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Best Things to Buy in July 2026
Take advantage of savings on luggage, summer apparel, mattresses and more
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Key takeaways
- Back-to-school sales offer opportunities to stock up on home office supplies.
- Look for deals on luggage and warm-weather apparel.
- Expect markdowns on TVs and electronics of up to 40 percent off.
Discounts typically arrive with a bang in July with Amazon’s highly anticipated Prime Day sale and other major retailers’ competing sales. But the retail fireworks came early this year when Amazon moved its major shopping event to June — with Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Kohl’s following suit by offering their own sales.
That doesn’t mean deal hunters will find themselves empty-handed this month. “July should still offer plenty of savings opportunities, particularly on seasonal merchandise, back-to-school essentials, outdoor products and summer apparel,” says Mackenzie Shand, executive editor at coupon and cash-back offers website RetailMeNot. “The key is to keep an eye on retailer-specific promotions, rather than assuming all the biggest discounts will happen during a single event.”
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Expect to find deals on these six types of products this month.
Back-to-school supplies
Retailers get a head start on the school year with markdowns in July on items ranging from notebooks and binders to backpacks and laptop computers. It’s a good time to get your kids or grandkids the supplies they need at a discount before the selection is picked over later in the summer.
July is also a good time to restock your home office. “Even shoppers without any students at home can take advantage of discounts on everyday office supplies,” says Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at coupon-code website CouponFollow.
Where to look for deals: Staples, Target, Walmart
Potential savings: 20 to 50 percent off
Home and garden
Wanting to spruce up your living space? “You can expect to see some great deals on essentials for the home over the Fourth of July weekend,” Shand says. Look for discounts on outdoor sofas, dining tables and other furniture.
You’ll also see sales on outdoor furniture and grills. “Many retailers begin to mark down inventory while there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy,” Cary says. “Stores do this because they would rather sell patio sets and grills at a discount now than risk carrying excess inventory later into the fall.”
Where to look for deals: Ashley Furniture, The Home Depot, Wayfair
Potential savings: 20 to 50 percent off
Luggage
Whether you plan to take an affordable road trip or a Disney World vacation with the grandkids this summer, you can upgrade your travel gear for less in July. “Retailers know many consumers are traveling during the summer, but they’re also preparing for the next travel cycle and holiday season later in the year,” Cary says. “This incentivizes shops to capture attention by offering discounts on luggage and travel accessories.”
Even if you’re not planning a summer getaway, buying a suitcase, packing cubes, neck pillow or other travel accessory now could save you money for future trips.
Where to look for deals: Macy’s, Samsonite, Target
Potential savings: 20 to 40 percent off
Mattresses
If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you’ll see discounts on a variety of beds this month. “Many brands continue summer promotional pricing and compete for shoppers before Labor Day sales begin,” says Elisabella Ricca, personal finance and consumer analyst at TopCashback.com, a cash-back and coupons website.
You might even see deeper discounts when you buy more than one, Shand says. Or you could potentially score free pillows with your mattress purchase.
Where to look for deals: Ashley Furniture, Casper, Mattress Firm
Potential savings: up to 30 percent off
Summer clothes and shoes
Although summer has just started, warm-weather apparel, such as sandals and bathing suits, hits the sale racks this month. “Most sizes and styles aren’t all picked over, and you still have time to get a lot of wear out of them,” Shand says.
You also can get a jump start on your fall fashion shopping. “The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is one of the standout shopping events in July because it offers discounts on new-season merchandise rather than end-of-season clearance items,” Ricca says. The sale runs July 18 through August 9. Look for other major department stores, such as Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, to mark down their summer inventory too.
Where to look for deals: Gap, J. Crew, Old Navy
Potential savings: 20 to 50 percent off
TVs and electronics
If you didn’t take advantage of Amazon Prime Day or similar sales in June to get a deal on a new TV or other electronic device, you still can find markdowns this month. “Retailers often continue promotional pricing throughout the season, particularly on TVs, laptops, headphones and smart home devices,” Ricca says.
Then, when it’s too steamy to go outside, you can catch this summer’s hot shows on your new big-screen TV.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
Potential savings: 15 to 40 percent off
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