If you’ve been waiting for Labor Day Weekend to snatch the best deals for everything on your shopping list, it’s important to know what’s actually worth buying compared to other big sales, so you get the most for your buck
We asked shopping and appliance experts to share their best tips for staying on your planned budget and their insights for what’s actually worth purchasing or skipping this upcoming weekend.
The Best Deals to Shop for During Labor Day Weekend
If you’ve been eyeing a new home appliance to add to your space or are looking to buy some outdoor essentials, it may be time to see what deals you can snatch this weekend.
- Outdoor and Summer Gear: According to Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, Rakuten’s shopping & saving strategist, grills, patio furniture, and pool accessories will have deep discounts as retailers clear summer stock. You can expect to see 30-70% off during Labor Day sales compared to 10-30% during Black Friday, since there’s less inventory.
- Mattresses and Home Goods: Many brands will also run some pretty big deals on mattresses. “Labor Day generally sees 30-60% off, while you might get up to 65% off on premium brands during Black Friday,” Gerstley says.
- Small Appliances and Tools: You can also expect to see major deals if you’re shopping for fans, air conditioners, and power tools. “For example, you might get up to 60% off during Labor Day and closer to 40-50% off during Black Friday,” Gerstley explains.
“Labor Day is one of my favorite windows for major appliances. Brands are clearing model-year inventory, and retailers stack rebates with free delivery, installation, and haul-away,” Dennis Godynuk, a licensed home appliance expert at Comfort Appliance Repair Nashville, says. “If you need a full kitchen or a washer-dryer pair, package promos can beat Black Friday in real dollars.”
Home Deals You Should Wait on Buying
Although there will be plenty to shop for during Labor Day Weekend, experts advise waiting to buy certain items since you may get more discounts during Black Friday instead.
- Large Appliances: Unless your large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, or dishwashers) are on the brink of falling apart, Gerstley recommends waiting until Black Friday sales since there’s often deep doorbuster deals (25-50%) on high-end brands like Samsung, LG, Whirlpool.
- Electronics/ Home Tech: Smart thermostats, home security, smart speakers, and vacuum robots can often have holiday promotions closer to November.
- Furniture and Large Home Goods: Sofas, dining sets, and bedroom sets often have 50% or more off select prices during Black Friday.
Common Shopping Mistakes to Avoid
Nobody wants to regret their purchases because they either got swept up in all the deals and broke their intended budget or didn’t do enough prior research. Here are all the shopping mistakes to avoid, whether you’re buying in person or online.
- Impulse buying. It can be easy to buy whatever makes sense in the moment, but not doing prior research on an item can become disastrous in the long run. Don’t forget to check dimensions and take measurements beforehand, so you don’t end up with the wrong size, Godynuk says.
- Procrastination. If you’ve been needing a specific item, Serge Salager, the CEO of Visualpin, highly recommends staying alert and tracking the deals on an item so you can snag it right away when it goes on sale. “The best deals on high-demand items often sell out quickly,” Salager explains.
- Not comparing prices. Although it can be tempting to hit “purchase” right away, Gerstley suggests comparing prices across various retailers to ensure you’re getting the best deals.
Best Shopping Tips for Labor Day Weekend
Plan Ahead
Make sure to plan ahead on what you’re going to buy and where you want to look for the deals, so it saves you time in the long run.
“Plan and think about what you truly need and will get the best deal on, versus what you can wait to buy until later in the year, like during Black Friday sales,” Gerstley says. “If you want to give yourself room to be a bit more spontaneous, make sure to build a buffer (or extra room) into your budget.”
Set a Budget
Godynuk recommends setting a hard cap that includes tax, delivery, installation, and accessories, so you don’t end up with a ton of fees that overwhelm you.
“Price-match with exact model numbers across two or three stores,” Godyuk says, “Look at the open-box with a full warranty. If you add protection, buy it from a retailer that actually services what they sell, not a third party you’ll never reach.”