Editor's Note: This story comes from partner site DealNews.com.
April may not seem like a big month for shopping, but plenty of categories boast good deals. Some of them are more practical, so if you’re looking for fun and frivolous products, you may have to dig a little more.
We’re here to make the process easier, though, with our guide on what to buy in April. We also go over several purchases you should hold off on until later.
The 10 Best Things to Buy in April
1. Cookware
Chances are, the reason we tend to see cookware deals in April is because of graduation and wedding season being right around the corner. But whether you need to gift someone else or just need to upgrade your own collection, expect a decent number of offers to shop.
Last April, about 29% of all the cookware deals we listed were Staff Pick-worthy — our term for the “best of the best” deals we see. For instance, we saw a 2-pack of T-Fal Excite nonstick pans for $20 and a 2-pack of nonstick pizza trays also for $20.
Also watch for big April sales from retailers like Sur La Table. Last year they knocked up to 60% off in their cookware event at the beginning of April, while the All-Clad VIP Factory Seconds sale knocked up to 77% off.
2. Athletic Shoes
Whether it’s due to new items being released or a renewed interest in getting outdoors and exercising more as the weather warms up, April is a good time to look for athletic shoes. Last year, we saw men’s and women’s athletic shoes for as little as $15.
You should be able to take advantage of several shoe sales, as well. Last year adidas took up to 50% off plus an additional 30% off select shoe purchases. We also saw Nike take up to 40% off, and up to 50% off Jordans.
Reebok, meanwhile, also offered up savings. Shoppers could take an extra 60% off sale items as well as 35% off full-price products. And free shipping was available for loyalty members, sweetening the deal even more.
Even if you don’t see your favorite brand having a sale, that doesn’t mean discounts won’t be available. Look to stores like Shoebacca, which had brand- and category-specific promotions last year that included the following:
- Up to 50% off Keen
- Up to 78% off Cole Haan
- Up to 80% off men’s boots
eBay also offered up brand-specific promotions during the month, including up to 85% off New Balance and even better discounts from name-brand outlets. For example, the Crocs Outlet at eBay offered up to 50% off plus an extra 25% off $75 while the adidas Outlet cut up to 50% off plus an extra 50% off and provided free shipping.
3. Air Conditioners
March sometimes has a handful of air conditioner deals worth shopping. If you didn’t see one you liked in March, April may be the time to check again.
In April 2023, we only listed a handful of deals on these products, but if you needed a window or portable unit, they were worth a glance. We saw a 5,000-BTU window unit for as little as $130, while a portable 8,000-BTU air conditioner dropped to $239.
Watch for Woot, Amazon, and eBay to have solid deals on these items.
4. Spring Apparel
We’ll likely see a fair amount of clothing sales in April, but many may not indicate they’re centered on spring apparel. Instead, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for general sales.
For example, last year we saw an Eddie Bauer sale that took 60% off via a coupon code, while J.Crew Factory cut up to 60% off plus an extra 20% off in its Friends & Family Sale.
Other notable sales included up to 80% off at Macy’s during its Last Act Sale; Brooks Brothers clearance items from just $3.74 each; and items from $6 during Uniqlo’s Spring Sale.
5. Gardening Gear
April brings springlike temperatures to many areas, and that means people get strong urges to go outside and enjoy the weather.
Last year we listed more than 250 deals on gardening items in April, with about 13% of those earning our Staff Pick badge. Notable offers included Miracle-Gro all purpose garden soil for $2 a bag, a 5 for $10 promotion at Lowe’s for mulch, and solar outdoor LED path lights for $7.
If you need tools to manage your garden, know that those should go on sale, too. For example, you may be able to score hand rakes for just $8. We could also see the following garden tool deals return this year:
- 100-foot expandable garden hose with spray nozzle for $27
- Carbon steel pruner for $27
- 26″ branch cutter for $49
We also saw offers for power tools last April, like a cordless hedge trimmer for $53, a GreenWorks 1,600 PSI pressure washer for $65, and more, including a sale at Walmart that offered power tools starting at just $48.
6. Home Improvement Supplies
With the weather warming up, many homeowners will be ready to tackle DIY projects around the house, and fortunately we should see at least some deals to help with that.
For example, last year we saw drywall repair fabric for just $5, asphalt sealant for $9, and wood filler kits for just $11.
Other notable home improvement offers included a toilet fill valve and flapper repair kit for $19, 10-count gutter guard for $44, and an 8-pack of acoustic soundproof panels for $50.
General sales were worth checking out, too. Among them were promotions taking up to 57% off Filtrete filters at Amazon, refurbished Hunter ceiling fans from $40 at Woot!, and thousands of items on sale at Lowe’s for its Spring Fest Event to tackle any project you had in mind.
7. Clearance Easter Goodies
Another big event in April (some years anyway) is Easter, though this year the holiday falls on March 31. That said, you can still find clearance Easter goodies as soon as the month of April begins; if you enjoy these seasonal treats, it’s worth planning to celebrate April Fools’ Day by shopping select products for 50% off or more.
Watch for initial savings to amount to 50% off or so at Target, though waiting a few days could mean discounts up to 70% off or more. That said, if you wait too long the good stuff — like Reese’s Eggs — will be gone, and you may find yourself left with off-brand jelly beans.
8. Secondhand Treasures
As spring is officially underway this month, that can mean more people embracing decluttering as part of their spring cleaning routine. Those items have to go somewhere, and while some people may throw them out, others prefer to donate things that could still be of use.
Thrift stores and consignment shops tend to see an increase in donations this time of year, so consider checking out the selection at your local store before opting to buy a brand-new, more expensive item.
9. Early Mother’s Day Gifts
Mother’s Day falls on May 12 in 2024, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until next month to do your shopping. Plenty of sales will start in April, and shopping early will mean less pressure to buy the first suitable gift you find.
Expect Mother’s Day sales in April to include things like up to 60% select items at Woot!, up to 40% off arrangements and treats at 1-800-Flowers, and 25% off at Ugg. Plus, watch for promotions like gifts at Ulta for $25 or less, and nontraditional gift sales such as up to 57% off at Omaha Steaks.
Looking for jewelry? We expect to see plenty of offers for shiny baubles for Mom, too. Watch for department stores like Kohl’s to knock up to 70% off a variety of styles, while Blue Nile could take up to 50% off in their sale.
10. Sustainable Products
April tends to have a big focus on sustainability because of the Arbor Day and Earth Day holidays. But the entire month is also known as Earth Month.
This means companies will probably give out eco-friendly freebies, such as Air Wick offering free wildflower seeds as they’ve done in the past. And Target will likely highlight the sustainable products they carry every day to make it easy for shoppers to find other eco-friendly brands, as well.
If you’re shopping online, consider checking out eco-conscious brands like LastObject — this author loves the reusable LastSwab Beauty Trio Pro and LastRound Pro for her makeup routine. Brands like Papaya, which makes reusable paper towels, and Stojo, which makes collapsible reusable containers, also come highly recommended by other eco-conscious shoppers.
And Hyggelight offers a product that pulls a double whammy. Their Growing Candle is made to be petroleum-free, with cotton wicks and nontoxic fragrance oils. What’s cool is that once you burn the candle down, you can then clean out the container and use it to plant the label from your candle, which is embedded with wildflower seeds.
And 7 Things to Skip in April
Mattresses
When to buy: May, July, September
Why: Mattresses tend to go on sale around big holidays like Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, so if you can hold off until one of those to do your shopping, you’ll find much better deals.
Major Appliances
When to buy: May, July, September
Why: This is another category that tends to see big discounts around Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day, though Black Friday typically has notable offers, as well. Hold off until one of the big holidays to do your shopping unless you really need an appliance now.
Summer Essentials
When to buy: July, August, September
Why: Summer essentials like pool items, patio furniture, and outdoor games are just going to be hitting shelves this month, so expect them to be at full price. If you’re looking for discounts, you’re better off waiting for summer to start winding down.
Summer Clothing
When to buy: July, August, September
Why: Summer clothing like swimwear is just hitting the shelves, so we won’t see any real discounts on these items until 4th of July sales at the earliest.
TVs and Electronics
When to buy: July, August, Black Friday
Why: Black Friday is still largely the best time to shop electronics, but the 4th of July and Back to School sales could have a selection of offers worth checking out.
Grills
When to buy: September or October
Why: These will be in high demand for the next few months, and while some deals will pop up, overall it’ll be better to buy in September or later when the demand is lower.
Small Kitchen Appliances
When to buy: Black Friday
Why: While we may see deals on small kitchen appliances around big shopping holidays like Memorial Day and the 4th of July, the deals around Black Friday just seem to be better overall.
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