What to buy (and what to wait on) during Presidents Day sales

Presidents Day, which falls on Monday, Feb. 17, is the first big three-day holiday sales weekend of the year, and consumers plan to spend an average of $197 while shopping, according to a survey by RetailMeNot, a deal-finding and cash back site. If you have something on your wishlist, now is the time to buy. The next time you’re likely to see dozens of brands drop prices site- and store-wide is around Memorial Day in May — if you don’t want to wait until then to save on a new mattress, refrigerator or vacuum, Presidents Day is your best opportunity to find a great deal, says Stephanie Carls, a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot.

I’ve been covering sales for five years at NBC Select, so I’m well-versed in how to maximize your spending. One of the most important things to know? What to buy and what to skip during a holiday weekend. To help you save, I put together this guide filled with Presidents Day shopping advice, and consulted experts about their top tips.

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Similar to other three-day holiday sales weekends, Presidents Day discounts are centered around big-ticket items like large home and kitchen appliances, furniture, mattresses and rugs. Expect to see up to 40% off appliance bundles, like a washer and dryer set or a refrigerator and dishwasher set, says Carls. Single appliances aren’t discounted quite as much — retailers tend to cut prices about 20% to 30% on items like vacuums and toaster ovens.

As for mattresses, king-for-queen specials are common during Presidents Day, which lets you get a bigger mattress for the price of a smaller one, says Carls. Also keep an eye on discounted mattresses from high-end brands at big box retailers, and look for gift-with-purchase promotions, says Vipin Porwal, the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty, a cashback browser extension. For example, you’ll see deals that advertise a free sheet set or free pillows with your mattress purchase. That said, bedding, as well as bath linens and curtains, are typically on sale during the holiday weekend, so you can always buy them separately.

Also consider shopping for winter apparel during Presidents Day sales. Retailers may use the holiday weekend as an opportunity to slash prices on cold weather clothing and footwear to help them move stock off shelves and make room for spring fashion.

Finally, while February isn’t the best time of year to shop for tech, there’s usually decent deals around Presidents Day, says Carls. Some retailers extend their sports-related TV and sound system deals through the latter half of the month, and you’ll be able to find low prices on a limited assortment of laptops, desktop computers and headphones.

It’s important to note that proposed U.S. tariffs on goods from Mexico, China and Canada, which could raise prices on products across shopping categories, are temporarily on hold. Since many brands that sell popular consumer goods are based in these countries, it’s a good idea to buy anything you know you’ll need in the near future during Presidents Day weekend while prices are particularly low, says Porwal.

If possible, experts recommend waiting to shop for spring apparel. “Stores might tempt you with modest deals over Presidents Day weekend, but you’ll see bigger savings if you wait until spring has officially sprung due to clearance sales,” says Carls. “That’s when retailers try to offload spring stuff in time for summer.” Similarly, don’t shop for patio furniture and outdoor gear just yet. Demand increases around these products as the weather gets warmer, so retailers are reluctant to drop prices right now. The best time to buy items like grills, patio furniture, gardening equipment and outdoor sports equipment is between August and October, when stores lower prices by as much as 80%, she says.

Many sales start about a week before Presidents Day, and by the Friday before the holiday, almost all of them will be live, says Carls. Retailers typically offer the same discounts throughout the entirety of their sales, so don’t wait to shop.

Most Presidents Day sales end at midnight on the holiday, but you may see a select few extend into the Tuesday or Wednesday after.

Retailers offer similar Presidents Day sales online and in stores, so where you shop comes down to personal preference. There’s typically a wider variety of discounted items available online, but you may have to pay shipping and delivery fees, which can add up, especially for larger items. To avoid additional fees, consider using stores’ buy online and pickup in-store options.

Presidents Day is recognized as a U.S. federal holiday, so some retailers may be closed for in-store shopping or have limited hours. Many pharmacies, grocery stores and big-box retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Kohl’s keep their doors open for shoppers, but hours vary by location. Be sure to check a store’s website before leaving home if you plan on visiting in person during the holiday weekend.

Knowing what to buy and what to skip is the first step to saving during Presidents Day sales. Here are other expert-approved tips to help you maximize your spending.

• Sign up for email lists or SMS programs to stay updated about your favorite brands’ and retailers’ Presidents Day sales. They use these platforms to contact shoppers quickly, and some send out exclusive discount codes.
• Enroll in loyalty programs like Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus and Target Circle if you’re interested in taking advantage of member-exclusive deals.
• Compare prices on items across similar retailers to ensure you’re getting the lowest price possible. Also weigh shipping fees and additional promos, like gifts with purchase.
• Activate cash back offers so you can get refunded for a percentage of what you spend.
• Consider paying with a credit card, especially for larger items, so you can earn points or take advantage of other special offers

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Stephanie Carls is a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot, a deal-finding and cash back site.
• Vipin Porwal is the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty, a cashback browser extension.

I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered sales and deals for five years, including Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To write this article, I interviewed two experts about what to buy and skip during Presidents Day sales, and rounded up tips about how to save the most money while shopping.