Save Money By Shopping At The Right Time: A Month By Month Guide

While we don’t always have the opportunity to plan expenses, we can look ahead and leverage timing to save significantly on what we need.  The internet has radically changed our timetables for gathering information and making purchases.  So these dates aren’t hard and fast rules- if you know where to look, deals can be found all year. 

But they can be a great guide for budgeting and a big way to save, since retailers will compete for your business at these times.

A Month-by-Month Guide to Shopping

January

Let January ring in the new year with deals on fitness equipment, vitamins, and health food! The same companies that have been selling you candy, cookies, and fruit cake are now ready to sell you everything you need to begin a “New Year, New You.”  Yoga mats, walking pads, weighted vests, and some crazy protein bars made the rounds this year.

In addition to stores, Facebook Marketplace and other resale sites can be a gold mine for these items.  Aunt Susie, who has been using her elliptical as a clothes hanger since June, may be looking to cash in on someone else’s New Year’s Resolution.  Don’t forget to check the second-hand market for these items.

Gym memberships are almost always discounted in January.  Often, initial fees are waived or 90-day free introduction periods are offered.  If you work for a company with a larger benefits package, check whether you can be reimbursed for your membership or if your employer has a relationship with an existing chain.

If you want to maximize your home exercise experience, consider watching free exercise videos you can stream online.  Have you tried indoor walking videos?  I love those.

In non-exercise-related news, you can also save on some brand-name electronics and televisions in January. Those deals usually run through the Big Football Game, which is around the first week in February.  During the holiday shopping season, some big-name brands may not reduce their television prices.  If there is a specific model you must have, January might be your time.  The same may apply to items such as sound bars and other accessories.

Also, starting in January and continuing into February (ending President’s Day weekend), we have “white sales” with deep discounts on towels and sheets.  More on that to come.

Dates to Remember in January: the 4th is National Spaghetti Day, the 15th is National Bagel Day, and the 18th is National Popcorn Day.

February

February, the month for love, begins with those continued electronics and linens sales.

The competition from stores is fierce, and just about everyone who sells towels is in on it.  We purchase ours during Target sales because I have found the quality to be good enough for us. I think Macy’s is the most underrated store for sales.  Macy’s offers strong sales and, unfortunately, a reputation for being expensive.  Some of their deals are unmatched by other retailers- the word just has not spread.  If you are buying whites, I would be sure to check Macy’s.

And while we are shoveling snow or curling up by the fire, retailers are moving their winter apparel to the clearance racks. Deals can be found on jackets, boots, scarves, hats, and those jackets with the built-in warmers.  Winter sports gear will also be marked down.

If you like chocolate, flowers, teddy bears, and hearts, the best day of the year for you might be February 15th. Once the Valentine’s Day hype is over, stores are eager to clear out heart-shaped boxes, themed candy, greeting cards, stuffed animals, and gift sets.

If you want to mark your calendar to plan ahead, look no further than the big football game.  If you like wings, burgers, coffee, pizza, fried chicken, or just about any other junk food, this is your time.  Some locations offer delivery discounts or deeper discounts if you come in to watch the game.

The great news is that we see some discounts at the grocery store as well for that weekend.  If salsa is marked down, consider grabbing a few extra jars to store in the pantry for Taco Tuesdays throughout the year.   Take advantage of the discounted items, even if you aren’t planning to use them as the store intended.

 Dates to Remember in February: February 15th for Valentine’s Clearance and Super Bowl!

March

To be honest, March is a little boring on the deal shopping front.

If taxes are your thing, we see promotions for software and services as the April 15th deadline looms.  Toward the month’s end, you will start to see some gardening and outdoor equipment sales, but really, April is your big month for that.

March is National Frozen Food Month. In previous years, we have seen the grocery stores lean into that with promotions.  Usually, it’s a “buy ten items and save 25%” type of scenario, but it can be a great chance to fill the freezer.

Dates to Remember in March: What saves March from being a deal-seeking black pit are the two major holidays.

March 14th, or Pi Day, is a highlight of the month!  Many retailers that feature round food- including baked pies and pizza pies- offer deep discounts.  And often those same products will be discounted at the grocery store- meaning you can grab a few marked down and save them for later.

And then there is March 17th, the day many choose to celebrate their DNA results showing they are 3% Irish.  St. Patrick’s Day has a long list of places with discounted corned beef, green drinks, and themed doughnuts.

April

April brings in spring and better sales!  With the warmer weather, people are ready to clean and work in the yard.  The big home stores, especially Lowe’s and Home Depot, run popular mulch sales in April.  Usually, the first big sale is the week before Easter, unless Easter is unusually late.  Mulch sales are among my most-requested deals of the year.  Flowers, yard-care equipment, and vacuums are beginning to appear at heavy discounts.

If the indoors are a bit more your speed, some makeup brands see significant sales in April. One of the largest beauty retailers runs a big spring sale, so the others step up to compete. It’s a good time to stock up on your favorite year-round items. Be sure to thoroughly read the loyalty programs at your retailer of choice- we sometimes see double points, free samples, and other goodies during April.

Dates to Remember in April: If Easter falls in April, post-holiday candy sales can help you save on decorations and candy.  I love a Cadbury egg year-round.

Don’t let paying taxes get you down- every year, the list of retailers and restaurants trying to lighten the burden of Tax Day on April 15th with discounts and freebies grows.  Doughnuts, coffee, burgers, shaved ice, BOGO entrees, and even free hydromassage at the gym are common deals.  My absolute favorite is paper shredding.  Some office supply stores offer a coupon for five pounds of free shredding.  It’s a great way to purge after tax season.

To celebrate Earth Day on the 22nd, look for deals on sustainable items, including water bottles, clothing, and responsibly made beauty products.

May

Along with the rain and the end of the school year, May brings the final spring sales.  Sales of outdoor items will continue, as not all regions in the United States are ready to work in the yard in April. It’s tough to mulch under a foot of snow.  Also, many gardeners will be anxiously awaiting the last freeze so they can begin the hard work outside of planting.  So we may see some deals on those items, although most will have been earlier during the year.

Summer clothes will also be appearing in full force in the stores.  Often, this is the most expensive time, so if you can wait, hang on just a bit.  They will go on sale before summer is even half over.

If you are a Star Wars fan or have a Star Wars fan you love, May 4th is a holiday.  “May the 4th be with you” is everywhere for the day.  Major retailers offer deals on themed merchandise, including some rare LEGO and toy discounts.  Theaters may also do a discounted showing of the films

For Mother’s Day, focus on deals for jewelry, smartwatches, and beauty/skin products.  Many restaurants also offer specials or bonus gift cards this time of year.

Dates to Remember in May:  Mother’s Day and Memorial Day Weekend sales are always incredible.  And, very important, May 4th. National Hamburger Day is May 28th and always features significant deals at the competing burger joints.

June

Bring on the month of June, and it’s semi-annual sales!  Some popular ones are Bath and Body Works, Brooks Brothers, and Victoria’s Secret. Ulta has their “Jumbo Love” liter sale, where it looks like you can buy your favorite products by the gallon. Almost every retailer you can think of begins clearing their inventory to prepare for the holidays in June.

Father’s Day shopping also dominates.  Many retailers offer deals on power tools, outdoor gear, grills, men’s clothing, and other fun items, such as fire pits and smokers.

Dates to Remember in June: Father’s Day, June 14th; Flag Day. The National Parks waive all entrance/admission fees to celebrate.  But to me, the summer season hasn’t really started until Rita’s Italian Ice and Dairy Queen say so.  Each chain typically offers a giveaway on the first day of summer. Rita’s gives free Italian Ice and you get a free vanilla cone from Dairy Queen.

July

While we are all sweating, watching fireworks, going to the beach, and waiting for our car’s AC to kick in, summer clothes are getting cheaper. Bargains on flip-flops, swimsuits, shorts, and tank tops are available in July.  You can also grab beach chairs, towels, some outdoor furniture, grilling supplies, and other items at a bit of a drop- especially after Independence Day.

As if summer wasn’t exciting enough, Amazon has its first Prime Day sale of the year!  Typically, the second week in July, I call it the Amazon yard sale.  It is always a random smorgasbord of deals, and we usually use it to stock up on socks, undershirts, deodorant, laundry detergent, trash bags, and other practical items.  If you are waiting for really big stuff (vacuum cleaners, gadgets, small kitchen appliances), the Prime Days later in the year are a better option.

Plus, in July, dorm and school supplies begin to drop in price.

There is a frugal tip my readers have given me repeatedly in July, and I want to pass it along.

Parents frequently ask about laptops for college students.  A good laptop is important for higher education, but the price tags can be insane. Many people, including students, don’t know enough about the different models to make an informed decision.  It may be impossible to predict how much memory is required for necessary software or whether a laptop can survive 2 to 5 years of education, or more.

If the prices aren’t significantly higher than the open market, consider purchasing the computer through the college.

The schools generally have a maintenance program for the computer that includes upgrades to required software packages and, typically, a loaner computer if your student needs one.  Friends have personally benefited from this, so if it’s an option, I would encourage you to do some research and not rule it out.

Dates to Remember in July:  Colonial Williamsburg typically offers free admission for everyone on the July 4th weekend.  The National Parks do as well, making it a great time to travel!  The third Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day, and it is one to mark on your calendars- both restaurants and grocery stores participate in the savings!

August

As we close out the summer, August continues to bring the fire!  Back-to-school supplies and backyard products will be heavily discounted; lawn mowers and seasonal grilling equipment left in stores will be significantly reduced, along with what’s left of the summer clothing.

A great way to save on Back-to-School expenses is to shop during a Tax-Free Weekend (hurricane preparedness and energy-efficient appliances also have tax-free weekends).  Some states hold tax-free back-to-school shopping weekends in July or August, helping consumers pinch pennies.

The list of states that participate in a Tax Free Weekend is shrinking, so if you live in one that does, you are fortunate!

If you are not a student or don’t have one in your house, don’t miss the opportunity to save on things you need.  Work attire, such as professional clothing, specific uniform items, and specialty footwear, is included.  You can stock up on undergarments, socks, or other things that may wear out.  Many people don’t know that diapers are included, as are overcoats, rubber shoes, slippers, clerical vestments, and aprons (both house and shop).  You might be surprised to see many items you need included.

Also, you can grab a few things to donate at your local school supply drive.

Dates to Remember in August: National Waffle Day is August 24th, and your local diner may be celebrating!  August 25th is the 110th birthday of the National Park Service, so entrance fees are waived!

September

Mattresses and appliance deals shine over Labor Day weekend in September.  Apple typically announces its new iPhones and other devices in September, which often leads to price reductions for older models.

If you are like me and your phone is several generations behind, this could be your time to get a tad more modern.  Once those app updates won’t load anymore, or you can’t send pictures because your memory is full, it’s time to tuck away some money for a newer model.  Or delete some pictures, but really, how can you possibly pick which photos of your cat you delete?

Dates to Remember in September: September 17th is Constitution Day, and the National Parks are free!  National Cheeseburger Day is celebrated annually on September 18th.  Cheese holidays should always be acknowledged.  In September each year, we celebrate Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day, where participating museums open their doors to everyone with no admission fee.

October

As far as I am concerned, October marks the start of the holiday shopping season, especially since stores have had Christmas items out since August.

And Amazon hits this home when they have their second Prime Days of the year- usually around October 10th.  This is the big one when they drop electronics, heated blankets, warming mats (a hot trend of 2025), Dyson vacuums, portable fans, and luggage at their lowest prices of the year.

This promotion always sparks a bit of jealousy in their competitors, so Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and others drop prices that often compete with their Black Friday and Cyber Monday offerings.

This means I wave goodbye to my friends and family to begin a 60-hour workweek helping you find deals through the end of the year.

Dates to Remember in October:  October 27th is Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, so entrance fees are waived to the National Parks!

Remember if you have a new 4th grader, they get a Free National Park Pass! This pass gives you free access to hundreds of national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and more!

It is available to all 4th graders, parents/guardians, and educators of 4th graders! Valid from September 1st – August 31st of the student’s 4th-grade year.

The first Tuesday in October is National Taco Day, and while we should be celebrating every Tuesday, you can usually grab better deals than usual that day.  The last day of October is one of the best freebie days of the year.  On Halloween, many restaurants offer deals for those in and out of costume. Some typical examples are Sonic’s $.50 corn dogs, Wendy’s Boo Books, Krispy Kreme’s free doughnuts for anyone in costume, and Chipotle’s “Boo-Rito” promotion.

November

In November, everything goes on sale.  The item I would choose to focus on is streaming services.  Be ready to set up those new e-mail addresses because companies like Paramount, BritBox, Hallmark, and Peacock offer their lowest prices of the year. They are almost always for new subscribers.

Headphones, smart speakers, power banks, towel warmers, and other electronics also hit their lowest prices in November.

Dates to Remember in November: November 11th is Veterans’ Day, so fees are waived at the National Parks!   November 16th is National Fast Food Day, and many places, if you have their app, will load some high-value rewards into your account.

December

December is a snowstorm of deals.  While not every year is exceptional, I was impressed with 2025.  I have been working the holiday rush since 2009, and this year retailers really stepped up with practical items.  I couldn’t believe some of the MacBook and beauty deals I posted last quarter.  The Frugal Rooster has enough navy blue socks to last him several years with the deal I got.

If you are planning to purchase a new car, December is an excellent time to conduct your research and find good prices.  Dealers are motivated by year-end quotas and strong buyer incentives.

December is also considered an excellent time to buy a house.  There is less competition (since who really wants to move during the holidays), and some sellers aim to be out of their homes by year’s end.

Dates to Remember in December:  Green Monday, which is always the second Monday in December. Retailer sales usually wrap up about this time because they’re concerned they won’t sell as much as they’d like, so they lower prices.  We also tend to see really good toy deals around that time.  December 14th is sometimes called “Free Shipping Day.”  It’s considered the last day for guaranteed free shipping before the 25th.