Saving Strategies for Year-Round Shopping: From Clearance Sales to Seasonal Deals

Whether you’re interested in optimizing your budget or simply getting the most value for your money, adopting a comprehensive approach to year-round shopping is key. To help you make the most of your shopping experiences, we have compiled a short guide that will walk you through various saving strategies. From seizing clearance sales to using coupons, here are a few simple ways to maximize your savings. 

 

Clearance Sales

Some of the best times to stock up on the various items you need are during clearance sales. That’s when retailers cut prices significantly, enabling shoppers to save over 50% on a selection of products. Keeping an eye out for these sales events throughout the year will help you save big on a wide variety of items.

Many retailers run such sales when they want to clear out their inventory, so they offer major discounts on items that have been in stock for a while. These sales are often held to make room for new merchandise or to close out seasonal products. Clearance sales are usually held at specific times throughout the year, such as at the end of a season or after major holidays.

Here are a few examples of clearance sales and how much they can help you save:

  • End-of-season clearance – as the name suggests, these sales take place at the end of the season, when retailers make room for new collections. For example, you can score up to 70% off summer apparel and accessories as retailers make way for fall collections.
  • Holiday clearance –  if you don’t want to spend too much when decorating your home for the next big holiday, you might want to keep an eye on holiday clearance sales. You can find discounted decorations, wrapping paper, and seasonal items after major holidays like Christmas or Halloween and pay significantly less for your room holiday refresh.
  • Electronics clearance – If you don’t mind not using the latest gadgets and electronics, it is worth seizing the electronics clearance sales to save big on such items. Retailers such as Best Buy run electronics clearance deals, offering discounts on previous models or discontinued items as new technology hits the shelves. The e-store even features an entire section dedicated to clearance and outlet offers that can help you save 50% or more.

 

Seasonal & Holiday Sales 

Clearance sales may bring major price drops on previous generation/season items or products that are discounted, but seasonal sales can help you enjoy great deals on the latest items/collections. From the popular Black Friday to summer sales, there are many opportunities to save throughout the year. Here is an overview of seasonal and holiday deals and their timing:

  • Back-to-school sales – usually held in August and September, these sales bring discounts on school supplies, electronics, and clothing. Amazon, Office Depot, Staples, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart are some of the most popular retailers where you can find such sales. 
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday – Most retailers offer some of the greatest discounts in the second part or at the end of November. These events are some of the most sought-after sales, as they typically feature great deals on a wide range of products, especially electronics and appliances, some of which may be over 50% off. 
  • Memorial Day – this holiday brings some of the greatest price drops throughout the year. The sale usually comes with discounts on home appliances, mattresses, and outdoor furniture. How much you can save differs from one store to another, but you can typically score around 40% – 50% off. 
  • Valentine’s Day – if you want to celebrate the special people in your life but you’re on a tight budget, you might also want to check out Valentine’s Day deals, as they can help you save on chocolates, flowers, and jewelry.
  • Fourth of July – many retailers celebrate this holiday by running deals on summer apparel, BBQ grills, and outdoor gear. Keep an eye out for such deals at the end of June or the beginning of July.

To make sure you don’t miss out on such sales, you might want to consider the following: 

  • Plan – research the best times for specific seasonal deals and create a shopping strategy.
  • Sign up for newsletters – stay informed about upcoming deals and exclusive offers by subscribing to retailers’ newsletters.
  • Comparison shop – check prices across different retailers to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

 

Loyalty Programs & Rewards

Many retailers reward loyalty and run rewards programs that can help shoppers save no matter the time of year. In many cases, joining the program is free, while in others, you must spend a certain amount to become a member. Some of these memberships feature several tiers, and the higher your tier, the greater the benefits. 

Reward programs offer a wide range of perks to their members, such as the ones below:

  • Points or credits with your purchases – many loyalty programs operate on a points or credit system, where you earn rewards based on your purchases. Once you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for discounts, gift cards, or free merchandise in the future.
  • Personalized offers and special promotions – members often receive personalized offers based on their shopping preferences so that they can save on the very items they’re interested in. Moreover, members frequently benefit from early access to sales events or even exclusive deals. 
  • Free shipping and services – depending on the retailer that runs the loyalty program, as a member, you can also enjoy free shipping or services, such as free expert advice.
  • Birthday rewards –  many loyalty programs include birthday bonuses or gifts for members. This perk may be a discount, a free item, or bonus points. 

It is always best to read the terms and conditions of each such program before joining. Look for programs that align with your shopping habits and offer the most appealing benefits. You might want to consider a few factors, such as the ease of earning and redeeming rewards and the flexibility of the program’s terms and conditions.

Most popular retailers run such programs, offering customers the possibility to enjoy various perks, ranging from exclusive sales and discounts to birthday gifts. Here are just a few examples of loyalty programs and their advantages: 

1. Sephora’s Beauty Insider

As a Sephora Beauty Insider member, you will enjoy the following advantages:

  • Earn points for every purchase and redeem them for exclusive beauty products, samples, or discounts.
  • Access to VIP experiences, early access to new products, and personalized beauty recommendations.
  • Birthday gifts and access to Beauty Insider community events.

 

2. Amazon Prime 

Amazon Prime members benefit from the following perks:

  • Free two-day shipping on select items.
  • Access to Prime Video for streaming movies, TV shows, and exclusive content.
  • Prime Music with millions of ad-free songs and personalized playlists.
  • Prime Reading with a rotating selection of ebooks, magazines, and comics.
  • Prime Day, an annual sales event exclusive to Prime members.

 

3. CVS ExtraCare

Once you become a CVS ExtraCare member, you will enjoy the following:

  • Earn ExtraBucks rewards on qualifying purchases.
  • Personalized discounts and coupons based on shopping habits.
  • Access to exclusive deals and savings on healthcare products.
  • Prescription management benefits, such as prescription savings and automatic refills.

 

Couponing & Promo Codes

Another popular way to save is through couponing and promo codes, and thankfully, many retailers offer such possibilities. Coupons and promo codes offer discounts or special offers on specific products or services, and retailers offer them as a part of their marketing campaigns or as exclusive offers to specific customer segments.

Printable coupons can be physically presented at the store, while digital coupons are loaded onto loyalty cards or mobile apps. Some manufacturers also offer coupons that can be used at multiple retailers. When using a promo code online, you must enter it in the designated field during the checkout process and hit “Apply” for the discount to be reflected in the order total. 

Such coupons can usually be found on the retailer’s website or in the store’s app. However, in some cases, these coupons are offered only in the retailer’s newsletter. Therefore, subscribing to the store’s email alerts may be the only way to enjoy such offers. 

 

Weekly Ads

Depending on the retailer you’re interested in, you may also save by seizing the offers highlighted in the store’s weekly ad. Many popular retailers release weekly flyers, offering different types of deals on select items. You may find price cuts, the BOGO 50% off deal, free items with select purchases, and coupons, to name a few of the most popular types of offers.

Big Lots, Costco, Menards, Michaels, and Walmart are just some of the retailers that offer deals regularly and release such weekly ads. Some of the offers included in the flyer can even be combined with loyalty offers, so if you’re a loyalty member of that retailer’s rewards program, you can save even more. Given that these weekly flyers are released regularly, it is one of the easiest ways to get more for less the next time you shop.

 

Occupational Discounts 

Another simple way to save money on your purchases is by seizing the retailers’ occupational discounts. While not all of them run such offers, most of the popular stores out there participate in this type of savings program. Military, student, and healthcare discounts can help you save up to 20% or so, not only during sales events but throughout the year. 

Aeropostale, Asics, Backcountry, Belk, Carhartt, Champs Sports, Dickies, Eddie Bauer, Home Depot, and North Face are just some of the retailers that run occupational discounts. These offers can usually be found at the bottom of the page, and to benefit from them, you are required to verify your eligibility. 

 

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