The 2026 shopping calendar: when to buy everything
Prices swing by season, not by luck. This month-by-month calendar shows when TVs, mattresses, flights, and appliances hit their lowest price of 2026 — so you can wait a few weeks and save hundreds.
- Almost every category has a predictable annual low point tied to new-model releases and holidays.
- Big-ticket electronics bottom out around Black Friday and again in January.
- Mattresses and furniture are cheapest around holiday weekends (Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day).
- Set a deal alert and let the calendar do the waiting for you.
Why timing beats couponing
A 10% code is nice. But waiting six weeks for a category's seasonal low can cut 30–50% off the same item — and you can still stack a code on top. Timing is the biggest lever most shoppers ignore because it requires patience instead of a click.
The good news: these cycles repeat every year, driven by new-model launches and holiday retail calendars. Learn them once and you'll always know whether to buy now or wait.
Best month to buy, by category
Electronics & TVs
Late November (Black Friday) and January, right before and after new models ship. Pair the sale with a Best Buy code for the deepest cut.
Mattresses & furniture
Holiday weekends — Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day — when showrooms clear floor stock.
Appliances
September and October, as next-year models arrive and retailers discount the outgoing line.
Travel & flights
Book domestic flights 1–3 months out and international 2–6 months out. See our cheap-flights rules for the day-of-week details.
Clothing
End-of-season clearance: winter coats in February, summer wear in August. Read how to shop the sale rack.
The four big sale windows
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday (late Nov). The year's broadest discounts — electronics, home, toys.
- Amazon Prime Day (July). Best for tech and Amazon devices — see our Prime Day guide.
- Post-holiday clearance (Jan). Deep markdowns on winter goods and last year's electronics.
- Back-to-school (Aug). Laptops, dorm goods, and apparel.