Labor Day is right around the corner, and so is one of the biggest end-of-summer shopping events. But before you whip out your credit card, you should know that not every discount is worthy of your consideration. We talked with Chris Ribeiro, founder of the market research and consulting agency Starlight Analytics, and shopping expert Trae Bodge for their insights on what to skip during Labor Day sales — and what you should get instead.

Labor Day Sales To Skip

Tech Deals

Both Ribeiro and Bodge suggest that you avoid purchasing technology such as smartphones and TVs over Labor Day. It may be tempting to pick up a new Apple iPhone if you see a deal, but remember: The new iPhone is announced most often after Labor Day, and then retailers will usually mark down prices for older models. According to Ribeiro — who worked for years on the brand side at retail companies — sales at this time of year are usually “retailers just clearing floor space, but not giving you a good deal.” Overall, tech deals are much better later on in the year, during the holiday season, so you should hold off on purchasing until then if you can (with one exception, which we’ll get to below). 

Toys and Holiday Gear

Though it may be tempting to get a head start on holiday shopping for the grandkids, you also shouldn’t get anything toy-related right now. “Toys tend to be on sale over Black Friday/Cyber Monday,” Bodge says, and if you can wait, “prices are often even better in December.” 

The same goes for winter and holiday-related items — prices will be much lower around Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Skip any holiday gift sets you may see popping up, too. There won’t be a ton of variety, as it’s a bit too early, so you should instead “wait until later in the season to see what’s available and for the best prices,” Bodge says.

Fall and Winter Apparel

Apparel is another category to avoid. “Fall apparel will go on sale in late fall, so while you might be tempted to pick up a few pieces now, you’ll be paying close to full price,” Bodge explains. “If you need cold-weather apparel, you’ll start to see discounts over Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and the discounts will deepen in December.”

Labor Day Deals To Get Instead

According to Bodge, Labor Day is a good time to shop for “small and large home appliances, mattresses, summer clearance, and lingering back-to-school deals.” 

Ribeiro recommends scoping out what you think you may want to buy before sales kick off and taking a screenshot of the price. That way, you’ll “know if you are actually getting a deal or if the retailer just marked it up.” He also recommends checking the return window, as a lot of these items are “sold as final sale, and people wind up getting stuck with things over a moderate discount.”

Back-to-School Products

Whether you need a few extra supplies for a child who recently headed back to school or simply want some new notebooks and pens yourself, there are plenty of back-to-school deals on Labor Day, according to Bodge and Ribeiro.

You can save “on essentials for kids K-12 and college-aged students,” Bodge says. Savings “span a variety of categories, from school supplies to clothing … to home organization and cleaning products.”And while you shouldn’t make most tech purchases at this time, Bodge says Labor Day sales are a good time to get deals on back-to-school tech — specifically laptops. 

You can take advantage of early savings on back-to-school supplies now at Amazon, Target, and Walmart, and on back-to-school laptops at Office Depot and Best Buy.

Summer Clearance

Summer items are another category Bodge and Ribeiro recommend picking up during Labor Day promotions. From poolside equipment and bathing suits to patio furniture and grills, you can find quite a few discounts at this time of year that will allow you to be prepared for next summer. Summer items go on sale because “retailers need to get rid of it before fall and winter inventory lands,” Ribeiro says. 

Wayfair is already kicking off the outdoor savings, with deep discounts on things like patio tables and planters. Pottery Barn also has big discounts on high-quality outdoor furniture. Keep an eye on outdoor savings at Home Depot and Amazon for items for your backyard or patio. 

Mattresses

Both Bodge and Ribeiro say that you can get great deals on mattresses at this time of year. “Labor Day tends to be a big mattress sale period in general, but you tend to see the more premium brands go deeper than usual during this time period,”  Ribeiro says.

Casper has up to 30% off mattresses at the moment, with up to 35% off if you decide to bundle your purchase. Sleep Number also has deals, including 30% off on bundles. And DreamCloud is running deals that could get you up to 66% off.

Small and Large Appliances

If you’re looking for appliances for your home, now is a great time to take advantage of savings. “New models are put out [in] early fall,” Ribeiro says, “so last year’s stock is getting marked down.” Appliances with the biggest discounts include “refrigerators, washers, and dryers,” Ribeiro notes, and according to Bodge, you can get great deals on small countertop appliances too. 

Bodge recommends that homeowners “use this time to replace an appliance that’s on the fritz.” In particular, you “should look for bundle deals where you can save more the more you buy,” she says. “Homeowners should check with their power provider too, as there may be trade-in offers or statement credits for EnergyStar appliances.”

Home Depot is showing generous discounts on refrigerators, with savings of as much as 42%, and washer and dryer sets as much as 37% off. Lowe’s also has some great savings right now, with as much as $900 off certain selections of washers and dryers and $1,600 off on refrigerators. “Don’t forget to go directly to the brands you like,” Bodge says, “because they will be offering savings, too, especially bundle deals.”Meanwhile, Amazon has excellent discounts on small appliances, including items for the home and kitchen. 

Knowing what you should buy now and where you should be patient can help you save big. And with those decisions made, you can focus on other important Labor Day matters — like throwing an epic barbecue or what you’re going to put on your hot dog.

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If you’re one of Amazon Prime’s more than 200 million members worldwide, you probably paid the membership fee for fast, free shipping on millions of products or access to thousands of movies and TV shows. But if you’re using Prime only for shopping and binge-watching Reacher, you’re not getting the full value from that $139 annual fee. From groceries to prescriptions, here are 15 Amazon Prime perks you may be overlooking.

Prime Day and Lightning Deals

Prime members can score exclusive discounts year-round, but the biggest savings often come during Amazon’s major sales events, like Prime Day. Members also get early access to Lightning Deals — short-lived discounts on everything from electronics to apparel that can disappear within hours. Just remember: A deal isn’t always a bargain, so it’s worth doing a little comparison shopping before you click “buy.”

Grocery Deals and Delivery

Subscribers can save on their weekly grocery runs, too. At Amazon Fresh, Prime members get access to exclusive deals, up to 50% off select items, 10% off Amazon brands, special coupons, and same-day grocery delivery in eligible areas. Prime members who shop at Whole Foods Market can also take advantage of exclusive discounts on select items on Tuesdays and Fridays, extra savings on sale items when they scan the Whole Foods or Amazon app at checkout, and special online grocery deals throughout the year.

Grubhub Food Delivery

Craving a burger from your favorite local neighborhood pub? Prime members get a free Grubhub+ subscription, a perk that normally costs $10 a month. Benefits include $0 delivery fees on eligible orders, lower service fees, exclusive restaurant deals, and 5% credit back on qualifying pickup orders at more than 300,000 eateries nationwide.

Gas Savings

If you spend a lot of time on the road — or even if you don’t — your membership can help you save at the pump, which is a worthwhile perk these days. By linking your Amazon Prime account to the free Earnify rewards app, you can get 10 cents off per gallon at thousands of participating BP, Amoco, and ampm gas stations across the U.S.

Prescription Deals

Prime members who pay out of pocket for common generic medications may be able to save with Amazon RxPass, a $5-per-month subscription that covers more than 50 eligible prescriptions. Because RxPass doesn’t accept insurance, it’s best suited for people without prescription drug coverage — or those whose insurance costs more than the flat monthly fee. Members can also use Amazon Pharmacy, the company’s full-service online pharmacy, to fill prescriptions with insurance or compare cash prices on eligible medications.

No-Rush Shipping Rewards

Same-day and overnight shipping may be one of Prime’s biggest selling points, but if you can wait a few extra days, you could get more than just your package. When Prime members select free no-rush shipping at checkout, they can receive a digital credit to use on eligible purchases like movies, e-books, digital games, and apps. Orders typically arrive within a week, and those credits can add up over time.

Amazon Day

Prime members can use Amazon Day to choose a preferred delivery day each week, allowing multiple orders to arrive together in fewer boxes. The free perk can make managing deliveries more convenient, especially when you’re away from home, and may help reduce packaging waste by combining shipments into a single delivery.

In-Garage Delivery

If you spend a lot of time away from home, or have concerns about your packages being stolen, Amazon Key’s in-garage delivery can add an extra layer of convenience and security. After a simple setup process, Prime members can choose in-garage delivery at checkout, allowing eligible packages and groceries to be placed safely inside their garage instead of left outside. (Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need a garage door that can be opened using a smart opener from the companies myQ, Chamberlain, Liftmaster, Aladdin Connect, and OHD Anywhere.)

Alexa+

Prime members get free access to an advanced version of Alexa+, Amazon’s upgraded AI-powered voice assistant — a savings of nearly $240 per year compared with the cost for nonmembers. Alexa+ is designed to offer more natural conversations, personalized recommendations, help with everyday tasks, and features like creating bedtime stories, all through simple voice commands.

Photo Storage

Pulling out old photo albums can be a hassle, but if you have Prime, there’s an easy way to have all of your precious memories at your fingertips. Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5GB of video storage through Amazon Photos, allowing you to back up, view, and share your memories from your phone, tablet, or computer. Your photos and videos are encrypted and accessible only to people you choose to share them with. Keep in mind that if you cancel Prime, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid storage plan or move your files elsewhere to keep storing your photos and videos.

Thursday Night Football

Pigskin fans, rejoice: Prime members can stream Thursday Night Football games at no additional cost through Prime Video, which has exclusive rights to broadcast the games through 2033.

Amazon Music

You may not realize your Prime membership includes access to Amazon Music, allowing you to stream more than 100 million songs, thousands of playlists, and popular podcasts ad-free. Listen on your phone, Echo, or other compatible devices without paying for a separate music streaming subscription.

Membership Sharing

Prime members can share their benefits with family members through Amazon Family, allowing one membership to cover up to two adults, four teens, and four children in the same household. Shared perks can include Prime Video, Prime Gaming, Prime Reading, and shopping benefits, while parents can set parental controls for kids’ content.

Reading Materials 

Book lovers can get more from their Prime membership with free access to a selection of eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and more through Prime Reading on the Kindle app. Members can borrow titles from the collection, many with Audible Narration so they can switch between reading and listening. Prime members also get Amazon First Reads, which offers early access to a curated selection of new books each month, including one Kindle title available to download for free before its official release. Best of all, you don’t even need a Kindle device: You can use the free Kindle app on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Amazon Gaming

Prime subscribers can connect with their grandkids by planning a fun game night for all ages. Through Amazon Luna, members can play games from the cloud so they don’t need a console or a computer. Plus, GameNight lets friends and family play multiplayer games, including Ticket to Ride, Jackbox, and Exploding Kittens, using their smartphones as controllers.

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