September ushers in the start of fall -- and deals on a variety of products. Several big-ticket items, such as appliances and mattresses, and seasonal items, such as camping gear and patio furniture, will be marked down over the long Labor Day weekend. In addition to these best buys during Labor Day sales, you'll find great deals in September on the following items:
What's on sale now ...
Airline tickets. Because fall is shoulder season -- the period between summer and the holidays when fewer people are traveling -- you can find deals on flights to many U.S. cities and overseas destinations (see 10 Fall Travel Destinations That Are on Sale). Now is also the time to book your holiday travel because prices are lower and more seats are available. You could save hundreds of dollars, according to CheapAir.com CEO Jeff Klee.
Broadway tickets. September is off-season for Broadway, so it’s a good time to find deals on tickets to shows. Theatergoers also can get two-for-one tickets to popular performances during Broadway Week, which actually runs for two weeks September 1-14. For more ways to see plays and musicals at a discount, see How to Save on Tickets to Broadway Shows.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Flowers and plants. Some nurseries start marking down prices at the end of summer so they don't have to store plants over the winter. Look for buy-one-get-one-free deals or discounts ranging from 20% to 75%, according to money-saving site CreditDonkey.com. Note: You probably won't find deals on cold-tolerant annuals such as mums.
Grills. Look for discounts of 50% to 75% on grills as retailers try to clear out their inventory to make room for cold-weather products, according to CreditDonkey.com.
High-end apparel. Retailers and luxury brands such as DKNY, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren and Tory Burch tend to have great sales over Labor Day weekend, according to DealNews.com. Discounts range from 25% to 85%.
iPhones. Apple is expected to announce the release of a new iPhone September 9, at which time prices on older models should drop. According to DealNews.com, iPhone models that are priced at $199 typically drop to $99 when a new model is released, and $99 models drop to $0 (with a service contract).
School supplies. Pens, pencils, notebooks and binders that didn't sell during back-to-school sales in July and August will be marked down even more in September. You'll see discounts on these items, as well as other school-related gear such as backpacks, ranging from 25% to 75%, according to CreditDonkey.com
Wine. Late summer and fall are harvest time at vineyards in the northern hemisphere. So as the current year’s wines start hitting the shelves in September, the previous years’ wines go on sale. You're more likely to find discounts at supermarkets and online retailers than at wine shops. See How to Save Money on Wine for more information.
Wait a little longer to buy ...
Appliances. You'll find plenty of deals on appliances during Labor Day sales. But if you'd rather be enjoying the last days of summer than shopping, you'll find great discounts on washers, dryers, dishwashers and more at department and home improvement stores during Black Friday sales in November, according to DealNews.com. The discounts can be even deeper than those available in September.
Laptop computers. Laptops were discounted during back-to-school sales in July and August. If you need one but didn't take advantage of those sales, wait until November for another round of markdowns that will be as good, if not better, according to DealNews.com.
Televisions. Wait a couple of months to buy an HDTV because prices will be at their lowest around Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to DealNews.com
-
The Stoic Retirement: Ancient Wisdom for Today's RealityA "Stoic retirement" doesn't mean depriving yourself. It's a character-based approach to life and aging that can bring calm and clarity.
-
My Teen Crashed His Car and Now Our Insurance Has Tripled. What Now?Dealing with the costly aftermath of a teen car accident is stressful. Here are your options for navigating it.
-
11 Outrageous Ways To Spend Money in RetirementWhether you have excess cash to spend or want to pretend, here’s a look at 11 ridiculous ways retirees can splurge.
-
21 Last-Minute Gifts for Grandparents Day 2025 to Give Right NowHoliday Tips Last-minute gifting is never easy. But here are some ideas to celebrate Grandparents Day.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here's what you needed to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
The Sweet 23: States Where Twix and Kit Kat Avoid the ‘Candy Tax’State Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
-
Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025Sales Taxes The new tax-free holiday in Florida brought month-long savings on computers, clothing and other school supplies.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop Amazon's Prime Big Deal DaysSmart Buying Are Amazon Prime Big Deal Days still a good deal? We'll break it down.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
