In our “I-want-it-now” culture, it’s easier than ever to pay full price just to get what you want immediately. Retailers know shoppers value convenience and instant gratification, which is why many products rarely stay at their original price for long. In fact, there are plenty of things you should never buy at full price if you want to keep more money in your pocket.
But if you can exercise a little patience and self-restraint, you can score major discounts on everything from electronics to furniture and save big bucks in the process.
Furniture
Whether you’re looking for a couple of pieces to update your living room, kitchen, or bedroom or you want to outfit your backyard with an outdoor lounge area, shopping for furniture can get pricey.
However, if you time your purchases just right, you could save hundreds of dollars on new pieces. For example: outdoor furniture goes on clearance at the end of the summer. You could pay half (or less) of what the price was just months ago.
Memorial Day and Labor Day sales also discount furniture. Pay attention to the sales flyers for local furniture stores, as well as online, and compare prices.
You might also shop used; you can find quality furniture at a fraction of the price of new, and sometimes the older stuff lasts longer! Explore thrift stores, garage sales, Craigslist, NextDoor, and Facebook Marketplace.
Clothes
Retailers are smart. They put new arrivals in prominent places in the store so that you’ll see them and crave them. The problem is that new arrivals aren’t ever marked down. But if you wait just a few weeks, you’ll find that $50 shirt slashed down to $20.
Wait until the end of the season to buy seasonal items like coats or swimsuits, and you’ll pay a lot less.
You can also save by signing up for email offers with your favorite brand, joining its loyalty program, and tracking sales flyers. And don’t forget discount retailers. Stores like TJ Maxx offer name brands at steep discounts.
Designer Handbags and Fashion
You love designer brands, but they’re a little out of your reach financially. The good news is that designer products are cyclical, so as soon as the season ends, they’re yesterday’s news (and price). So the must-have handbag today will be marked down tomorrow, and you can dress like a model for less.
There are sites like Poshmark and The Outnet that sell designer brands at a discounted price. Also, visit outlets, as they may sell products that are out of season for less.
Look for classic pieces that will stand the test of time rather than riding trends that will soon pass.
Electronics
Whether you’re in the market for a television, cell phone, smart device, washer, dryer, or refrigerator, paying full price is foolhardy. Instead, plan your purchase for the big sales of the year.
Black Friday is a fantastic time to snag electronics for less, as is Cyber Monday. And during Back to School season, you can find great deals on laptops and phones.
With so many online retailers, it can be hard to know where the best price is, so check out price tracking tools like SlickDeals, or Honey, which automatically shows you the best coupons for a site.
Holiday-Themed Items
You can pay full price for Christmas wrapping paper, Halloween jack-o-lanterns, or Easter bunny decor, but why would you want to?
The day after the holidays, all of these seasonal items are marked down 50% or more. Just plan to arrive early; some stores become a madhouse with all the shoppers trying to score the after-holiday markdown.
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Mattresses
Mattresses are a high-ticket item, but if you plan your shopping wisely, you can pay less. They’re often marked down for Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day.
Also, it never hurts to haggle. You can often get a discount (or at least get an extra pillow thrown in) just for asking. Shop around at stores and online so you know the average price of the mattress you like, then see if you can negotiate.
Video Games
It may be hard to convince your teen to wait a while to snag the latest racing game, but by waiting even a few months after a video game is released, you can save money. Also, look for sales online, as many video game brands offer markdowns when new versions of a game are released.
If you or your child is an avid gamer, you may save money by signing up for a video game subscription. Also, consider buying used. GameStop sells vetted used copies of games. You might also get lucky on Facebook Marketplace if someone is cleaning out their game collection and selling it for pennies on the dollar.
Books
In this digital era, physical books have become expensive. A new book might run $20 or more, but only if you don’t know the hacks for paying less.
Start your shopping online. Amazon sells Kindle copies for less than the hardback version, and there are often also used copies of a book for sale at a discount. There are other online vendors that specialize in used books, like AbeBooks.
And don’t forget about your local library! You can check out a book for free, and many have book sales where you can get bestsellers for a dollar or less. And your neighborhood might even have a Little Free Library: a miniature bookshelf with books you can borrow and trade for others at no cost.
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Cars
We’ve all heard the adage about a car deteriorating in value the second it leaves the car lot. The question is: why would you pay full price for a brand-new car?
One option is to buy a certified pre-owned car. These vehicles are usually fairly new, have been inspected, and come with extended warranties. Another possibility is a program car. These cars may have been used by a company (like a rental car company or one that offered vehicles to its employees) for a few months. They’re still new-ish, but they cost a lot less than a brand-new car.
If you absolutely want a brand-new car, buy it at the end of the year when dealers are trying to get rid of last year’s models to make room for next year’s.
Gym Memberships
Sign up at your local gym for a membership in May, and you’ll pay full price. But if you sign up in January, it is more than likely that your gym will be offering steep discounts to capture the post-holiday rush to Pilates class. Many waive the registration fee or offer several months at a lower rate.
Airfare
Flight prices fluctuate constantly, which means paying full price is almost never necessary. Travelers who book on less popular travel days, use fare alerts, or wait for airline sales can often save hundreds on the same route.
Streaming Services
Most streaming platforms regularly offer discounted introductory rates, bundle deals, or free trial promotions throughout the year. Paying full price month after month can be unnecessary when rotating subscriptions or waiting for seasonal promos saves money.
Home Improvement Supplies
Big-ticket items like paint, flooring, grills, and power tools are heavily discounted during holiday weekends and end-of-season clearance events. Timing your purchase around sales can cut renovation costs dramatically.
More from Cheapism:
- These ‘Middle-Class Success’ Purchases Are Actually a Huge Burden — Boats, oversized homes, luxury cars, and other status-symbol buys may look impressive, but they can quietly drain your finances for years.
- What to Know Before Buying a ‘Cheap’ Car — A bargain-priced vehicle can quickly become a money pit once repair bills, hidden problems, and maintenance costs start piling up.
- 12 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Household Budget — Small budgeting mistakes and overlooked expenses can quietly sabotage your finances and make it harder to stay ahead every month.
