The winter slog and still-higher-than-you’d-like prices on certain items might make the outlook for February seem gloomy. But there are still ways to shop smart. And, as with every month, there’s a new host of smart seasonal buys and retail bright spots.
The 5 Smartest Things to Buy in February
To help you take full advantage of Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day sales (and save money on everything else you buy), we used our internal discount data to calculate average discounts February shoppers can expect in popular categories – and zero in on the Top 5 categories to shop this month.
1. TVs (Average Discount: 48% Off)
Aside from Black Friday, the weeks leading up to the Big Game (Feb. 11 this year) are one of the best times of the year to buy a TV. Retailers know that the Big Game is a big incentive to upgrade your TV, but that consumers might need that extra push. And that extra push comes in the form of deals. We tend to see some Black Friday-repeat pricing on budget-friendly sets, as well as some tempting prices on higher-quality TVs. So, if you sat out Black Friday, start shopping for TV deals the first couple weeks of February. Check out Target, Walmart and Best Buy for the strongest deals. Plus, we’ll be sourcing the best deals we find in real time here.
The best part about snagging TV deals for the Big Game is that you can shop right up until the last minute, as the big box stores that sell TVs usually have in-store pickup. Even Amazon has a partnership with Best Buy that allows you to pick up certain Fire TVs the same day at a Best Buy location.
Before you shell out hundreds of dollars on a new TV, be sure to check our cash back offers, which reward you a percentage BACK of what you spend.
2. Tax-Preparation Services and Software (Average Discount: 28% Off)
The IRS starts accepting tax returns Jan. 29, so it’s officially off to the races. The filing deadline for 2024 (tax year 2023) is April 15, which will be here before we know it. So start shopping for tax-filing services now.
Filing online with a reputable tax-prep company will be key to saving your sanity (and precious time) and making sure you get the largest refund possible. Most online tax services have add-ons if you need a little extra help.
Luckily, TurboTax, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, H&R Block and more know that tax-filers are shopping around and hunting for deals. Whichever service you used last year has likely already sent a promo code to your inbox, so be sure to check. If that deal isn’t to your liking, do some comparison shopping. Most tax-prep services allow you to import previous years’ returns from their competitors, so you can feel confident in switching providers to snag a good discount.
Tax software deals for February include:
- Save up to an additional 20% when you use TurboTax (through Feb. 14). And get $15 cash back through RetailMeNot.
- Get 15% off your federal E-file with TaxSlayer with our exclusive promo code. And get 10% cash back.
- Get 30% off tax-filing products with H&R Block (RMN exclusive!).
Retailers like Target and Costco will offer their own deals on TurboTax software as well, if you prefer to use a hard-copy CD version. We’re already seeing $25 off TurboTax Premier from Target, and remember, you’re also getting 1% back on that purchase if you’re a member of Target Circle.
3. Fine Jewelry (Average Discount: 28% Off)
Jewelry is another smart buy right after Feb. 14, especially if you like sparkly heart-shaped pieces, and pink or red gems. Valentine’s Day is the last major jewelry gifting event until Mother’s Day, so expect baubles to be priced to sell.
If you are looking for jewelry to give to your beloved on Valentine’s Day, you’ll still find deals in the weeks and days beforehand — and be sure to check out RetailMeNot’s cash back offers at Kay Jewelers, Jared and Pandora.
Cash back shopping is especially smart on bigger-ticket items like jewelry, as you’ll get a percentage back of what you spend. Be sure to activate cash back offers on any jewelry retailers you might shop for Valentine’s Day before you shop.
4. Home & Garden (Average Discount: 25%)
Presidents Day, being a three-day weekend (Feb. 17-19), offers great deals on home goods, especially big-ticket home goods.
Expect large appliances to be marked down (especially if you buy a suite of them). In the past, we’ve seen 30% to 40% off appliances (expect the biggest discounts when you buy a suite of appliances from the same brand). Check out deals from Lowe’s, Home Depot and Best Buy.
Mattresses are another smart Presidents Day buy. Expect king-for-a-queen pricing as well as freebies thrown in (like free bed frames and free pillows). For some of the best deals, be sure to check out Wayfair, Mattress Firm, Casper and Purple.
5. Personalized Gifts (Average Discount: 23% Off)
Personalized gifts are a popular option for Valentine’s Day, but timing is everything to snagging a deal and getting the item on sale. Engraved items, as well as custom photo gifts require a bit of lead time beyond the usual shipping time, so retailers will start offering promo codes a few weeks out. So shop early February when retailers are in intense competition over Valentine’s Day shoppers, knowing there’s a limited shelf life for romantic personalized gifts. If you don’t need to shop for Valentine’s Day, browse the sales and promo codes for this year’s birthday gifts, Mother’s Day gifts, anniversary gifts, etc.
For non-customized gifts (jewelry, stuffed animals, perfume), you have a little more wiggle room — shop at the very last minute and even the day after Feb. 15 for big discounts on whatever’s left. The beauty departments at stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s and Bloomingdale’s are treasure troves of fragrance and gift set deals right after Valentine’s Day.
The post 5 Things to Buy in February: Home Goods, Jewelry & More appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.