What to Buy (and Skip) in September 2025
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Updated · 2 min read
Written by
Lead Writer & Content Strategist 
Edited by
Managing Editor Some months are known for great deals on certain products. September is mattress month, for example. Look to upgrade your bed and for other sales this month, especially around Labor Day.
Buy: Mattresses
Labor Day is Sept. 1, and retailers typically observe the federal holiday with weekend sales. Traditionally, these events include discounts on items for the home, and it’s one of the best times of the year to buy a mattress.
In past years, we’ve seen worthy deals from Purple, Serta, Casper and more. Check these sellers (and others) this year if you’re in the market for a new bed.
Look for these deals while August is still rolling along.
Skip: Electronics
If Labor Day is known for home deals, holiday sales are known for electronics deals. Black Friday, arguably the biggest shopping day of the year, always falls on the day after Thanksgiving. This year, that’s Nov. 28. Cyber Monday hits after the weekend on Dec. 1 this year.
Hold off on buying electronics now in anticipation of what’s coming in the months ahead. In previous years, we’ve seen hundreds of dollars off TVs at Target and laptops for less than list price at Best Buy.
More stories like this? Yes, please!
Find exclusive content, rich storytelling, first-person accounts, trending news and original reporting in the NerdWallet app.
Buy: Appliances
Labor Day is a good time to buy appliances, too. Furthermore, the 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum that will likely impact prices later adds some incentive to splurge now (if you need something). Find Labor Day appliance sales at the big box chains. Look at local appliance businesses, too, because why not buy from a smaller shop if the price is the same or better?
Fridges, freezers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and ovens are all fair game.
Skip: Shoes
Back-to-school sales make for a good time to get shoes, and those events took place already. If you missed the deals — like when Nike offered up to 50% off and Hoka had up to 30% off in late July — you might have a hard time finding a deal as good now. Black Friday is probably your next best bet for deeper discounts on kicks.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Have a go-to brand and model of running shoe? You can usually find discounted models from previous years on Amazon. If the Mizuno Wave Rider 29 is the latest, for example, look for the 27 or 28 on discount. Buy: Older iPhones
Apple is rumored to unveil the next set of new iPhones in early September. While the new models won’t come with a discounted price (perhaps an increase, instead), retailers are sure to mark down previous models. The savvy cell phone shopper buys at least one model back.
Skip: Decorations
Another category to skip? Fall and holiday decorations. Decorations get cheaper when the holiday gets closer. So as long as you’re okay with doing things last-minute, wait until mid-October for Halloween decorations and mid-December for Christmas decorations.
Buy: Summer apparel and pool toys
By the end of summer, retailers will be ready to clear out summer inventory.
Clothing items, like shorts, T-shirts and even flip-flops, may be a good score for those who live in places where it stays warm into the fall months, according to Jane Boyd Thomas, professor of marketing at Winthrop University in South Carolina.
Thomas suggested pool toys as another under-the-radar product category that could be marked down significantly. Use them now if the weather stays warm, or save them for a sunnier day.
“Depending on where you live, you could even give pool toys as a Christmas or birthday gift,” she said in an email interview.
Bonus: Coffee and a cheeseburger
Wait, what? No, not together. Sept. 18 gives you a good excuse to indulge since it’s National Cheeseburger Day. And you might be able to find a free cup of coffee on Sept. 29, which is the national day of America’s favorite caffeinated beverage. Take advantage as bean prices jump.
As always, follow your favorite burger joints and coffee shops on the socials for first notice of any deals or freebies.
More stories like this? Yes, please!
Find exclusive content, rich storytelling, first-person accounts, trending news and original reporting in the NerdWallet app. Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy,
timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's
high standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
