Best, worst things to buy in September
As summer makes way for autumn, back-to-school sales dwindle just in time for Labor Day sales to kick into high gear. The first weekend of September is an optimal time to get a new mattress, for example, at prices that slash up to $500 off.
Although you’ll find sales on just about everything imaginable, you’re better off waiting until later in the month or even longer to enjoy the best deals on some products. Here’s what you need to know to find the best deals in September.
BEST: A NEW CAR
The month offers some of the best deals of the year on cars as old models get cleared out to make way for newer stock. Bargain prices on new cars aren’t limited to savings at the local dealership.
Manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda are giving special offers on leasing and financing. Get a 2017 Toyota Camry for zero percent financing for 72 months plus $500 bonus cash, or a 2017 Corolla at zero percent financing for 72 months at their national clearance event.
If you don’t make it in for the Labor Day weekend sales, don’t worry. The last day of September is one of the best four days of the year to negotiate a deal on a car, according to Autotrader. Sept. 30 comes at the end of the quarter, when dealerships are trying to meet sales goals and are most willing to work with you.
True Car estimated that buyers save about 7.9 percent off the price of a car on that date. To get the best deal, Autotrader recommended going in fresh at the end of the day when the sales staff is looking forward to going home.
BEST: TRAVEL
September is the ideal time for a getaway.
Golf getaways, desert destinations, end-of-summer cruises and big cities are just a few places your vacation budget will go the furthest. If the prospect of rainy days doesn’t bother you, go on a Caribbean vacation at a fraction of the cost of what you’d spend in winter months, now through the end of hurricane season on Nov. 30. For example, Royal Caribbean offers up to 70 percent off on select cruises during this time frame.
BEST: PICNIC ITEMS AND BARBECUE GRILLS
Labor Day: Expect to see slashed prices on everything from brisket to plastic silverware during Labor Day weekend sales. In fact, the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association will have grocery sales on takeout-style items like wings, pizza, Chinese entrees and more.
Look for sales on potatoes, breakfast items and chicken, as all three items celebrate a “national month.” Cook up your feast on a barbecue grill. You’ll see grills hit low prices during Labor Day sales, according to DealNews, but you’ll find the biggest discounts on clearance items later in September and into October.
WORST: TV SETS
If your TV has those annoying vertical lines that signal a new set is in your future, try to put up with them awhile longer. With Thanksgiving weekend less than 90 days away, a new TV is one item you’ll want to hold off on buying in order to reap the best deals of the year.
Shop for TVs on Thanksgiving Day to get the best deals of the holiday weekend. That’s when you can get the best deals of the year on mid-size sets ranging from 32 inches to 49 inches, according to DealNews. For sets larger than 50 inches, the weeks before Super Bowl Sunday carry some of the best deals, according to Consumer Reports.
WORST: A NEW IPHONE OR SAMSUNG GALAXY
You’ll also want to hold off on buying a smartphone. Although there’s been no official announcement from Apple when the iPhone 8 will hit store shelves, the release is expected sometime this fall. That means that the iPhone 7 will likely drop to all-time low pricing just in time for the Thanksgiving shopping weekend. DealNews suggested that the best bargains on the older model will be on Thanksgiving Day.
Cyber Monday is the best opportunity to find deals on Android smartphones, such as the new Samsung Galaxy 8 Note phablet. The release dates for pre-orders are expected in September, so a little patience will get you a much better deal on a Samsung Galaxy 7 before they hit store shelves.