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The Best Times to Buy 10 Big-Ticket Items

Find out when you can nab the deepest discounts on automobiles, appliances, mattresses and more

Cameron Huddleston,

AARP

Published September 15, 2026

A clock face where each hour is represented by a different big-ticket item that you can find on sale throughout the year

Alisa Gao

Key takeaways

Memorial Day and Labor Day appliance and mattress sales offer steep discounts.
Car buyers can gain negotiating power towards the end of the month, when dealers push to hit quotas.
End-of-summer sales on lawn equipment and patio furniture deliver 20 to 50 percent discounts.

With prices rising for a variety of goods and services, many older Americans are tightening their purse strings. An overwhelming majority — 86 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 and 87 percent of adults 65 and older — say they’re holding off on major purchases to focus on saving, according to a CNN poll conducted April 30 to May 4, 2026.

If your refrigerator or lawn mower is on the fritz, you might not have much choice but to replace it. But if you’re not in a rush, timing your purchase can maximize your savings.

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Here are the best times to purchase 10 big-ticket items.

Appliances

Spring and fall offer the best opportunities to save on appliances, with markdowns of up to 40 percent, says Melanie Lowe, chief savings strategist at coupon and cash-back site CouponCabin. Memorial Day sales bring price cuts on everything from washers and dryers to stoves, dishwashers and refrigerators. The holiday’s sales kick off in early May, but the deepest discounts are often offered during Memorial Day weekend, Lowe says.

Appliance shoppers can find attractive deals during Labor Day sales, too, says Stephanie Carls, a retail analyst at cash-back offers website and app RetailMeNot.

Pro tip: When shopping in stores, you might be able to negotiate a discount on a floor model, especially if it has been on display for a while, Lowe says.

Cars

Oftentimes, there’s an opportunity to negotiate a lower price on a new vehicle at the end of each month. “You’re going to find dealers motivated to meet their sales quota,” says Tony Quiroga, editor in chief of Car and Driver magazine.

If you can wait until the end of December, when dealers are eager to also meet their annual sales target, you might snag an even sweeter deal, Quiroga says.

Pro tip: End-of-month and end-of-year deals vary by vehicle, with the largest discounts on cars that are in less demand, Quiroga says.

Desktop computers and laptops

There are several times throughout the year when you can buy a desktop computer or laptop for less. The first opportunity is in January, when retailers cut prices on older inventory to make room for new models that debuted at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, a popular trade show that typically starts on the first Tuesday of January. Markdowns also appear during back-to-school sales in July, August and September, as well as Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Lowe says.

Depending on which sales event you take advantage of, you’ll find computer and laptop discounts ranging from 15 to 40 percent, Lowe says.

Pro tip: There’s another opportunity to find computer and laptop deals that often gets overlooked, Carls says. Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale, which typically takes place in early October, features discounts that rival the company’s summer Prime Day event. Competitors such as Best Buy, Target and Walmart often follow suit with their own sales.

Fitness equipment

If you’re considering buying a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical to stay active in the comfort of your home, go shopping in January, Carls advises. “New Year demand is high, and retailers have leaned into it for years,” she says. Expect to see markdowns of 20 to 40 percent off.

Pro tip: Waiting until people break their New Year’s resolutions can pay off. “By late February and March, retailers are sitting on open-box treadmills and bikes that came back barely used, and those land below the New Year sale price,” Carls says.

Furniture

If your couch has seen better days or your bedroom set could use a refresh, Carls says you can find furniture on clearance in January and late summer. “Holiday demand falls off in January, and retailers need the floor space,” she explains. “August is when the discounts get serious, as fall collections arrive and summer inventory needs to move.” Furniture shoppers can save an average of 20 to 40 percent during these periods.

Pro tip: Buying more than one piece of furniture gives you leverage, Carls says. “Want the sofa and the chair? Ask for one price on both instead of paying sticker on each,” she says.

Jewelry

Unsurprisingly, jewelry sales peak around Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and the winter holidays. But flexibility can go a long way.

“Retailers over-order for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas every year,” Carls says. “The week or two after each of those holidays is when clearance pricing hits.” Savings typically range from 20 to 50 percent.

Pro tip: The best deals are often on holiday-themed jewelry. “Think heart motifs after Valentine’s Day, birthstone and family pieces after Mother’s Day, anything gift-boxed after December,” Carls says.

Lawn equipment

You might be tempted to replace an old lawn mower or leaf blower in late winter or early spring, before the weather warms. But you’ll score significantly lower prices if you can hold off until the end of summer.

“September is a great time to buy anything that is outdoor related,” Lowe says. During Labor Day sales, lawn equipment prices drop by up to 50 percent, she says. Grills and garden tools also see similar discounts at that time.

Pro tip: Opting for the previous year’s model can save money. “Retailers often mark down older models when newer equipment arrives, and the differences may be minor for shoppers who do not need the latest features,” Lowe says.

Mattresses

Getting a good night’s sleep can become more challenging as you age — and even more so if your mattress is old, uncomfortable or unsupportive.

President’s Day sales in February offer mattress discounts of 20 to 35 percent on average, Carls says. In addition, you can find mattresses for 20 to 50 percent off during Memorial Day and Labor Day sales, Lowe says.

Outdoor furniture

To spruce up your outdoor space before summer, you can find deals on patio furniture during Memorial Day sales in May, Lowe says. However, the real savings arrive in late August and September, when retailers clear out leftover inventory and demand has dropped, Carls says. “Buying at the end of the outdoor season, instead of the start, can mean 40 to 50 percent off the exact same pieces,” she says.

Pro tip: Taking a piecemeal approach to buying outdoor furniture could pay off. “Retailers sometimes discount individual chairs, tables or other pieces more heavily than sets, which can make it possible to build a similar setup for less,” Lowe says.

Televisions

New TV models are often announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. As a result, “Retailers spend February and March clearing last year’s inventory,” Carls says. Discounts range from 20 to 40 percent during those months, with markdowns often peaking two to three weeks before the Super Bowl.

Later in the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales offer another opportunity to save, with price cuts of 25 to 50 percent on a wide selection of models, Lowe says.

Pro tip: “The first markdown on last year’s models is almost never the lowest one,” Carls says. “Prices drop in waves through February and March.” You can set a price alert on Google for the TV you want, use camelcamelcamel to track Amazon prices and use camelmart to track Walmart prices.

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning personal finance journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger.com, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Forbes Advisor, Chicago Tribune, Business Insider and many more online and print publications.

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