US stores run huge sales a few times a year. Real savings are possible, but so are fake discounts and debt. Plan ahead and you can buy what you need for less.
When the big sales happen
Black Friday: the day after Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November). Many sales start earlier in November and continue all weekend.
Cyber Monday: the Monday after Thanksgiving, with online sales.
Prime Day: Amazon's sale for Prime members. In recent years it was in July; in 2026 it was in late June. Other stores run competing sales the same week.
After-Christmas sales: late December and early January.
Back-to-school: late July and August, good for laptops, clothes and supplies.
A tag says "Was $199, now $99." The "was" price is supposed to be a real price the store charged for a fair amount of time. It is not always true.
Search the exact model number at several stores before you buy.
Use a price history tool or browser extension that shows past prices. If the price was $99 last month too, it is not a sale.
Watch for special models: some sale TVs and laptops are cheaper versions made for the sale.
Count the total: add shipping, sales tax and fees.
Normally many stores give you 14 to 90 days to return something. For the holidays, many large retailers extend this: items bought from about October or November can often be returned until a date in January. Each store sets its own rules, and electronics and phones often get a shorter window. Check the store's holiday return policy page before you buy.
Receipts and gift receipts
Keep every receipt, paper or email. Take a photo of paper receipts; they fade.
A gift receipt shows the item but not the price. The person you give it to can return or exchange it, usually for store credit.
A restocking fee is money the store keeps when you return an opened item, often electronics. Ask before you open the box.
Some states have sales-tax holidays: a few days, often before school starts, when certain items like clothes or school supplies have no sales tax. This differs by state; check your state's revenue department website.
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) splits a purchase into payments, often with no interest. But:
Most plans charge late fees if you miss a payment.
Autopay from a debit card can cause overdraft fees if your account is low.
Disputes and returns are harder than with a credit card. You may still owe payments after you return an item until the refund is processed.
Several plans at once are easy to lose track of.
Prices that look too good on an unknown website are a warning sign.
Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or crypto for a purchase.
Pay with a credit card when possible; it gives you more protection.
Type the store's address yourself instead of clicking links in texts or emails.