Staying Fit
As seasonal discount shopping goes, March isn’t the biggest month for bargains. Retailers are more focused on making the transition from winter to spring than they are on hosting huge sales or extending fat markdowns.
“There is no major commercial spending-focused holiday in March, like the winter holidays or Presidents Day, or even back-to-school shopping,” says Rebecca Gramuglia, a consumer expert at TopCashBack.com, which offers members cash back on purchases from participating retailers.
The absence of a major shopping holiday, however, doesn’t mean no good deals can be had in March. Look for freebies and discounts on pizza and pie on Pi Day (March 14), as well as some sales on green apparel for St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). Otherwise, retail experts say the best sales will reflect inventory that retailers want to clean out to make room for new stock. Here’s a peek at six products that are among the best things to shop for in March.
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1. Skis and accessories
March is when you can often find the best deals of the year on skis and related equipment like goggles, boots and poles to use next year. “Not only will you save on the end-of-season sales, but they might also have last year’s stuff that they weren’t able to sell discounted even more,” says budgeting expert Andrea Woroch.
Pro tip: If you already know where you’ll be hitting the slopes in 2023, March is also a great time to get a discount on next year’s lift tickets.
Where to find deals: Local ski rental shops, REI, EVO.com
Potential savings: 30 to 40 percent off
2. Luggage
In addition to catering to spring breakers, retailers are making room this month for new collections, says Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with deal site DealNews. Given that many people put travel on hold last year due to COVID-19 concerns, you may find a greater selection of last year’s merchandise on sale than you might in other years.
