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What to Buy in February

Red-hot bargains on TVs, mattresses, winter clothes and more

Beth Braverman,

AARP

En español

Published February 01, 2023

Getty Images

Temperatures may still be frigid outside, but sales heat up in February as retail stores discount goods for big shopping events throughout the month.

“We had this little break in January from the holiday sales, but now retailers and shoppers are ready for deals again,” says Kimberly Palmer, a spokesperson with personal finance website NerdWallet.

You’ll find deals on big-ticket items around Presidents’ Day weekend (Feb. 18-20 this year), romance-related products for Valentine’s Day Feb. 14, and televisions ahead of the Super Bowl. Read on for more insights on the types of products that retailers often market down this time of year.

Televisions

Super Bowl LVII will air on Sunday, Feb. 12. Manufacturers often aim to announce new television models by the end of January or early February to capitalize on excited shoppers looking to upgrade their TVs ahead of the big game.

“When the new models are released, that means the older models go on deeper discount,” Palmer says. “So if you’re flexible to buy an older model, you can find even better deals.”

While the deals typically aren’t quite as low as those available on Black Friday, this is the second-best time of the year to purchase a new set.

Where to look for deals: Target, Best Buy, Amazon

Potential savings: Up to 50 percent off

Appliances

Many retailers use the long Presidents’ Day weekend as an opportunity to post big sales on large appliances like washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. If the discount offered isn’t good enough, consider asking the salesclerk whether they can do better. A January survey by Consumer Reports found that shoppers who haggled with a salesperson over an appliance price received an average discount of more than $100 .

Where to look for deals: Sears, Home Depot, local appliance stores

Potential savings: 30 to 40 percent or more

Winter coats and accessories

It may still feel like winter in February, but retailers are already looking ahead to spring, which means this is the month to find clearance deals on cold-weather clothing items like winter coats, hats, gloves and boots. Prices may be particularly low over Presidents’ Day weekend but selections could become sparser toward the end of the month.

“As soon as the end of winter is in sight, retailers start marking down those items, but they’re not going to replace them,” Palmer says. “They’re going to sell them until they run out.”

So, if you wear a common size or want a popular color you might want to look for it in the first week or two of February.

Where to look for deals: Macy’s, JCPenney, Old Navy

Potential savings: Up to 70 percent

Mattresses

You’ll find some of the best deals of the year for mattresses during Presidents’ Day weekend. This is another area where haggling may get you a better price. A separate survey by Consumer Reports found that 66 percent of online mattress shoppers who asked for a better deal and 59 percent of in-person shoppers who asked received a discount, with some online shoppers getting at least $100.

Lisa Thompson, with the savings app Shopmium, suggests considering online retailers for your mattress purchase.

“A lot of people get nervous buying a mattress online, but you can find a lot of great deals there right now,” she explains. “And with most of them, you have 30 or 60 days to try it, and you can send it back if you hate it.”

You’ll also see sales on related items like mattress toppers, sheets and pillows over Presidents’ Day weekend.

Where to look for deals: Serta, overstock.com, Casper

Potential savings: 50 percent off or more, plus offers like free shipping

Furniture

Like appliances and mattresses, furniture is a big-ticket item that retailers like to discount for Presidents’ Day sales. The savings vary in this category, so you may want to shop around a bit to make sure you’re getting the best value for your purchase.

Where to look for deals: wayfair.com, West Elm, Houzz, overstock.com

Potential savings: Up to 70 percent off

Valentine’s Day clearance items

Retailers charge as much as they can for Valentine’s Day staples like flowers ahead of the holiday, but after the 14th you’ll find deals as they try to clear out their inventory. Keep an eye out for discounts on any holiday-themed items, including candy, decorations and stuffed animals.

“I tell my kids that their Valentine’s Day gifts are coming on February 15th, and I just head to the store to pick them up the next morning,” Thompson says.

Where to look for deals: Kohl’s, CVS, Walmart

Potential savings: 80 percent or more

Beth Braverman is a contributing writer who has covered shopping and personal finance for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in Consumer Reports, CNNMoney.com, CNBC.com, and dozens of other outlets.