The arrival of May brings lots of fun, from celebrating hard-working graduates and loving mothers to enjoying refreshments in honor of Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day. Additionally, as summer approaches, many retailers will need to get rid of all their spring inventory as they prepare for the seasonal transition. This month is the perfect time to find thoughtful gifts for others or essentials for yourself at discounted prices that fit within your budget.
Want to make sure you don’t miss anything? Check back here each month for updates on our Interactive Sale Calendar. Save your favorite events directly to your personal calendar. We also categorize the deals you don’t want to miss, highlight the categories where you can save the most, and show you the average discount you can expect thanks to our internal discount data. Buy now or stash this away for future days of savings bliss.
May top sales
- Shutterfly Mother’s Day Sale: This year, give mom the special gift of photography from Shutterfly. Gifts starting at just $9.99.
- Home Depot Spring Black Friday: Summer is the time for a reset! Up to 35% off select furniture, rugs, and kitchenware.
- Ulta Buy More and Save More: Bundle your favorites and save! Check out the Ulta Buy More Save More sale, available for a limited time only.
- National Nurses Day Stanley Deal: Call all nurses. Today is your day! To celebrate, take advantage of 20% off Stanley, exclusively for nurses.
- Best buys on TV deals you can’t miss: Level up your home theater before summer. OLED TVs start at $599.99 after discount.
- Macy’s Mother’s Day Sale: Shop Macy’s for high-quality gifts this Mother’s Day that will delight that special woman and her wallet.
- FTD flower savings: This Mother’s Day, treat your mom to a special bouquet from FTD Flowers! Enjoy 15% off sitewide.
- Wayfair Outdoor Shop: Create an outdoor oasis! At Wayfair, you can find all your outdoor gear for as low as $15.
- adidas 30% off sale: Stylish streetwear is back in stock! Use code to get 30% off at adidas.
- REI Member Day: Attention REI members! Copy code to get 20% off one regular priced item.
- RMN Summer Kickoff Cashback Boost: Summer is almost here! To celebrate, enjoy up to 20% cashback from your favorite stores and brands for a limited time.
- LensCrafters Anniversary Sale: Buy a new frame for your anniversary. From May 19th to 26th, enjoy 50% off lenses and 30% off designer frames.
- 50% off on Nectar Sleep: One of the best times to upgrade your mattress is around Memorial Day. Copy code to get 50% off at Nectar now!
- RMN Anniversary Cashback Boost: Happy Anniversary! Celebrate in style with up to 20% cashback from your favorite brands and retailers.
5 smart items to buy this May
1. Flowers (Average discount: 25% off)
A bouquet of fresh flowers is one of the loveliest ways to say Happy Mother’s Day. Luckily, many flower delivery brands are gearing up to offer great deals on this occasion. Based on our data, you can expect to find flowers at an average discount of about 25% this year. Here are some additional tips to help you get the best price. Start looking for deals in early May, as prices can rise as the holidays approach. We will also be flexible regarding delivery dates. There’s always a chance to avoid high holiday shipping surcharges by getting your ordered items a few days early.
We recommend the following flower brands:
- FTD flowers
- 1-800-flower
- teleflora
- professional flowers
- farmhouse flowers
2. Spring clothes (Average discount rate: 21% off)
When the seasons change, clothing retailers want to throw out the old and bring in the new. This month, spring styles are marked down so you can embrace all the hot summer trends. Luckily, these two warmer seasons have crossovers, so you might find some favorite items you can wear right away instead of storing them away until next year. Items like light jackets, layering pieces, floral dresses, and tops and bottoms in spring colors are likely to be discounted. Want to acquire even more wardrobes? Keep an eye out for Memorial Day events at our outlet stores.
Shop for spring clothing from your favorite retailers.
- adidas
- pretty little thing
- Levi’s
- puma
- Macy’s
3. Food & Entertainment (Average discount: 24% off)
Whether you’re planning to take your mom out for a celebratory meal on Mother’s Day or want to pick up some treats for a Memorial Day weekend get-together, you’re in luck. This month is the time for great deals on food deals, mom giveaways, and more that will make your party a hit. Pro tip: A meal or special treat is the perfect gift for mom who always says she doesn’t need anything. It’s basically like an experience gift and she won’t mind you treating her if the savings are good.
Find great deals from your favorite spots:
- domino pizza
- wendy’s
- einstein brothers bagel
- nothing bundt cake
- crumble cookies
4. Home & Garden (Average discount: 17% off)
Still not done giving your home a spring refresh? Don’t sweat it. There’s still plenty of time to create the perfect space in your home to escape and enjoy the summer heat. Thanks to Memorial Day sales, May is a great month to stock up on home items like mattresses, major appliances, and even patio furniture. Basically, if you’ve been procrastinating or actively saving for a big purchase, it’s a safe time to take the plunge. Believe that a big purchase is waiting for you. Create your own inner sanctuary and outdoor oasis without spending a fortune.
Find great deals on home and garden products from the brands below.
- lowe’s
- home depot
- bed bath & beyond
- ace hardware
- at home
5. Jewelry (Average discount: 15% off)
May is a great time to shop for jewelry, but most of the best deals start after Mother’s Day. Jewelers and retailers may have a large inventory of additional pendants, earrings, and bracelets. If you’re a jewelry lover, stock up when you see this discount because this shopping category doesn’t drop until the holiday season. Better yet, if your mom likes jewelry too, consider getting her something small for Mother’s Day and then surprising her with something you found at a great discount shortly afterward. Who wouldn’t want to give a kind and intelligent gift?
For discounted jewelry, check out the following brands:
- pandora
- kohls
- kendra scott
- K Jewelers
- Zales
5 things not to buy in May
1. Technology
Why now is not the time: Barring the rare Memorial Day doorbuster, May tends to be a dead zone for tech deals. You might find an offer that’s tempting to jump on, but keep in mind that a big sale is just around the corner.
What to buy instead: Amazon Prime Day and its competing sales in July, or back-to-school sales in August, arguably have much better tech deals.
2. Backyard BBQ equipment
Why now is not the time: Some outdoor gear is marked down in May, but grills and their accessories can be at their highest prices this time of year. Memorial Day marks the beginning of grilling season, so demand is high.
When to buy instead: September or October is the best time to buy barbecue supplies. After Labor Day, retailers are gearing up to remove grills to make room for Christmas displays.
3. Fitness equipment
Why now is not the time: Many people are focused on preparing for summer at this time of year, resulting in an increased demand for fitness equipment. If you have a fitness goal that can’t wait, consider movements that don’t require new gear.
When to buy instead: June and July are the best months for fitness sales, so you don’t have to wait long to buy this month. For future reference, January is also a good time to shop in this category, as health goals are popular as New Year’s resolutions.
4. swimsuit
Why now is not the time: Swimsuits make up a significant portion of the stylish summer wear that retailers make space for when selling spring fashion. Summer styles are expected to be full price for most seasons.
When to buy instead: As back-to-school displays begin to take off in August, you’ll start to see price drops on swimwear. It will be even better in September. In many parts of the country, there’s still some time left to enjoy your new swimsuit before cooler weather sets in.
5. small kitchen appliances
Why not now: Small appliances like high-end blenders, espresso machines, and air fryers are popular Mother’s Day gifts right now, so many of them are sold at full price, or at least without deep discounts.
When to buy instead: July Prime Day and competitive sales are very reliable when it comes to small sales on consumer electronics. The same goes for the Black Friday event in November.
The post Save the Date: What to Buy in May appeared first on The Real Deal on RetailMeNot.
Source: The Real Deal by RetailMeNot – www.retailmenot.com
