April

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at hardware stores in April 2022: $3.5 billion

  • Replacement windows
  • Home improvement tools, pressure washers, vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners
  • Chainsaws, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, tractors, weed whackers/string trimmers
  • Grills

Personal items

Total spent at sporting goods stores in May 2022: $5.4 billion

  • Bike helmets
  • Formalwear

Freebie day: Tax Day, April 18; Earth Day, April 22

May

Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest holiday shopping weekends of the year. It’s a good time to save on major purchases, such as air conditioners. Memorial Day weekend is also the traditional end of the school year, so expect to see sales on items related to outdoor fun, vacations, and home and yard maintenance. Look for markdowns over Mother’s Day weekend, too.

May sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Mother’s Day: Spending for Mother’s Day reached a record high in 2022 of $31.7 billion, with an average spent per person of $246.
  • Memorial Day

Things to buy in May

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at hardware stores in May 2022: 3.9 billion

  • Replacement windows
  • Air conditioners
  • Home improvement tools, pressure washers, vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners
  • Chainsaws, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, tractors, weed whackers
  • Grills

Personal items

Total spent at sporting goods stores in May 2022: $5.5 billion

  • Bike helmets
  • Strollers

Home Items

Total spent at household appliance stores in May 2022: $1.8 billion

  • Mattresses
  • Air mattresses
  • Freezers
  • Carpet cleaners
  • Blenders

Freebie day: National Hamburger Day, May 28

June

Summer begins in June, the kids are out of school and Americans celebrate Father’s Day. It’s an opportune time to shop for equipment related to home, yard and outdoor fun.

June sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Father’s Day: Americans spent a total of $20 billion for Father’s Day in 2022, with adults spending an average of $172 on gifts such as clothes, gift cards and electronics, according to NRF data.

Things to buy in June

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at hardware stores in June 2022: $3.8 billion

  • Pressure washers
  • Weed eaters
  • Cordless drills

Personal items

  • Strollers

Technology Items

Total spent at electronics stores in June 2022: $5.2 billion

  • Smartwatches
  • Smart speakers

Home Items

Total spent at household appliances stores in June 2022: $1.8 billion

  • Dishwashers
  • Blenders

Freebie day: National Doughnut Day, June 2

July

Fourth of July and Amazon Prime Day are the sales holidays in July. Prime Day, which started in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s 20th anniversary, is an opportunity for Prime members and small businesses to score deals on a large variety of items.

Other big retailers also hold sales around that time. Look for bargains at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, Wayfair and Bed Bath & Beyond.

July sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Fourth of July: Planned per-person spending on food items for Independence Day 2022 was $84, with 26 percent of those celebrating planning to purchase additional patriotic items, according to the NRF.

Things to buy in July

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at electronics stores in July 2022: $5.3 billion

  • Grills
  • Home security cameras

Personal items

  • Strollers

Home Items

Total spent at household appliance stores in July 2022: $1.7 billion

  • Major appliances
  • Mattresses
  • Microwave ovens
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Steam irons

Freebie day: National Ice Cream Day, July 16

August

August is a great time to shop for back-to-school items, and some states offer sales tax holidays on clothing, shoes and more. As summer winds down, it’s a good time to buy bathing suits, patio furniture and other warm weather merchandise. It’s a good month for indoor furniture deals, too, as retailers make way for the next season’s inventory.

Things to buy in August:

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at furniture stores in August 2022: $6.7 billion

  • Grills
  • Home security cameras
  • Patio furniture
  • Indoor furniture

Personal/School items

Total spent at stores that sell furniture and electronics in August 2022: $19.8 billion

  • Back-to-school supplies
  • Dormitory furniture and accessories
  • Laptops, computers, tablets, printers, routers
  • Swimsuits/summer clothes

Home Items

Total spent at household appliances stores in August 2022: $1.8 billion

  • Vacuum cleaners

Freebie day: National Waffle Day, Aug. 24

September

Labor Day weekend is a great time to find deals on big kitchen appliances, air conditioners and air purifiers, lawn equipment, grills, bicycles, computers, smart speakers and new windows for your home.

September sales Holidays in the U.S.

  • Labor Day

Things to buy in September:

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at hardware stores in September 2022: $3.4 billion

  • Air conditioners
  • Air purifiers
  • Washers and dryers
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Lawn equipment
  • Replacement Windows
  • Grills

Tech items

Total spent at electronics stores in September 2022: $5.2 billion

  • Computers
  • Speakers

Health Items

Total spent at sporting goods stores in September 2022: $5.2 billion

  • Bikes

Freebie day: National Cheeseburger Day, Sept. 18

October

The fourth quarter of 2022 is likely to be the best time of the year to buy a new vehicle, says retired automotive journalist Matt DeLorenzo, author of “How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.”

Tight vehicle inventory reduced consumer demand because of high prices and a lack of purchase incentives and deals chilled the 2022 auto market, but DeLorenzo thinks inventory might improve as the year winds down and dealers may be more apt to negotiate.

Other items to look for in October include fall and winter yard-work tools. Columbus Day is a popular holiday for mattress markdowns.

October sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Halloween: Halloween-related sales were expected to reach an average of $100 per person, with a $10.6 billion in total planned spending, according to NRF data.

Things to buy in October

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at hardware stores in October 2021: $3.1 billion

  • Chainsaws, leaf blowers, snow blowers
  • Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, thermostats
  • Cooktops, ranges

Tech items

Total spent at electronics stores in October 2021: $6.1 billion

  • Cell phone service

Home Items

Total spent at furniture stores in October 2021: $6.6 billion

  • Mattresses

Vehicles

Total spent at new car dealerships in October 2021: $87 billion

  • New vehicles

Freebie days: National Coffee Day, Oct. 1; National Taco Day, Oct. 4

November

The post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping bonanzas of Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the absolute best times of year to buy almost anything, especially TVs, computers, and small and large household appliances.

November sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Thanksgiving: The average cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 was $64 — or less than $6.50 a person —  according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which reported this was a 20 percent increase over last year’s costs.

Things to buy in November

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at household appliance stores in November 2021: $1.8 billion

  • Washers and dryers
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Small kitchen appliances
  • Flooring

Tech items

Total spent at electronics stores in November 2021: $7.1 billion

  • TVs
  • Speakers
  • Computers
  • Printers
  • Cameras

Health Items

Total spent at sporting goods stores in November 2021: $5.6 billion

  • Exercise equipment

Home Items

Total spent at home appliance stores in November 2021: $1.8 billion

  • Vacuum cleaners

Vehicles

Total spent at new car dealerships in November 2021: $86 billion

  • New vehicles

Freebie day: National Sandwich Day, Nov. 3

December

Many sales that kick off on Black Friday and Cyber Monday continue through Christmas. December is a good month to buy electronics, small appliances, fitness items and winter yard maintenance equipment.

December sales holidays in the U.S.

  • Christmas and Hanukkah: The NRF forecasts total holiday spending to be between $942.6 billion and $960.4 billion in 2022. This would equate to 6 to 8 percent growth in spending over 2021.

Things to buy in December

Home Improvement Items

Total spent at home appliance stores in December 2021: $1.7 billion

  • Washers and dryers
  • Kitchen appliances
  • Small kitchen appliances
  • Thermostats

Tech items

Total spent at electronics stores in December 2021: $8.7 billion

  • TVs
  • Speakers
  • Computers
  • Printers
  • Cameras
  • Cell phones

Health Items

Total spent at sporting goods stores in December 2021: $7.5 billion

  • Exercise equipment

Personal Items

Total spent at hobby, toy and game stores in December 2021: $3.1 billion

  • Toys and games
  • Electric razors

Home Items

  • Vacuum cleaners
  • Humidifiers
  • Carpet cleaners
  • Security cameras
  • Snowblowers

Vehicles

Total spent at new car dealerships in December 2021: $93 billion

  • New Vehicles

Freebie day: National Cookie Day, Dec. 4

FAQs

  • October, November and December are the most discounted months at car dealerships, according to car shopping guide Edmunds. Currently, vehicles remain in short supply due to semiconductor chip shortages. As a result, prices for both new and used vehicles remain at record highs in the fourth quarter of 2022.“It might be worth waiting until the fourth quarter for the holiday or year-end sales events to buy,” retired automotive journalist DeLorenzo says. “By then, inventory may be high enough to see some incentives, if not a willingness on the part of the dealer to sell at or below MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price).“Compact economy cars and midsize sedans are probably the best bets to find a deal,” he adds. “Also, models that are going to be discontinued because of slow sales may provide an opportunity to find a bargain.”
  • Deals can often be found in January and February, as the Super Bowl approaches, when many sports fans are planning to host big football parties. Another popular time for TV sales is Black Friday, when many models are marked down by hundreds of dollars.
  • You’ll often find the best deals on appliances such as refrigerators, washers and dryers in the months of May, September and November. These are the months when sales take place for Memorial Day, Labor Day and Black Friday.
  • Sleep experts say you should replace your mattress every 10 years. Since they’re often an expensive purchase, it can pay to wait until the times when the best sales are offered. This is often the Fourth of July, as well as Monday holidays that include Presidents Day, Labor Day and Memorial Day, according to Slumber Yard.
  • Indoor furniture typically goes on sale in the winter and summer months prior to new inventory arriving in stores. Sales also commonly take place during holiday weekends including Presidents Day, the Fourth of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day.The best deals on outdoor furniture can often be found in August and September, when stores work to clear out their inventory of grills, patio table sets and weather-resilient sofas.
  • According to experts interviewed by The Points Guy, the best prices on U.S. domestic flights may be found between 21 and 60 days prior to the day of travel, whereas the lowest prices on international flights may show up fewer than 150 days prior to your travel day — since airlines could lower prices to adjust for demand.
Note: Bankrate relied on industry experts and Consumer Reports to compile its list.