Best Time of Year to Buy Almost Everything, According to a Mom Who Tracks It

I started tracking prices after I paid $187 for a Lego set the kids “needed for a birthday party,” then watched it drop to $119 two weeks later. I sat on the kitchen floor with a stack of receipts, a cold coffee, and that special kind of rage that only shows up when you realize you basically donated money to the retail gods.

Now I’ve got a scrappy spreadsheet, a Notes app graveyard of “don’t buy yet,” and a rule: if I’m buying something big, I check the calendar before I check the cart. The funny part is how predictable most of it is once you’ve been burned a few times.

Apple iPads at Best Buy during early July “Black Friday in July”

Early July is when I stop pretending I’ll “wait until school starts” for tech. Best Buy’s Black Friday in July is where I’ve seen iPads dip without the full holiday chaos. Last year, on July 11, I grabbed a 9th‑gen iPad for $249.99 after watching it hover at $329.99 for months. I felt smug until my middle kid immediately asked if it came with an Apple Pencil (it didn’t). Still, that $79.01 gap paid for a sturdy case and a screen protector I didn’t cry over when it got scratched on day three.

Levi’s 501s at Kohl’s the week after Christmas (with Kohl’s Cash stacked)

The week after Christmas is my “I buy jeans like a responsible adult” window. Kohl’s practically begs you to take clothes home for less than you’d spend on drive‑thru. On December 27, I bought two pairs of Levi’s 501s that were marked down to $41.60 each, then I used $20 Kohl’s Cash from a pre‑Christmas order I’d forgotten about. At checkout the cashier actually said, “You did this right.” I didn’t. I forgot to check pockets before washing and found a crumpled candy cane in one pair. Still a win.

Patio furniture at Home Depot on the last weekend of August

If you can handle the emotional whiplash of buying patio furniture when summer is basically winding down, late August is your moment. Home Depot clears space fast. On August 26 last year, I found a Hampton Bay 4‑piece set that had been $799 reduced to $538.47, and the manager knocked another $35 off because one cushion had a tiny snag. I brought it home and my husband asked why I was buying “outdoor stuff” when school was starting. I sat in my bargain chair and told him to enjoy his full‑price opinions.

Instant Pot Duo at Target during early November “Deal Days”

Early November at Target is when I buy the appliances I swore I didn’t need. Target Deal Days usually hits before full Black Friday madness, and the Instant Pot Duo is a repeat offender. On November 6, I snagged the 6‑quart for $59.99 after it had been sitting around $99.95. I justified it as “meal prep,” which is hilarious because the first thing I cooked was hard‑boiled eggs I forgot about until they turned that weird gray‑ring color. Still, the price drop made it easier to keep it on the counter without guilt.

Kids’ winter coats at Lands’ End during mid-January clearance (with free shipping)

Mid‑January is when I buy winter coats for next winter, like a person who has her life together. Lands’ End clearance plus one of their “extra 50% off” moments is my sweet spot. On January 16, I bought my youngest a Squall parka for $43.27 after it started at $139.95. I sized up, which felt smart until he tried it on and looked like a tiny marshmallow astronaut. I stashed it in the hall closet with a sticky note that said “DO NOT DONATE,” because Past Me has made that mistake.

Dyson V8 at Costco in late September (right before the new models get noisy)

Late September is vacuum season in my house because the kids go back to school and somehow bring home half the outdoors in their backpacks. Costco tends to quietly price the Dyson V8 down right before newer models hog the spotlight. On September 23, I bought the V8 Absolute for $349.99 and it came with extra attachments that I immediately lost in the “junk drawer of doom.” Two days later I vacuumed up a whole crushed granola bar from the minivan floor mats and felt like I’d achieved something bigger than motherhood. It lasted exactly seven minutes.

Grills at Lowe’s on the Tuesday after Labor Day

I learned this one by missing it once and sulking all winter. The Tuesday after Labor Day is when Lowe’s starts getting serious about clearing grills, not just “10% off, please clap.” On September 5 two years ago, I spotted a Weber Spirit II marked down to $449 from $599, and there were handwritten yellow stickers everywhere like a scavenger hunt. I didn’t buy it because I “needed to measure the patio.” Someone else did. Last year I went back with measurements and got a different model for $397.13. I still brag like I won a medal.

Printer ink with HP Instant Ink sign-up in August (right before school forms attack)

August is when the schools unleash a thousand PDFs and expect your printer to be emotionally stable. I stopped paying full price for ink the year I spent $62.94 on two tiny HP cartridges and then screamed into a dish towel. Now I restart or adjust our HP Instant Ink plan in early August before the printing avalanche. It’s not glamorous, but paying a monthly fee feels better than panic-buying ink at 9:17 p.m. before “Wear Green Day.” One year my oldest said, “Mom, we’re out of ink again,” and I got to say, “No, we’re out of patience.”

Mattresses at Mattress Firm on Presidents’ Day weekend (with the awkward negotiation)

Presidents’ Day weekend is when I brace myself for mattress shopping, which is basically adult dodgeball with sales pitches. Mattress Firm runs deep promos, but the real savings (for me) came from being willing to stand there and do the uncomfortable “Can you do better?” routine. On February 18, we bought a queen Sealy for $784.12 after it was tagged at $1,099, and they threw in delivery because I mentioned I had three kids and no time to haul foam like a pioneer. The salesman smiled like he’d heard it all before. He had. I didn’t care.

KitchenAid stand mixer at Walmart in late November (but only if you pick a color nobody wants)

Late November is the obvious time for KitchenAid deals, but my specific trick is choosing the color that isn’t on anyone’s “dream kitchen” Pinterest board. At Walmart on November 24, I bought a KitchenAid Classic in a very serious gray for $219.00, while the cute colors were higher or sold out. I told myself the color was “timeless.” The truth is I wanted it for cookie dough and mashed potatoes and the occasional moment where I pretend I’m a calm person who bakes. My daughter immediately put a sticker on it. Timeless lasted 14 minutes.