How to shop Memorial Day like a pro — what to buy and skip this year

Over 50 percent of shoppers plan to participate in Memorial Day sales this weekend, but they’re expected to spend way less than usual, according to a recent survey from RetailMeNot . You might be one of them: You’re looking for deals on a couple of wish list items, but between rising gas and grocery prices , your budget is tighter. That makes it more important than ever to know what to buy versus skip during Memorial Day sales, and learn about savings strategies that can put extra money back in your pocket. Below, I’m sharing everything you need to know after I spoke to three retail experts. You can start using their tips today — Memorial Day sales are live at Amazon , Home Depot and more.

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What are the best things to buy during Memorial Day sales?

Seasonal home and outdoor goods

Sales are most effective for retailers when what they want to sell and what shoppers want to buy align, says Stephanie Carls, a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot . That’s very much the case during Memorial Day. Retailers drop prices on grills , outdoor cooking equipment like pizza ovens , outdoor furniture and other warm weather essentials (I included a few examples below) to get rid of inventory before the end of the season — these types of products are exactly what shoppers are looking for as they prepare for summer.

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, a shopping and savings strategist at Rakuten , says you may see slightly lower prices on seasonal home and outdoor goods around July Fourth and Labor Day, which is crunch time for retailers. But inventory becomes more limited throughout the summer, so you won’t have as many options to pick from as September gets closer.

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Travel gear

“Memorial Day is often when people officially shift into ‘summer mode’ — planning vacations, booking hotels and rental cars, and shopping for summer outfits , luggage , and travel gear ,” says Gerstley. Retailers know travel is on shoppers’ minds, so they discount related products. You can even find discounts on bookings using websites like Expedia , Traveladvisor , Booking.com and Hotels.com .

In addition to looking for travel-related discounts this week, research which companies offer additional cashback opportunities that let you stack your savings, she says. Then, you can use what you save to pay for future trips, which is a trend experts are currently seeing, especially as travel currently costs more due to the Iran war increasing fuel prices.

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Mattresses and major home and kitchen appliances

These categories are the bread and butter of all three day holiday weekend sales, especially at big retailers that tend to tack on “extras” — think gifts with purchase, deeper discounts on bundles (like washing machine and dryer sets) and complimentary delivery, installation and haul-away services if you spend over a certain amount. Mattress sales are particularly strong during Memorial Day, says Carls: New mattress models usually come out in the spring, so stores need to get rid of last year’s inventory. Gerstley also recommends keeping an eye on indoor and outdoor home improvement-related deals.

If you’ve had a mattress or major appliance on your wish list for a while, experts recommend crossing it off this Memorial Day. Bigger items cost more to transport, and due to rising fuel costs, shipping and delivery prices — and/or the prices of these bulky products themselves — may increase in the coming weeks.

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Household essentials

The Iran war is causing the price of fuel to increase, which is directly pushing up gas and grocery costs, thus eating into people’s budgets more than usual, says Carls. While you can hold off on buying “wants” to save some money right now, there’s plenty of essentials that are non-negotiables — and if any of them are on sale during Memorial Day, Vipin Porwal, the founder of and a consumer expert at Smarty , recommends stocking up. That goes for cleaning supplies , paper towels, toilet paper, first-aid supplies and non-perishable pantry staples , for example.

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What should you skip buying during Memorial Day sales?

There are two main categories you should avoid if possible while shopping Memorial Day sales:

How can you save the most money while shopping Memorial Day sales?

Frequently asked questions

Memorial Day sales are live right now at big retailers like Amazon , Wayfair , Home Depot , Best Buy and Lowe’s .

Memorial Day sales usually end right after the holiday, although some may extend into the following week. Overall, think of Memorial Day, which is on Monday, May 25 this year, as your last day to shop, not your first.

Memorial Day sales are comparable, if not exactly the same, online and in-store at a specific retailer, says Porwal. There are benefits to shopping both ways, so consider the following when deciding what’s right for you.

Yes, most stores are open on Memorial Day, despite it being a federal holiday. For example, major grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as big retailers like Target , Walmart , Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kohl’s and Best Buy are open on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day sales won’t necessarily be worse this year due to inflation and tariffs, but retailers might discount a more limited selection of products, says Porwal. High tariffs are still impacting their bottom line, and the rising cost of fuel due to the Iran war is now shrinking profit margins even more. That means retailers can’t afford to deeply discount as much inventory this year compared to previous Memorial Days.

Consumer demand is also weaker right now. As shoppers are spending more on gas and groceries, they’re being increasingly selective about what they add to their carts. They’re most interested in Memorial Day deals around seasonal summer items, according to RetailMeNot data , so that’s what retailers are likely to focus their sales around, in addition to mattresses and large home and kitchen appliances.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Why trust NBC Select?

I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered sales and consumer spending for over six years, writing about shopping tips and the best deals during major savings events. I also regularly appear on NBC News NOW and TODAY in related broadcast segments, and co-host NBC Select’s livecast, For What It’s Worth , on YouTube . To write this article, I interviewed three retail experts about Memorial Day sales shopping tips, as well as researched trends to gather data.

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