What to Buy in May
When it comes to what to buy in May, you may want to wait until Memorial Day weekend gets a little closer. Why? Because, like so many other long holiday weekends, you can expect stores to have sales on the weekend.
Not before. Not after. But during the long weekend.
While it’s no Black Friday or President’s Day weekend, Memorial Day is definitely a time when you can find sales and bargains for the home. For example, if you think you’ll need a new air conditioner, now is the time to consider buying one.
Because even though Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, it’s not until hot summer days arrive that a/c prices start to go through the roof. Also, more people tend to buy an air conditioning unit in a panic on the hottest days of the year. And by that time, supply is dwindling.
Pro tip: check your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for window air conditioners. We were able to pick up the ones below in early May for $25 each.
What to buy in May
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Besides Memorial Day weekend, what is the month of May known for? Plenty of food and other holidays. And sometimes you can find sales on items related to those unofficial celebrations.
Here are a few worth noting. Then, after that, I’ll get into specific products that are likely to be on sale in May.
Star Wars sales
You’ve probably heard that May 4th is unofficially Star Wars day. That’s because when you say “May the fourth,” it sounds like “May the force (be with you)” from Star Wars.
So, if you’re Star Wars fans, May would be a good time to take advantage of May 4th sales and stock up on paraphernalia to tuck away in your gift closet.
Our family holiday tradition for many years was going to the movies the day after Christmas to see the newest Star Wars movies. So, shopping a May 4th sale for Star Wars goodies for future gifts makes a lot of sense for a fan like me.
Cinco de Mayo
As I wrote in this article about national food holidays, Cinco de Mayo is a popular day to get deals at restaurants and bars that serve Mexican food and drinks.
However, don’t forget to look in the supermarket for sales on food staples that might fall under the Cinco de Mayo umbrella.
Things for mom after Mother’s Day
Did you know that Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year for people to go out to eat? Restaurants are usually packed on Mother’s Day.
Also, people tend to buy mom flowers or jewelry. Well, guess what? The day after Mother’s Day may be the best day of the year to buy flowers and jewelry.
Why? Simple. Supply and demand. That is, the demand for these items as Mother’s Day gifts is gone. So, now stores want to mark them down and move them out the door.
Here are some experiential Mother’s Day gift ideas.
Buy a new mattress in May
I never realized that May was a good time to buy a new mattress. In fact, I would have thought it would be March.
Why March? Because it is National Sleep Awareness month. I know this because many years ago I did a spokesperson project and media tour for a trade association of mattresses that was promoting better sleep.
Here is advice for buying a new mattress.
Anyway, look for mattress sales, in person and online, in May, such as on Amazon. We love the Tuft and Needle mattress we bought on Amazon.
Finally, there is nothing wrong with buying a mattress topper. I don’t use them, but my daughters swear by them. Check out the great ones you can get from Sleepyhead.
New baby gear
Did you recycle a car seat at Target in April? If so, then you’ve qualified for a 20% off coupon on various baby gear, including strollers and car seats.
Keep in mind that this 20% off coupon expires May 13. So, don’t let it go to waste.
Barbecue supplies
Many Americans celebrate Memorial Day at the beach (if they live near water) or at a family barbecue or cookout. Also, National Burger Day is always May 28, which usually coincides with Memorial Day weekend.
Therefore, be on the lookout for grilling and other supplies that can help you cook burgers and other backyard barbecue staples over the holiday weekend.
Final thoughts on what to buy in May
As I mentioned earlier, many people think of the Memorial Day holiday weekend as the unofficial beginning of summer. I know that when we belonged to a swim club years ago, Memorial Day was when the pools opened–even if it still wasn’t warm enough to swim.
That being said, because there is still plenty of summer to come, don’t expect to find great deals on exclusively-summer things, like bathing suits or beach towels. You’ll want to wait until the end of the season to buy those summer supplies.