Retail Holiday Calendar: Upcoming Sales to Shop in 2023

Planning purchases around volatile market factors like inflation and supply chain disruption can be a real headache. As frustrating (and expensive) as these setbacks are, learning about sale holidays and seasonal category discounts is one tried-and-true approach to maximizing your 2023 budget.

There’s no telling how good the sales will be or which products will be featured, but reading up on yearly sale patterns is an easy way to retain control of your finances despite the current economic landscape.

You won’t always know exactly when you’ll need to buy a new winter coat or stovetop range, so think of it this way — a handful of well-timed purchases might leave you with enough leftover cash to account for those inevitable emergency buys.

To help you save money year-round, we’ve collected the most important upcoming sales of 2023:

January

If you missed out on a holiday deal in November or December, great news — January is the perfect time to tie up loose ends from your 2022 shopping list.

What to Buy in January:

1. Home fitness equipment. If you’re kicking off the new year with a renewed dedication to your fitness goals, January is a great time to save on kettlebells, rowing machines, exercise bikes and workout apparel.
2. Winter apparel and outerwear. The winter holidays might be over, but the weather certainly isn’t warming up any time soon. To clear space for incoming spring fashions, retailers often slash prices on coats, hats, scarves and other cold-weather gear in mid to late January.
3. Leftover 2022 electronics. You’ll find plenty of lingering holiday TV and smartphone deals throughout January, but keep an eye out for models likely to be replaced in 2023 — supply will taper off once the latest versions are released.
4. Bedding and bath linens. Department stores like Macy’s and Kohl’s rarely advertise their bed and bath “white sales” of yesteryear, but many retailers still follow this January tradition. Look for sheet, towel, bedspread and comforter deals in January.

January Sale Holidays:

• New Year’s Day (January 1st) — Last-chance holiday deals, yearly memberships
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16th)
• Lunar New Year (January 22nd through February 5th)

February

February might be the shortest month of the year, but you’ll find no shortage of ways to save on electronics, apparel and romantic gifts.

What to Buy in February:

1. TVs, especially 2022 models. Between Super Bowl Sunday (February 12th) and the common early spring release schedule for new TV models, February is a great time to score massive savings on 2022 TVs and modest savings on new 2023 releases.
2. Cold weather gear. If you’re shopping for outerwear or winter outdoor apparel, February is the sweet spot between “large selection, high prices in fall” and “spotty selection, rock-bottom prices in spring.”
3. Tax preparation software. February is usually when tax software companies like H&R Block and TurboTax roll out their 2023 tax season deals ahead of Tax Day on April 18th.
4. Jewelry, chocolate and other Valentine’s Day staples. The selection might be limited, but the deepest discounts crop up on February 15th, the day after Valentine’s Day.

February Sale Holidays:

• Super Bowl Sunday (February 12th) — TVs, game-day groceries
• Valentine’s Day (February 14th) — Sweets, fragrances, jewelry, travel
• President’s Day (February 20th) — Electronics, mattresses, major appliances

March

While March is light on sale holidays compared to many months of the year, there is one major upside — there’s no better time to stack early bird savings on warm-weather purchases, especially once retailers start phasing out winter-specific products.

What to Buy in March:

1. Grills and outdoor furniture. Start shopping for grills and outdoor kitchen supplies in March if you want to beat the spring-summer rush.
2. Outdoor gear and apparel. Typically, March is when retailers start offering discounts on camping equipment, hiking apparel and trail supplies. Prices hit an all-time low in the fall, but start shopping in March if you prioritize selection over the discount percentage.

March Sale Holidays:

• International Women’s Day (March 8th)
• St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th)
• Ramadan (March 22nd through April 21st)

April

Most April sale categories are centered around renewal and maintenance. Plan these purchases for April if you want to save money on spring cleaning, tax preparation and upgrading your wardrobe.

What to Buy in April:

1. Automotive services and parts. Could your car use a bit of spring cleaning? April is National Car Care Month, so look for discounted tune-up services, parts and accessories.
2. Office supplies and document management. As tax season draws to a close, you can save money on office supplies, paper shredding and cloud hosting in the first half of April.
3. Spring apparel deals. Easter falls on April 9th this year, so expect solid discounts on formal and semi-formal apparel – especially for kids.
4. Cleaning supplies, especially vacuums. Coincidentally, April is known for rising pollen levels and competitively priced vacuum cleaner deals.

April Sale Holidays:

• Easter (April 9th) — Easter candy, gift baskets, egg-dying kits and spring clothes
• Tax Day (April 18th) — Save on tax preparation services and filing software
• Earth Day (April 22nd) — Eco-friendly specials on “green” and energy-efficient products
• World Book Day (April 23rd) — Discounted books, e-books and exclusive bookstore freebies

May

Once spring has sprung, the 2023 sale holiday calendar really starts picking up in May. The best May sales favor the second half of the month, between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekend.

What to Buy in May:

1. Indoor and outdoor furniture. Couch sets, patio furniture and bed frames are just a few commonly featured Memorial Day furniture deals at popular retailers like Target, Lowe’s and Wayfair.
2. Appliances of all sizes. From countertop kitchen appliances to washer-dryer sets, you can reliably find solid appliance discounts around Mother’s Day (May 14th) and Memorial Day.
3. Mattresses. The best May mattress deals usually hover around Memorial Day, but you can snag ultra-low prices on floor models and last year’s clearance mattresses earlier in the month.
4. Spring apparel. As shoppers gear up to buy new swimsuits and warm weather gear, shop in May if you want to lock down clearance-priced springtime styles.

May Sale Holidays:

• Teacher Appreciation Day (May 1st through May 5th) — Extra school supplies, classroom decor, educator-themed gifts, teacher’s discounts
• Mother’s Day (May 14th) — Home goods, jewelry, small kitchen appliances, apparel, freebies for mothers
• Memorial Day (May 29th) — Furniture, major appliances, clothing, electronics

June

There aren’t many noteworthy sale holidays in June, but we’ve spotted a few trends — shop these categories for discounts on practical household items and summer fun.

What to Buy in June:

1. Clearance spring apparel. Selection will be limited, but you’ll enjoy the lowest spring apparel prices of the year by shopping in June.
2. Gift card offers. Graduation season is a major occasion for gift card giving. Chain restaurants like Applebee’s sometimes offer free food and card balance bonuses when you purchase one or more gift cards in June.
3. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Air conditioners are abundant and reasonably priced in the early summer — and you might have to pay extra if you wait for the first scorcher of the year.
4. Gym memberships. With so many free outdoor fitness opportunities available, gym membership sign-ups plummet in June. Even if your preferred gym isn’t offering any promotions, they might be more lenient about negotiating prices and contracts.

June Sale Holidays:

• Father’s Day (June 18th) — Grills and accessories, men’s apparel, wallets, tools
• Juneteenth (June 19th)

July

If you’re ready for fall by the end of June, there’s a good chance you’ll love this abundance of July tech deals.

What to Buy in July:

1. Back-to-school devices. Whether you’re shopping for your preschooler or your post-doc, mid-July is the best time to start shopping for school supplies. Laptops, two-in-one tablets and educational software receive the biggest markdowns this time of year.
2. Amazon Prime Day device deals. The Prime Day 2023 date is still under wraps for now, but Amazon’s annual mid-July blowout sale is a surefire way to get the lowest prices on Ring cameras, Echo Dot speakers, iRobot Roomba vacuums and other Amazon devices. Look out for Prime Day alternatives from major competitors like Target and Walmart.
3. Summer apparel. Fall apparel deals are closer than they appear. Prices will continue to drop well into September, but you’ll find a much more diverse selection of bathing suits, sunglasses, T-shirts and sundresses in late July. On top of that, you can show off your haul before 2024!

July Sale Holidays:

• Independence Day (July 4th) — Lawn care, yard furniture, grills, party supplies, patriotic decor
• Amazon Prime Day (June or July) — Amazon devices, laptops, small appliances, smartphones, household necessities

August

Back-to-school deals peak in August, which more than makes up for the month’s notorious lack of holidays.

What to Buy in August:

1. School supplies. Beat the crowds and knock out your school supply list without breaking the bank by shopping in early August. You can shop directly from your school’s provided list at Staples, Target and Walmart.
2. End-of-summer clearance sales. Score last-chance prices on lawn care supplies, patio furniture, grilling equipment, swimsuits, pools and other summer essentials before the summer ends.
3. Laptops. The best back-to-school laptop deals from Apple, HP, Lenovo and other top tech brands usually peak by the end of August.

August Sale Holidays:

• Tax-Free Dates — Not all states offer a yearly tax-free shopping holiday, but August is a popular choice because there aren’t many sale holidays. If you’re planning a major clothing or school supply purchase, skip the sales tax by shopping on a tax-free week.

September

What to Buy in September:

1. Apparel for all seasons. Depending on where you live and the time of day, September can feel like winter, spring, summer or fall. Fortunately, early autumn is packed with seasonal apparel deals — summer styles finally hit the clearance rack, fall clothing is no longer brand new and cozy winterwear deals are right around the corner.
2. Mattresses and toppers. If you want a cozy new bed before the cold weather creeps in, Mattress Firm, Tempur-pedic and Casper are just a handful of popular Labor Day mattress sale destinations.
3. 2022 Apple products. Apple usually reveals new products, upgraded models and price drops in early to mid-September. Don’t expect many discounts on a 2023 iPhone or Macbook, but their newly-obsolete 2022 counterparts will become significantly cheaper.

September Sale Holidays:

• Labor Day (September 4th) — Patio furniture, back-to-school surplus, major appliances, mattresses

October

If you feel like Black Friday arrives earlier and earlier with each passing year, you might be onto something. October 2022 was essentially a month-long “pre-Black Friday” sale, which is great news for anyone hoping to save on electronics and winter apparel in 2023.

What to Buy in October:

1. Early Black Friday deals. Since 2020, many retailers have switched to a long-form Black Friday sale in favor of a single blowout event. “Early Black Friday” discounts aren’t always the lowest prices of the holiday season, but shopping in October is a satisfying way to hammer out your gift list early.
2. Cold weather clothing. Winter coats, insulating base layers, gloves and other winter necessities sales usually begin in October. You might find better discounts in March or April, but clearance pricing comes at the cost of selection and style. Hold off on most other apparel purchases until Black Friday sales begin.

October Sale Holidays:

• Halloween (October 31st) — Halloween costumes, candy and decorations

November

Since November is essentially a 30-day-long sale holiday, one could argue that it is the best time of year to buy most things. There are plenty of exceptions to this rule, but you’d be hard-pressed to find Black Friday-caliber deals on electronics or major appliances any other time of year.

What to Buy in November:

1. Electronics. Thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, November is handily the best time of year for tech deals. Shop the sales and stack those coupons to score brag-worthy prices on TVs, computers, gaming consoles, smartphones, smart home devices, wearables and countless other gadgets.
2. Baking supplies. With Thanksgiving and a suite of winter holidays on the horizon, stocking up on baking sheets, chocolate chips, cookie cutters and gift packaging in November is never a bad idea.
3. Major appliances. In the weeks leading up to Black Friday, make sure to take advantage of BOGO appliance deals and limited-time rebate offers from big-box retailers like Best Buy and Walmart.

November Sale Holidays:

• Veteran’s Day (November 11th)
• Thanksgiving Day (November 23rd)
• Black Friday (November 24th) — Year-low prices across most shopping categories
• Small Business Saturday (November 25th) — Limited-time promotions from online retailers, exclusive sales and specials from local establishments
• Cyber Monday (November 27th) — Tech deals, cloud service subscriptions, travel offers, online-only retailer sales

December

The weekends leading up to Christmas routinely rank among the highest volume spending days of the year, but last-minute shopping isn’t the only factor worth considering — you can get the best toy prices and holiday decor deals of the year in December.

What to Buy in December:

1. Toys and video games. Shop early toy sales in October and November if you’re worried about locking down a specific item before the holidays, but popular toys usually reach their lowest prices later in December.
2. Home decor, especially holiday-themed. From throw pillows to lawn ornaments — December is the perfect time to buy any home decor featuring a Christmas tree, menorah, holly leaf or another winter holiday motif.
3. Electronics. While you probably won’t find a lower price, many Black Friday tech sales carry over into December.

December Sale Holidays:

• Hanukkah (December 7th through December 15th)
• Christmas (December 25th)
• New Year’s Eve (December 31st)