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If you missed out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday and all the mega deals they had to offer, no need to wait till next year to scoop up savings. Beyond Prime Day and other annual shopping sales such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, certain items tend to go on sale at various times throughout the year. That means planning your purchases can really help you get the most bang for your buck. Not to mention that spacing out big-ticket purchases can make it easier on your budget.
We also realize that you have no control over when your aging dishwasher finally goes kaput. While every appliance has a life expectancy and there are better times to scoop up big-ticket items, you can always find a deal if you shop smart—something we can lend a hand with.
To stay on top of the latest sales on tried-and-true products, follow our Deals coverage or subscribe to our newsletter. And if you have a question, you can always get in touch.
In the meantime, read on for when to plan to purchase everything from computers to appliances, broken down month by month.
January is the best time to buy linens
Treat yourself to new bed sheets and bath towels during 'white sales' in January.
Wait until January to snag brand-new towels and a pair of discounted sheets, when many department stores hold “white sales” on these items. After testing, the Parachute classic towel ranked at the top of our list of the best bath towels—it's absorbent, plush, and very comfortable.
If you're shopping for the best bedsheets, you have plenty of excellent choices. Brooklinen's Luxe Core sheet set are our go-to pick for top-of-the-line sateen, and the company's Classic Core Sheet Set scored best out of the percale options. If flannel is more your thing, we recommend the ultra-comfy Lands' End sheet set.
Stay cozy with these soft and comfy sheets from Brooklinen.
February is the best time to buy a laptop
Make room in your February budget for a new computer.
While back-to-school season is often the go-to period to purchase a new laptop, the beginning of the year is ideal as well. End-of-year models tend to see a price drop a couple months into a new year and still often come with the latest features you can expect from newer products.
That being said, if you are buying an older laptop once the price drops, make sure you're not buying a model that's too old: We recommend no older than one or two years.
Can’t decide which one to get? The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus ranks as the best laptop under $1,000 thanks to its stylish chassis, bright display, and strong overall performance.
The beginning of February is also a good opportunity to pick up a new TV, thanks to sales in advance of the Super Bowl. You can often save a few hundred bucks off a new big screen during this time.
Picking up last year's laptop models can be a great way to save money.
March is the best time to buy luggage
The month of March is packed with sales on luggage.
You can get ahead of summer travel plans by shopping for your new luggage when they're on sale in March. Even if you don’t have a trip planned, don’t put off buying luggage until you need it, especially if you won’t have much time to research durable options by then.
In an effort to avoid airline baggage fees, many people opt to travel with only carry-on luggage nowadays. Sound familiar? We've got some ideas for you. Overpackers, meanwhile, can confidently upgrade to the expandable Travelpro Platinum Elite, which reigns as our top pick for checked luggage.
For those who prefer a hard-sided option, we're also fans of Briggs & Riley Sympatico large expandable spinner. We loved its offset handle and organizational features in addition to its rugged durability.
If you need some new luggage, our experts recommend this spinner from Travelpro.
April is the best time to buy a vacuum
There are neat deals on vacuums during spring cleaning sales in April.
Our in-house cleaning guru Jonathan Chan says that April is a great time to take advantage of spring cleaning sales if you’re in need of a new vacuum. The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI VS28C9762UK got the top honors as far as the best cordless vacuums thanks to its self-emptying canister, excellent battery life, and powerful cleaning performance.
Looking to skip some of your household duties? Out of all the affordable robot vacuums we’ve tested, the Eufy Robovac 11s wins our approval. It’s quiet, picks up a fair amount of dirt, and its slim design navigates tight spaces and corners.
Keep up with your cleaning thanks to this excellent Samsung stick vac.
May is the best time to buy a refrigerator, a mattress, and more
There's cool savings on refrigerators—and mattresses—in May.
Mattresses are on sale at various points in the year, and May is one prime opportunity, as it lines up with Memorial Day sales. We recently ranked and reviewed several mattresses-in-a-box, with the Leesa Hybrid taking the No. 1 spot as the best upgrade without a high price tag.
May is also an ideal time to buy a new refrigerator, as this is when new models tend to hit the stores, putting last year’s models at a discount. If you have a counter-depth fridge in mind, we’re fans of the Frigidaire Gallery GRQC2255BF thanks to its near-perfect temperature performance, custom-temp compartment, and a whole host of helpful extra features.
If French-doors aren't your style, we've done tons of research for other types of refrigerators, too.
May is also Maytag Month, where you can save up to $200 via rebate when buying multiple select appliances. Those buying two qualifying appliances can save up to $50, those buying three can cave up to $100, and those buying four can save the full $200.
Sleep better with this mattress from Leesa.
June is the best time to buy home gym equipment
Sales on exercise equipment wheel out in June.
June is often a good time to invest in fitness equipment like a new treadmill or elliptical, as it’s when fitness retailers are often beginning to clear inventory.
There are many high quality, yet affordable, treadmills on the market right now, but be sure to consider what characteristics best fit your needs before making your purchase.
Working with a smaller budget? We even tested this more affordable stationary bike to see how it stacked up to pricey cult-favorite Peloton.
Save money over a Peolton with this more affordable option from Echelon
July is the best time to buy furniture and large appliances
July is often a great time to find deals on indoor furniture such as couches, tables, and chairs, as new showroom styles tend to hit the stores the following month. To jumpstart your search, check out our guide on the 20 best places to buy furniture online, including spots like Wayfair, Walmart, and beyond.
You can also save big during 4th of July sales, when bigger-ticket items are typically available at huge discounts. As many of these sales let you save a percentage off the total purchase price, this is another excellent time to pick up any more expensive items, like large appliances and furniture.
August is the best time to buy a lawnmower
August is the ideal month to get a good price on a new lawnmower, as it's when stores start trying to replace their lawn care inventory with snow blowers. As boring a purchase as it may be, it’s a must for most homeowners, and can be a pricey one at that. Pro tip: Sharpen the blades and adjust the settings to avoid making these common lawn care mistakes.
If you want to save even more money and don’t have too much ground to cover, opt for a push mower over a self-propelled mower to keep a couple hundred dollars in your pocket. And if you do buy a self-propelled mower, go with the excellent Ego Power+ LM2135SP for its power and comfortable handling.
You can save on elbow grease with this self-driving mower from Ego.
September is the best time to buy a dishwasher or get a head start on grilling season
Sales on gas grills heat up in September.
September is one of the better times to buy a dishwasher as it's around this time of year that older models will start to get replaced by newer ones, letting you pick up last year's offering at a deep discount.
September also brings good news for your Labor Day barbecue: September is the best time to buy a new grill, as prices tend to drop after the 4th of July.
We chose the Weber Spirit II E-310 as the best gas grill. It's sturdy and has a well-built design, plus it cooks and sears meats and veggies to near perfection.
Pick up your grill before the Labor Day cookout and save money.
October is (one of) the best times to buy a large appliance
Reviewed’s lab team—which has had its hands on thousands of appliances—says that the final weeks of September into October are prime time to buy a new dishwasher or washer and dryer. This is when new models start rolling into stores, driving down the price tags of older models.
The Beko DUT25401X, which typically retails for around $790, ranked highest among the best affordable dishwashers for its low noise, energy efficiency, and impressive cleaning ability. We've also got you covered if you're looking for a dishwasher with a third rack.
As for laundry duty, the Electrolux ELFW7637AT and Electrolux ELFE7637AT beat out the competition for the best overall washer and best dryer respectively.
If top-loaders are more your style, then the GE Profile PTW900BPTRS is our pick, thanks to its cleaning power and large capacity.
Of course, if you're unable to get to shopping for a large appliance in October there's no need to worry—another excellent opportunity is just around the corner.
This Beko is one of the best affordable dishwashers you can buy.
November is the best time to buy a TV or large appliance
Come November, flip through deals on TVs.
November is home to Black Friday, the biggest shopping holiday of the year. During this time you can often find expensive items at incredibly low prices, letting you save big bucks if you've been holding off on purchases throughout the rest of the year.
One of the better items to buy is a new TV. Though not as central to Black Friday sales as they have been in past years, you can often find TVs on sale for hundreds of dollars off. The Sony 65” A95K 4K HDR OLED TV is one of the best smart OLED TVs you can currently buy, thanks to its picture-perfect performance and helpful suite of software.
Of course, Black Friday is one of the absolute best times to buy any high-priced item as many of the sales take a percentage off the total retail price: the higher the price, the deeper the discount.
Watch the big game in style on this Sony OLED.
December is the best time to buy small appliances
Find steals on small appliances like air purifiers and coffee makers in December.
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales spilling into the holiday season, December is a great time to buy up small appliances for yourself or as gifts for loved ones. Check out our guides on items like the best air fryers, electric griddles, and pressure cookers before you begin browsing.
Our cooking experts say it’s also a good time to score deals on coffee gadgets—you may be able to snag a discount on appliances like our favorite coffee makers. We love the Technivorm Moccamaster, which brews a smooth cup of coffee and looks great on your kitchen counter, too.
Start each morning with a delicious cup of coffee courtesy of Moccamaster
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Other Shopping Tips
Even if you're unable to shop for the specific items you want during the time of year they tend to be on sale, that doesn't mean there aren't other great ways to save money by shopping smart. Here are a few tips on how to save money when shopping in between sales events.
Best Buy's open box discount can help save some money
Best Buy offers an "open box" on any item that's been returned to the store after being opened that are otherwise in excellent condition.
This can include televisions or appliances that were a size too big for a shopper's setup, unwanted gifts, or other items that made their way back to the store. These discounts tend to scale with the price of the item, so you can save big on more expensive items.
Best Buy's site has more info on their open box policy.
Revamping your kitchen? Take advantage of an appliance package deal
Almost every retailer offers a discount for buying multiple appliances at once. Purchasing a new matching dishwasher, range, and refrigerator can often let you save hundreds of dollars over buying them all individually.
Black Friday and other big sales events are a great time to take advantage of these sorts of sales, as these package deals often see even deeper discounts than normal.
Take advantage of rebates to save even more
Regardless of the time of year, you can always take advantage of rebates to save some money. One of the easiest ways to do this is buy buying Energy Star certified products. Energy Star's site has a rebate finder that will allow you save on select products.
As an added bonus, these more energy efficient products can save you a ton of money if they're replacing an older product. Newer appliances in particular can dramatically lower your utility bill if you're still using an appliance that's ten years old or older.