What to buy — and skip — during Memorial Day sales
Memorial Day sales are here, but not every deal is worth it. Here's what experts say to buy now — and what to skip.
Memorial Day sales are here, but not every deal is worth it. Here's what experts say to buy now — and what to skip.
Memorial Day sales are here, but not every deal is worth it. Here's what experts say to buy now — and what to skip.
If you've been waiting to make a big purchase, Memorial Day weekend could be the time to do it. Some deals could save you hundreds of dollars, while others aren't really deals at all. That's why the National Consumer Unit asked the pros at Good Housekeeping what's worth buying right now.
Brie Schwartz, Good Housekeeping's Editorial Commerce Director, said shoppers can typically expect strong discounts on summer essentials and home upgrades.
"Obviously, you'll find the bigger-ticket items that you'll want ahead of summer like grills and the power washers," Schwartz said. "But what we find interesting is that it's a great time to stock up on those everyday essentials."
Schwartz and her team track deals to determine which discounts are actually worth shoppers' money. She said Memorial Day can be a smart time to invest in planned home purchases, especially mattresses.
"We're seeing steep discounts on some of our favorite brands, like Saatva," Schwartz said. "We have a 20% off discount with them right now."
Beyond large purchases, Schwartz said smaller comfort and self-care items are also seeing worthwhile discounts ahead of summer.
"The little luxuries are places you might want to invest, like cooling sheets ahead of summer," she said. "Silk pillowcases, which help with hair damage — all those smaller things if you’re not ready to splurge on huge items."
Beauty and skincare products are also being discounted, particularly sunscreen and other everyday basics.
"You're only going to be taking off five, ten dollars, but every cent counts," Schwartz said.
Still, some purchases may be worth delaying.
"I would say hold off on tech, laptops, TVs," Schwartz said. "Those will likely go on better sale once Prime Day rolls around this June."
To avoid overspending during major sales weekends, Schwartz recommends shoppers make a plan before browsing online deals.
"I like to do my research ahead of time so that I'm not doomscrolling late at night making those impulse purchases," she said.
She recommends using wish lists and price-tracking tools to monitor discounts over time. Browser tools and websites like CamelCamelCamel can help shoppers determine whether a sale price is actually the lowest price offered. Amazon can also show you price history directly in the app.
Before you make a purchase, make sure to check the return policy carefully. Some of the biggest Memorial Day discounts may be marked as final sale, meaning returns or exchanges may not be allowed.
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