Best Things To Buy In May
April showers might bring May flowers, but that’s not the only thing coming down the pike in May! May brings some of the best discounts of the year and for good reason! There’s Mother’s Day, National Barbecue month, Memorial Day, end of school season, the wedding season and the beginning of sweet summertime! So much going on and so much to look forward to! With holidays like Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, May is a fantastic time to take advantage of a ton of amazing deals on a wide range of products. I’ve done a little research and have come up with a great list of the best things to buy in May as well as what you need to skip this month.
**Tip** Don’t forget to use Rakuten to save even more when you’re shopping online. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can use this link to get started!
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Mattresses
One of the most popular items you can expect to see on sale in May is mattresses! Retailers will be having massive discounts on these big ticket items and Memorial Day weekend would be a great time to replace your worn out mattress! According to the Sleep Foundation, mattresses should be replaced every 6 to 8 years, under normal guidelines. Of course, this is a general guideline and not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Air conditioners
If you’ve been wanting (or needing) to replace your air conditioner, May might just be the time to do it! As the temps go up, so do AC prices. Availability may also be an issue if you wait to long into the summer months. Fall and Winter would be better time to buy, but if you can’t wait that long, get it now while you still can find one.
Office furniture
The tax season is over and the beginning of the summer is a popular time to start up home businesses. That’s why May might be the best time to look for discounts on desks, office chairs and items to set up a home based business.
Refrigerators
If you need to upgrade your fridge, take advantage of Memorial Day sales for almost the whole month of May! Manufacturers typically introduce the new models for summer, so that means spring can be the prime time to buy an older model for a great price.
Check out Lowe’s and Home Depot for some possible price wars in this category, but also don’t forget about your local appliance store. We live in a small town so we try to shop local, if we can, and support smaller merchants. They need all the support they can get.
Another place to find deals might be Costco or Sam’s. At Costco, they offer (with your purchase) up to 4% rewards, a two-year warranty, in-home delivery, hookup, haul-away and free tech service. Couple that with a great sale price and that’s a deal that’s hard to beat!
Party supplies
When you think about the month of May, what are some of the first things that come to mind? For me, it’s graduations, weddings, showers, swimming, BBQ’s and birthdays! We have several summer birthdays in our family and between those and the other events, it means parties! May is usually a popular party month (for the above named reasons), so you’ll be able to score some great deals on things that are needed for parties, like plastic plates and cups, napkins, condiments and much more.
If you should come across a really great deal, also think about stocking up for the rest of the year! Of course, you can always rely on good ole’ Dollar Tree for all your party supply needs.
Spring apparel
If you’re needing to add a few things to your summer wardrobe, watch for the upcoming Memorial Day sales. But…your best deals will be on spring apparel. Retailers are trying to clear the racks to make room for summer inventory, so between those sales, along with Memorial Day specials, spring apparel will be heavily discounted. The best thing about that is spring clothing can usually take you through the summer months, as well!
Athletic wear
Keep your eyes open for deals on workout clothes and athletic shoes this month! Retailers know that people are ready to get out of the house and get their beach bodies ready for Summer!
Beach gear
While discounts will be best at the end of summer, if you need items like swimwear, towels or sandals now (or if you like having a large selection to choose from), you’ll typically find decent discounts over the Memorial Day weekend or a couple of weeks leading up to it.
Secondhand items
Spring cleaning yields lots of good stuff for thrift & consignment shops. This is the time when people like to declutter, clean and donate! It’s also MY favorite place to shop, anytime! When I need something, my local thrift store is where I start! You can find some fantastic deals on just about everything from clothing, home decor, appliances, furniture and so much more! For me, it’s like a treasure hunt and shopping here has made me hate to pay retail!
Seasonal produce
The summer season offers a plethora of fresh fruits and veggies. Expect to find artichokes, asparagus, lettuce, okra, radishes, rhubarb, spring peas, Swiss chard, and zucchini at their peak. Also, look for apricots, cherries, mangoes, pineapples, and strawberries to be at great prices in May and over the whole summer season. Some (or most) of these fruits and vegetables freeze well, so take advantage of the sales and stock up!
You can also check out this Seasonal Food Guide to see everything that’s in season in your area.
Star Wars merchandise
Star Wars day is May 4th. May the fourth be with you!! 🙂 Retailer capitalize on this by running sales on most things Star Wars. From toys to apparel. If you’re a fan or know someone who is, now might be the best time to grab some deals on all things Star Wars and put them away for birthdays or Christmas!
WHAT NOT TO BUY IN May:
Grills & patio furniture
With warmer weather on the horizon, it’s going to be very tempting to spring for a new grill or patio furniture to enhance your outdoor living space, but this is the beginning of the season, so if possible, try & hold off until September or October to get the most bang for your buck.
Laptops
With the school year winding down, now is not the time to buy a laptop. Waiting until late June and early July will most likely be the time to save a bundle.
Major indoor appliances
May is an ideal time to buy a new refrigerator, but you need to steer clear of other major indoor appliances. Most of those will go on sale later in the year.
Apple products
The Worldwide Developers Conference will be held in June, so it’s best to hold off on buying any Apple products until after the announcement of new devices. Prices will then go down on previous models and you should be able to get some pretty good deals.
ONLY BUY IF YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE MARKET…
Like I always say in each of these “Best things to buy” posts…don’t rush out and spend money on these things because they may be on sale. But if you’re in the market for some of these items or you know you may be needing them next season anyway, early Spring may be a good time to go over the “best things to buy in May” list and save some money!.
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