The 13 Best Things to Buy in March — and 4 to Avoid

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Editor's Note: This story comes from partner site DealNews.com.

March may not seem like a good month for finding deals — in fact, as deal experts, we’re accustomed to seeing a kind of “deal drought” this month; but the truth is you may be able to score great savings on several items in March as long as you know what to shop.

From food freebies on Pi Day to goods on sale for St. Patrick’s Day, there are plenty of products to add to your cart this time of year.

Check out what to buy in March, plus the categories to skip for now.

The 7 Best Things to Buy in March

1. Pi Day Deals

March 14 is Pi Day (because 3/14). Consequently, we tend to see restaurants offer deals for $3.14, as well as discounts and freebies with themed coupon codes.

We usually see a fair amount of pizza promotions, but if there’s a pie restaurant in your area, you may see them offering specials, too.

Your best bet is to start following your favorite restaurants and retailers now via their social media accounts and/or email lists, so that if they mention a Pi Day promotion, you’ll be able to take advantage of it.

Watch grocery circulars, too. Sometimes they may offer a deal like mini pies for $3.14 to celebrate.

2. St. Patrick’s Day Sales

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t known for being a big sale holiday. But because it falls during the aforementioned “deal drought,” some retailers participate to encourage shoppers. Just don’t expect a flood of exciting St. Patrick’s Day sales.

Last year we saw only four promotions for the holiday, which included:

  • A free green-glazed doughnut at Krispy Kreme for guests wearing green on both March 16 and 17
  • Up to $600 off select mattresses and furniture in various promotions at Saatva
  • Discounts on more than 1,000 St. Patrick’s Day-themed apparel, decor, and groceries at Walmart
  • St. Paddy’s Day gear at Carhartt from just $10

While we didn’t see a ton of St. Patrick’s Day offers last year, that doesn’t mean 2024 will be the same. Check your favorite retailers to see if you can snag a discount on some of your favorites to celebrate.

3. Travel Gear

If travel is on your radar, know that March is an excellent month to pick up various kinds of gear for your next trip. It’s a particularly good time to shop for luggage deals.

You’ll likely see drawstring backpacks for as little as $11. Want a more traditional backpack? There’s a good chance we could see those drop to around $14 again this March.

We could also once again see things like sturdy Lands’ End totes for $17, as well as large duffle bags drop to the same price.

As for more traditional luggage, spinner hardside carry-ons could go for $60, while pieces of Samsonite hardside expandable luggage could be as little as $78 — a deal that earned our Staff Pick badge last year.

Be sure to watch for travel accessory discounts and sales, too; last year, we saw a 4-pack of Repel portable travel umbrellas for $60, and up to 40% off Patagonia luggage at REI.

4. Winter Sports Items

Since winter winds down in March, it’s actually the perfect time to shop for cold-weather-sports items. While you might find individual deals worth checking out, your best bet for scoring notable savings is going to be via store sales.

For instance, last March we saw up to 70% off snow sports items at REI, while Marmot offered a winter slash sale that cut up to 60% off. Check out Steep & Cheap, too. Last year they took up to 70% off snow apparel, boards, skis, and other winter items.

5. Winter Apparel

Along with winter sports gear, cold-weather apparel will also be discounted as retailers make room for new spring items. If you need a new coat, March may be the best time to pick one out.

During this month last year, we listed more than 150 deals on coats alone, and 24% of the deals we saw were good enough to earn our Staff Pick badge.

Look for March deals like the following:

  • Vests from $4
  • Fleece from $6
  • Jackets from $7
  • Puffer jackets from $28
  • Parkas from $30
  • Overcoats from $65

Watch for sales, too. Last year Calvin Klein cut 70% off men’s outerwear, while Macy’s could once again offer a promotion that takes at least 60% off coats and jackets from brands like Calvin Klein, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Nautica, and more.

6. Vacuum Cleaners

With many people getting ready for spring cleaning, March is a good time to look for products that can help you declutter and freshen up your home.

That means it could be a good month to pick up a new vacuum, especially if you want a great deal on a Dyson. Last year we saw select models as low as $200 — and they were brand-new, too.

If you don’t mind a refurbished unit, though, watch for Dyson to bring back its Outlet Spring Cleaning deals which should have serious savings on different refurbished products, including vacuums.

Watch for other March sales from brands like Samsung, which knocked up to $400 off select items in its Spring Cleaning Sale, and iRobot which cut up to $300 off in its own Spring Cleaning Sale.

Meanwhile, Amazon could take up to 41% off select iRobot vacuums again and Best Buy could offer up to 75% off.

7. TVs

While Black Friday still offers the best TV deals for the most part, that doesn’t mean the rest of the year is devoid of them. We likely won’t see a ton of TV discounts in March — last March we listed just under 50 deals, and only around 19% were Staff Pick-worthy.

That said, some of the notable offers we saw last year included an Insignia 50″ 4K set for $250, which was the best price we’d seen. We also saw a Toshiba 50″ 4K smart set for $270 that was cheaper than what we saw the previous October as well as being the lowest price we’d seen.

There were also a couple of great sales from Best Buy, including Roku smart TVs from just $150 and other select 4K sets from just $200.

8. Grills

In general, we recommend not buying grills until much later in the year. We may see some good deals at the end of the summer, but the very best savings usually appear during September and October, when the demand for grills decreases sharply.

But if you need a grill before the backyard barbecue season starts, you can’t wait until fall to shop. That’s where March can potentially help you save.

Last year we saw 17 grill deals in March, and around 18% of those earned our Staff Pick badge. It may not be a ton of variety, but there’s always a chance you could find a diamond in the rough.

Look for larger charcoal grills to be around $96, while gas grills could be as little as $149. Need a combo setup? We could see duos like a vertical smoker and charcoal grill go for around $271 once again this year.

9. Garden Tools

Garden tools is another category that we may not see strong deals in until April, when lawn care and gardening really kick off for the year. In March 2023, we only listed 29 deals on garden tools, and only 7% of those were Staff Pick-worthy.

Still, there’s a chance for rock-bottom prices on select tools. Look for hand rakes to be $8, easy-grip secateurs for $11, extendable handle weeders for $13, and things like pruners/loppers and oscillating sprinklers to be $18 each.

Also count on power tools going on sale. Deals could include weed burners for $22, gas push mowers for $177, and mini wood chipper shredders for $405.

10. Cleaning Supplies

Like other items for spring cleaning, standard cleaning supplies will likely also see discounts in March. We could see deals once again like 3-packs of sponges for less than $2.50, Windex glass and window cleaner spray 2-packs for $5, and toilet cleaner gel for $6.

We’re also expecting discounts on cleaning tools and accessories, too. Keep an eye out for packages of trash bags for around $6, 3-packs of garbage disposal cleaner for $7, 12-packs of microfiber cleaning cloths for $11, and even broom and dustpan sets for $23.

11. Furniture

While Presidents’ Day sales in February are big for furniture deals, we tend to see a variety of offers in March as well.

Last year, we listed 237 offers on home furniture during the month, but only about 11% of those earned our Staff Pick designation. Even so, the sheer volume of deals can mean excellent savings for those on the hunt for new furniture.

We saw corner display cabinets for $12 last March, along with things like tiered shoe racks for $23, desks for $39, and bed frames for as little as $55.

Other notable offers included a Zinus SmartBase Queen frame for $82, an Ameriwood coffee table for $90, and a Queen upholstered platform bed for $126, among others.

12. Cruises

As March is the end of Wave Season, it’s one of the last chances of the year to find great discounts. Be sure to check your favorite cruise lines directly, but also look for sales from online travel agencies and cruise-booking agencies as well.

Watch for deals like a 7-night Bermuda cruise from New York City for $699 per person to return again, but also watch for other perks like bonus credits.

For instance, last March we saw a Celebrity Cruise sale at Avoya Travel with promotions that included buy one fare, get 75% off a second; up to $250 onboard credit; and up to $1,600 in savings.

13. Hot Tubs

Since hot tubs aren’t usually at the top of people’s shopping lists during the winter months, retailers will offer higher discounts to entice them. And since March is the official end of winter, stores will often use it as another opportunity to keep their inventory moving.

For instance, last year Amazon knocked up to 62% off select Bestway pools and hot tubs. You can also expect other stores to offer discounts, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, and even warehouse clubs like Costco.

And 4 Things NOT to Buy in March

Spring Apparel

When to buy: April-June

Why: Spring clothing is just hitting the shelves in March, so any discounts we see on these items will be modest at best.

Android Phones

When to buy: July to November

Why: Many Android phones see new releases in the first half of the year or between August and October, and we don’t tend to find excellent savings on them until Prime Day in July or Black Friday in November.

Major Appliances

When to buy: May

Why: Presidents’ Day was huge for major appliances, but we don’t expect deals like that again until Memorial Day sales roll around.

Mattresses

When to buy: May

Why: Presidents’ Day was also big for mattresses, and while we may see some discounts in March when new models are released we don’t expect the best discounts again until Memorial Day sales.

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