The Best Time of Year to Buy Almost Everything: A Month-by-Month Calendar

Retail pricing is seasonal in a way that most shoppers underestimate. Products are discounted when new models arrive, when inventory needs to clear before a financial year-end, and around a handful of holidays that have become sale events in their own right. If you can wait a few weeks, you can usually save 20-40% on the same item. Here is the calendar we keep on the wall.

January

TVs and home theatre. New models are announced at the big January trade shows, so last year’s sets drop sharply – and they are often the better buy. Fitness equipment is also heavily promoted; resolution-season deals are real, if you ignore the subscriptions attached to them. Bedding and linens traditionally go on sale in “white sales” this month.

February

Winter clothing hits clearance. Coats, boots and knitwear are at their lowest of the year. It is also a quiet month for furniture, and many retailers run Presidents’ Day or mid-season events.

March

Luggage is discounted ahead of spring travel. Last-generation laptops drop as spring refreshes ship. Many brands end their financial year in March, which means quiet but genuine clearance.

April and May

Mattresses are famously cheapest around late-May holiday weekends – new models land in June. Spring clothing starts to be marked down in May, and cookware is promoted around Mother’s Day.

June and July

Summer-prime sale events from the big marketplaces pull every competitor into a discount war in July. Outdoor furniture and grills drop at the end of July. Swimwear is cheapest in late July, though sizes thin out.

August

Back-to-school: laptops, backpacks, stationery, kids’ clothing. Many regions run tax-free weekends. Summer sports gear clears out.

September and October

Previous-generation phones drop within days of new launches. Appliances are discounted as new ranges land. Bikes are cheaper in October as the season ends in the northern hemisphere.

November

Black Friday and Cyber Monday need no introduction, but two things are worth knowing: the best prices are often available from the first week of November, and the “doorbuster” models are frequently made specifically for the event with cheaper components. Read the model number.

December

Toys fall sharply in the two weeks before the holidays as retailers protect themselves from overstock. The week after Christmas brings the deepest clothing and decoration clearance of the year.

Three evergreen rules

• Buy last year’s model. In almost every category the previous generation is 80-95% of the product for 60-70% of the price.
• Set alerts instead of browsing. Decide the price you will pay and let a tracker tell you when it arrives.
• Stack a coupon. Seasonal prices plus a verified code is where the real savings live. Our brand pages show which codes work on top of sale prices.