The 9 Best Things to Buy in May (And 5 to Skip)
After the deal drought we tend to see in March and April, May brings a big resurgence in saving opportunities. From May the Fourth to Memorial Day, there are plenty of chances to shop great deals from the start of the month to the very end.
But not everything in May is worth your time. Check out our guide to learn what to buy in May and which ones you shouldn't spend money on — at least, not yet.
The 9 Best Things to Buy in May
Our infographic shows five of the top categories to shop in May. Take a look, then read about all the May sales and deals worth watching for.
1. Star Wars Items on May the Fourth
May 4 is Star Wars Day, and that means you'll have the chance to pick up themed products like apparel, toys, and collectibles at a discount. Some of the most popular offers we saw last May 4 included Amazon devices with Star Wars themes starting at just $10, but the retailer also hosted its own Star Wars Day sale that knocked up to 60% off a variety of merchandise. We also saw LEGO celebrate with its own sale which offered free Star Wars gifts on orders of $40 or more.
Expect other retailers to participate with notable offers, too. Last year, Target hosted a Star Wars Day sale that took up to 40% off more than 8,000 themed items, while Woot! knocked an extra 45% off more than 2,000 themed t-shirt designs. Interested in gaming? Watch for stores like Steam to once again cut up to 85% off select titles to celebrate as well.
2. Nontraditional Mother's Day Gifts
Flowers and jewelry are traditional Mother's Day gifts, but as soon as May 1 rolls around, the prices of those items can jump in preparation for the holiday. If you haven't purchased your mom a gift yet — Mother's Day is May 12 in 2024 — it's time to think outside the box to save some cash.
For example, watch for Macy's to offer up a variety of sales early in the month. Last year, it knocked between 40% and 70% off a variety of items including clothing, shoes, bed and bath items, electronics, and much more, while also discounting jewelry and watches by 50% to 70% off. Nordstrom could also be worth checking out, as they could once again take up to 80% off select markdowns, and Crate & Barrel could once again cut up to 60% off clearance and outlet items.
3. Major Appliances
May is also a great time to shop for major appliances, whether you need a new washer and dryer or an entire kitchen suite. Expect retailers like Home Depot to participate with sales, which could once again cut an extra $300 off select purchases. It could also offer up to 30% off other major appliances such as washer and dryer combos, while Best Buy could knock up to 40% off laundry appliances as well.
If there's a particular brand you're interested in, check with the manufacturer directly, too. For example, historically we've seen LG offer 10% off 4-piece kitchen appliance packages, plus up to $982 off. And Samsung has taken up to $700 off single washers and dryers, or up to $1,400 off pairs of the items in the last few years as well.
4. Mattresses
Another item worth shopping for in May — especially during Memorial Day sales — is mattresses. Online retailers like GhostBed will probably take 30% to 40% off again this year, and Casper could take up to 20% off again, but other stores will join the action, too. Last year, Woot! cut up to 43% off select mattresses and bedding, which was a great opportunity to refresh your whole bed setup. Mattress Firm via its eBay storefront also knocked up to 50% off for Memorial Day, and Saatva cut up to $600 off. Walmart also offered up mattress deals starting at just $60, while Wayfair offered a selection of mattresses under $299. Basically, if you need a new bed, May is a prime time to shop for one and get it for less.
5. Small Appliances
While May is one of the best times of year to shop for major appliances, it can also be a decent time to find deals on small kitchen appliances. Amazon could once again offer brand-specific discounts, such as up to 36% off Nespresso machines, up to 41% off Ninja appliances, and 20% off Breville espresso machines. However, it could also provide savings up to 51% off small appliances in general, too. Best Buy will likely offer up to 71% off select small appliances and cookware again, as well as provide select Bella small kitchen appliances from just $10 — a price we often don't see until Black Friday.
Keep an eye out for deals on specialized appliances, too. These could include an espresso machine for $25, a jumbo empanada maker for $6, a breakfast sandwich maker for $15, and a baked tortilla bowl maker that turns tortillas into — you guessed it — bowls for $25.
6. Spring Apparel
May is technically part of the spring season, but a lot of people may consider it more of the unofficial start to summer, especially when Memorial Day rolls around. Because it's toward the end of the season at least, it's a good time to start shopping spring apparel as it hits clearance racks. Retailers will be making way for new summer items, and that means you could score deep discounts on spring-centric looks.
In May 2023, we saw things like men's pajama pants for as little as $3, as well as crew neck sweaters and everyday t-shirts for around $5 each. We also saw things like snapback hats for just $6, flip-flops for $7, and shorts for $9. It was also a good time to pick up lingering cold-weather items. For instance, we saw fleece-lined slippers and plaid flannel shirts for $6 each, beanies for $8, sweatpants for $9, and hoodies for $10. A lot of the spring items will have overlap with summer-wear, too. That means May is a great opportunity to shop for tees and shorts, as well as summer shoes like sandals and flip-flops, while still having plenty of time left to wear them before the weather gets cool again.
May sales will provide an excellent opportunity in general to refresh your closet for less. Expect J.Crew Factory to take up to 70% off plus an extra 50% off again this year, Macy's to sell suits and separates for up to 60% off, and Nike to knock up to 64% off. Other notable sales from last May include the following:
- Up to 80% off at Gap Factory
- Up to 80% off at 32 Degrees
- Up to 50% off plus an extra 50% off at Levi's
- Up to 65% off at Nordstrom Rack
- 2 pairs for $50 at Crocs
- Up to 75% off at Lands' End
- Up to 50% off plus an extra 60% off sale items at J.Crew
7. Cookware
May brings big celebration occasions, including Mother's Day and graduation. But it also kicks off the summer wedding season, and summer and early fall still reign supreme as the most popular times to get married, according to The Knot. Cookware is one of those items that makes it onto wedding registries as well as gift lists for new graduates; it can even be good for Mom if she enjoys cooking.
Whatever the reason, if need to buy new cookware, know May is a good time to shop. Watch for sales from stores like Home & Cook, which could knock a whopping up to 75% off All-Clad items as part of its Memorial Day sale. There will be a variety of individual pieces with deep discounts as well, such as a 3-piece baking pan set for just $18; an extensive Joseph Joseph 9-piece food prep set for $25; and a stainless steel 7-piece cookware set for $35.
8. Home Goods
White sales in January are one of the best times to purchase home goods like bedding and bath items. But it turns out May is a decent time to do so, as well. Maybe it has to do with the changing weather, and people needing to swap winter bedding for blankets and sheets that are cooler to sleep under as temperatures climb.
Look for items like king sheet sets to be just $15, while prices for "bed in a bag" sets could go as low as $26. It could also be a good time to shop for new pillows, as some retailers will include them in their mattress sales over Memorial Day weekend. Last year, we saw Avocado offer up to 30% off plus 10% off select mattresses and pillows for the holiday.
If you're looking for other home items, keep an eye out for hanging organizers costing $8, all-purpose 10" squeegees for $14, and slow-close toilet seats for $29. Watch for bath towels to be as little as $2, too, while 15-piece kitchen towel sets could go for around $12.
9. Gift Cards
The absolute best time of year to shop for gift cards is around Black Friday and through December. That's when restaurants typically offer promotions where guests can buy one gift card and receive a bonus card. However, we tend to see at least a few of these offers in May for Mother's Day and graduation celebrations, too.
For example, Cinnabon is offering a special through June 23. You can buy $25 in gift cards and receive a $5 reward card, but you'll need to be a rewards member to receive the coupon for this offer. The offer is valid online but it'll be available in-store as well starting on May 6. Watch for more restaurants to offer these kinds of deals, too. Follow your favorites on social media and sign up for emails, as those are good ways to find out about these promotions.
And 5 Things Not to Buy in May
| Item | When to Buy | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Apparel | June | There's a huge demand for athletic apparel in January, but a resurgence in June means plenty of retailers offer savings for those feeling motivated to get outside when the weather warms up. |
| Lingerie | June | Victoria's Secret has its summer semi-annual sale in June. Competitors like Frederick's of Hollywood tend to offer great discounts, too. |
| Perennial Plants | August or September | Since these can be planted during the spring or fall, it's better to shop when summer winds down and nurseries are trying to clear out their inventory for the year. |
| Grills | September or October | May is the start of grilling season for many, but grill prices likely won't come down until demand slows, which should be in early fall. |
| Summer Apparel | August and September | Summer apparel items are just beginning to hit shelves in May so the best discounts won't pop up until the season starts to wind down in August and around Labor Day sales. |
Ready to shop? Check out the best deals available now, and follow us on Facebook for more helpful saving info.
Julie's work has been featured on CNBC, GoBankingRates, Kiplinger, Marketwatch, Money, The New York Times, Real Simple, US News, WaPo, WSJ, Yahoo!, and more. She's extolled the virtues of DealNews in interviews with Cheddar TV, GMA, various podcasts, and affiliates across the United States, plus one in Canada.
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