Best Things to Buy in July 2025

Fourth of July, Amazon Prime Day and back-to-school sales bring deals on laptops, appliances, mattresses and more

Beth Braverman,

AARP

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En español

Published June 27, 2025

a collection of items on sale this month, including swimwear, lawn mowers, appliances and a mattress

AARP (Getty Images, 6)

July offers some of the hottest deals of the year.

A number of sales events are driving promotions this month, starting with Independence Day. The Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year, meaning shoppers can nab some great discounts over the three-day holiday weekend.

In addition, Amazon is holding its summer Prime Day sale July 8-11, and many big-box competitors host “Christmas in July” events of their own, says Stephanie Carls, retail insights expert at RetailMeNot, a coupon website.

Stores also cut prices on a variety of goods at the end of July for back-to-school promotions.

“There will be quite heavy retail competition in July, because a lot of people aren’t shopping as much as they have been” amid fears of a recession, says consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch. “People cutting back means we’ll be seeing bigger sales to get you out spending.”

Here is a list of products that go on sale this month.

Laptops

You’ll find deals throughout July on laptops, which retailers mark down for Independence Day and midsummer sales events, as well as at the end of the month for students heading back to school.

Tip: Hold on to your receipt if you buy one early in the month — if prices drop even lower, you may be able to snag the reduced price, depending on the retailer.

Where to find deals: Lenovo, Best Buy, B&H

Potential savings: 60 to 70 percent off

Appliances

The Fourth of July is also a great opportunity to score big savings on household appliances, like refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines. In addition to discounts, retailers often offer rebates or free delivery and installation this month.

Where to find deals: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Samsung

Potential savings: 40 to 50 percent off

Summer apparel

Despite the heat, retailers are already looking ahead to fall and trying to move summer clothing, like shorts, swimwear and sandals. Another reason to buy summer apparel in July: You’ll still have another month or two to wear the new additions to your warm-weather wardrobe.

Timing could be a factor. “You may have better luck saving on summer apparel in back-to-school sales at the end of the month, but July Fourth is absolutely still a good time to look, especially if you’re looking at clothing-specific retailers,” says Julie Ramhold, a senior staff writer and consumer analyst at DealNews.

Where to find deals: J.Crew, Banana Republic, Kohl’s

Potential savings: 40 to 50 percent off

Outdoor power tools

Look for discounts on heavy-duty lawn care equipment like mowers, weed eaters and chainsaws. “Halfway through the season, the demand for these is starting to wane a little, with colder weather potentially on the horizon in a couple of months,” Ramhold says. “It’s definitely a good time to shop for them if you need these items for the summer.”

You’ll find deals on power tools over the Fourth of July weekend, as well as discounts during Prime Day and competing sales events.

Where to find deals: Costco, Sam’s Club, Ace Hardware

Potential savings: 30 to 40 percent off

Mattresses

If your aging back could benefit from a new bed, keep an eye out for discounts on mattresses. You may also spot bundle deals that include free accessories, like pillows, mattress toppers or bedding.

Where to find deals: Casper, Purple, Saatva

Potential savings: 30 to 40 percent off

Smart home tech

During Prime Day, some of the biggest discounts are on Amazon-branded items, like Alexa speakers and Ring video doorbells. You’ll also see deals from various retailers throughout the month on other high-tech home devices, including smart thermostats, robotic vacuum cleaners and WiFi-connected lighting systems.

“It all goes back to Prime Day, and those other retailers know that they have to compete with that,” Carls says.

Where to find deals: Amazon, Walmart, Target

Potential savings: 50 to 60 percent off

Office basics

While your grandkids are filling their backpacks with school supplies, you can take advantage of discounts on home essentials, like pens, notebooks and scissors. You’ll find the steepest discounts on store-brand items, Woroch says.

Where to find deals: Office Depot, Staples

Potential savings: 40 to 50 percent off

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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.