What To Buy (and What Not To Buy) In September

Labor Day gets September off to a strong start with savings out the wazoo. But there are also plenty of other savings opportunities to take advantage of throughout the entire month. To help you hunt down frugal finds while avoiding the flops, here is a a guide to the best and worst purchases of the month.

What to buy in September

Here is a list of which types of sales are the best to shop this time of year in order to get the most bang for your buck and what sales are worth a miss this September:

1. Bicycle deals
   New bike models are typically released in early autumn as the cycling season slows, and when September draws to a close and the slow winter season nears, prices are sure to fall further as stores become even more determined to push last year’s bikes out the door. Be on the lookout for deals on bikes from retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Academy and Walmart.
   
   
2. Denim deals
   Whether you’re shopping for back-to-school fashion, scoring on anything denim — shorts, jeans, dresses — will be easy in September. Check out Amazon for sales on Levi’s jeans. As the cooler weather starts to set in, you’ll be able to find some great savings that will last you well past the back-to-school season.
   
   
3. End-of-summer outdoor sales
   As barbecue and patio season draws to a close, retailers are going to be slashing prices on grills and other outdoor gear to make way for next season’s wares. This means that retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart and Ace Hardware are going to be taking hundreds of dollars off grills and patio gear from coveted brands. Plus, as lawn maintenance will be tapering off, too, September is a great time to replace an old lawnmower when demand is on the down slope.
   
   Be sure to keep your eyes out for deep discounts on patio furniture. Labor Day is a great time to get patio sets from Wayfair, Overstock and Walmart. Throughout the month of September, retailers may further decrease prices on patio furniture — keep in mind, though, that as pricing slims, so does selection.
   
4. Labor Day mattress + appliance sales
   Labor Day is one of the bigger holidays for savings on mattresses. For example, Casper will be having some amazing sales this September with discounts of up to $600 from August 31 to September 9. The Home Depot will also be having savings of up to 30% from August 24 to September 14.
   
   Appliance manufacturers also unveil new appliances in September and October. To make way for newer models, they discount refrigerators, cooktops, washer-dryer sets, and other major appliances by as much as 40%. This year Wayfair will have up to 30% off select appliances and so will the Home Depot.
   
   
5. Summer apparel sales
   The start of a new season typically brings excellent discounts on the previous season’s styles. As the first day of fall (Sept. 22) approaches, you’ll notice summer apparel prices taking a plunge. Take advantage of the low prices at retailers like Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Macy’s, JCPenney and so many others. Now is the cheapest time of year to buy sundresses, tops, swimsuits, sandals and other summer staples – sometimes for as much as 80% off.
   
6. School supply discounts
   Stores will typically order more than they need for the back-to-school season. And that’s where you can pick up these items for up to 60% off or more at Target, Walmart and Office Depot. Stores like Amazon and Staples are also great places to look for some serious discounts on stationary and school supplies this September.

What not to buy in September

1. Fall apparel
   As the weather cools down, you may be eager to slip into sweaters and scarves. Unfortunately, fall fashions are generally at their priciest at the beginning of autumn. Wait until Black Friday or December to do your shopping for autumn clothes if you want some savings. Closer to winter, you could save up to 80% on fall apparel.
   
2. Electronics
   Labor Day sales have decent savings on electronics, but once Labor Day sales have passed, we recommend holding off until Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That is when retailers will launch the year’s best deals on laptops, TVs and other types of tech.
   
3. Halloween costumes + decor
   Target and Walmart roll out their Halloween decorations before some schools have even started back yet, and when these items hit shelves, their prices will be at their highest. If you want some better deals, then wait until the very end of September and even into the first part of October to turn your quaint home into a spooky Norman Bates-style haunted house. Your wallet will thank you.
   
4. Previous-gen iPhones
   Apple will probably unveil its next iPhone model in September at its first fall event. A couple of years back, the COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of impatient iPhone users to wait a couple of extra months for the newest member of the Apple family, but last year the company launched its new phone on time and is expected to do so again this year. However, don’t expect enormous discounts on iPhone 12 and 13 models just yet, as we predict retailers will hold off on discounting those until Black Friday. Unless you’re switching carriers, wait until closer to the end of the year if you want to save the most.

(Partially reprinted from offers.com)