Labor Day weekend is one of my favorite times of the year to shop. And today is your last chance to take advantage of the big sales! What are the best deals? Focus on end-of-season clearance items and big-ticket purchases. Here’s my rundown of the best stuff to buy today.
Appliances. Today is one of the best days of the year to buy kitchen appliances like ovens, dishwashers, and microwaves. And the more you buy the better because the best deals will be on matched sets from big brands like Samsung and LG. You can find appliance markdowns of as much as 40%, plus free delivery, at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears, and JC Penney. And if you’re a member, check Costco for deals on appliance packages too! Just be sure to compare prices and ask about price-matching deals if you see a lower price elsewhere.
Mattresses and bedding. This is THE big weekend for mattress sales—and you really shouldn’t buy a mattress unless there’s a big sale because the markdowns can save you hundreds. You can find 50% off deals at MattressFirm, JC Penney, and Macy’s as well as at sites like Sleepnumber.com. Also check out deals at Kmart, Sears, and PC Richard & Son, which is advertising $500 off TempurPedic models. Deals include free delivery and zero-percent financing—just be sure to pay before the term expires! Macys, JC Penney, Overstock.com, and other retailers are also advertising 50% off bedding.
End-of-summer clearance clothing. My two favorite times to shop for clothing are during end-of-summer and end-of-winter sales because the markdowns can top 80%. Right now, you can pick up t-shirts and other warm-weather clothing that you can layer and wear for the next couple of months. It’s great for stocking up on back-to-school clothing if you haven’t finished your shopping. Also, Nordstrom is having its big summer sale with 40% off deals; Norstrom Rack is also running a special 25% off clearance items.
Grills. If your grill is on its last legs, now is a great time to replace it. Sears is offering 30% off Kenmore grills. Home Depot and True Value are offering $50 off Weber Spirit grills. Walmart selling charcoal grills for just $14.
Outdoor furniture. Kmart offering up to 80% off. Also check Overstock.com and Wayfair.com for clearance sales on outdoor furniture.
Beauty products. Ulta kicked off its 21 Days of Beauty sale this weekend with up to 50% off brands that rarely go on sale. Also, drugstore chains are running big beauty specials. CVS is running "buy one get one 50% off" deals on Revlon and Almay cosmetics and Neutrogena facial-care products and Walgreens has a “buy 2 get the 3rd one free” sale on a variety of cosmetics.
And just in case you're the type of person who likes to get an early start on holiday shopping, Etsy.com is having its first Labor Day sale on all kinds of goodies you can set aside for December.