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What to Buy (and Skip) in March 2026
Buy green gear closer to St. Patrick’s Day and look for deals on mattresses, vacuums and makeup in March.
Tommy Tindall is a personal finance writer who joined NerdWallet in 2021, covering savvy spending and simple ways to plan for a prosperous financial future. Before NerdWallet, he worked on the marketing and communications team at Fannie Mae. Today, Tommy strives to clear up complex money matters for all. He’s also a consumer technology product enthusiast and always out for the best deal.
Lisa Mulka is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance content. Past projects include serving as lead writer on the FDIC’s Money Smart for Young People program.
Pamela de la Fuente leads NerdWallet's consumer credit and debt team. Her team covers credit scores, credit reports, identity protection and ways to avoid, manage and eliminate debt. Previously, she led taxes and retirement coverage at NerdWallet. She has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years at companies including The Kansas City Star, Sprint and Hallmark Cards. Email: [email protected]
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March brings a welcome change in season and some decent reasons to shop, like a discount on a mattress or vacuum cleaner.
We clue you in on the categories to buy (and a few to skip) so you can make the most of your money.
Buy: Floor sample mattresses
New mattress models usually arrive in stores in the spring, making old mattresses potentially more affordable, according to Scott Paladini, who founded online mattress company Bear Mattress. If you care more about a bargain than getting the latest model, look for discounts on mattresses that have been displayed and tested on the showroom floor.
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March is a month too late for great television deals. Super Bowl season typically delivers steep savings, including hundreds off on some 4K TVs. The next big opportunity for TV deals is July thanks to “big summer blowouts” like Prime Day and competing sales. It’s basically Black Friday in July. Of course, you can also expect plenty of electronics savings during actual Black Friday in November.
Buy: St. Patrick’s Day essentials
March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s a good time to go for all things green
Many major retailers discount St. Patrick’s Day essentials in the days leading up to the holiday. Check stores in person just before the holiday or browse online retailers like Amazon and Wayfair ahead of time for something festive and on sale.
The longer you wait to shop, the better. The selection might be reduced, but so will prices. If you like wearing green all year, expect even bigger clearance deals after the holiday is over.
Pro tip from a sports fan: Find a green version of your favorite team’s hat or shirt to rock on the 17th.
Skip: Spring clothing
March 20 is the first day of spring, but it’s wise to wait a few weeks before outfitting yourself with spring apparel if you’re looking to save. New inventory, including clothing, generally costs the most at the beginning of a season.
Instead, consider stocking your closet with cold-weather staples for fall and winter in March. Winter clearance sales are still happening at many stores. The same can be true for winter sporting goods, like skis, snowboards and goggles.
Buy: Tax prep software
This one we’re going to caveat. Prices on tax software go up as the tax filing deadline approaches. So you can use March as your chance to get a deal on tax software. But, you might be able to skip paying for tax software altogether if you’re eligible for the IRS Free File program — 70% of Americans are. If you need to pay for tax prep, shop around for the software that fits your filing needs and your budget. Tax day is April 15 this year.
March isn’t known for great sales on furniture, so we recommend holding off on major purchases for a little longer.
Wait for Memorial Day sales in May, when big-box chains and department stores will offer more discounts to entice customers to buy. If you can wait even longer, Labor Day deals in September will be hard to beat.
Buy: Vacuum cleaners
Spring cleaning and having a tidy house are on the minds of many. Retailers know this and tend to offer better deals than normal just before the start of cleaning season, according to Consumer Reports.
Sale alert: Ulta’s big event
Ulta has made March a good month for makeup thanks to its 21+ Days of Beauty event. It’s a semi-annual sale that also happens in September. This one starts March 6 and goes through March 26, so you’ll have lots of time to browse. Watch for competing discounts from other beauty retailers and brands.
Reasons to eat: National Ravioli Day and Pi Day
Good buys in March aren’t just available online and in stores. They’ll be at your local restaurant and supermarket, too.
Mark your calendar for food-related holidays, including Pi Day on March 14 (because 3.14) and National Ravioli Day on March 20. Although the former is inspired by math, restaurants and grocery stores like to celebrate the occasion with deals on pie with an “e.” Check social media for promotions.
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