Ever wonder why some people always seem to find better deals? Its not luck - its timing. Retailers follow predictable patterns, and once you know them, you can save hundreds every year.
📅 Why Tuesday is the Best Day to Shop Online
Most major retailers update their prices and release new deals on Tuesday mornings. Why? Weekends are for browsing, Monday is for restocking and planning, and Tuesday is when the new sales go live.
Heres the breakdown:
- Amazon - New Lightning Deals often start Tuesday/Wednesday
- Target - Weekly ad starts Sunday, but online clearance updates Tuesday
- Best Buy - Deal of the Day resets, new weekly specials drop
- Walmart - Rollback prices frequently update mid-week
🕐 Best Time of Day to Shop
Early morning wins. Between 6 AM - 9 AM your local time, youll catch:
- Fresh deals before they sell out
- Restocked inventory from overnight
- Price drops that happened overnight
- Less competition from other shoppers
Late night (after 10 PM) is also good - some sites test lower prices during off-peak hours.
📆 Best Days of the Week by Store
Monday: Costco, Home Depot (weekly ads reset)
Tuesday: Amazon, Target online, Best Buy
Wednesday: Kohls, Old Navy, grocery stores
Thursday: Walmart (weekend prep deals start)
Friday: Flash sales begin, weekend promos launch
Saturday/Sunday: Good for in-store clearance hunting
🗓️ Best Time of Month to Buy
Retailers have quotas. End of month = desperation to hit numbers.
- Last week of the month - Best for big purchases (furniture, appliances, cars)
- First week of the month - New inventory arrives, old stock gets marked down
- Mid-month - Usually the worst time, prices are stable
🏷️ Secret Pricing Tricks Retailers Use
The .97 and .98 Trick
At Walmart, prices ending in .97 are clearance and wont go lower. At Target, .98 means final markdown. When you see these, its the lowest price.
The Decoy Price
Ever see three options where the middle one seems "just right"? Thats intentional. The expensive option makes the middle one look reasonable. Always check if you actually need the middle-tier features.
Artificial Urgency
"Only 3 left!" - Sometimes true, often not. Dont let fake scarcity rush your decision. Close the tab, wait 24 hours, check if its still "almost gone."
The Anchor Price
"Was $200, Now $79!" - That $200 might have never been the real price. Always Google the product to see its actual price history.
🛒 Seasonal Shopping Calendar
January: Winter gear, fitness equipment, linens (white sales)
February: TVs (post-Super Bowl), winter clearance
March: Frozen food deals, luggage
April: Spring cleaning supplies, vacuums
May: Mattresses, appliances (Memorial Day)
June: Tools, summer gear, gym memberships
July: Summer clothes clearance, Amazon Prime Day
August: Back-to-school, laptops, school supplies
September: Outdoor furniture, grills, bikes
October: Halloween candy (after the 31st!)
November: Everything (Black Friday/Cyber Monday)
December: Toys, gift sets, holiday decor (after Christmas)
💡 More Money-Saving Secrets
- Abandon your cart - Many sites email you a discount code within 24-48 hours
- Use incognito mode - Some sites raise prices if youve visited before
- Check the app - Mobile apps often have exclusive deals
- Ask for price adjustments - If something goes on sale within 14 days of purchase, most stores refund the difference
- Follow social media - Flash sales often announced on Twitter/Instagram first
🎯 The Bottom Line
Shopping smart isnt about clipping coupons for hours. Its about knowing when to buy. Check prices on Tuesday mornings, shop end of month for big items, and never pay full price for seasonal stuff.
We track all these deals for you at pickup.today - so you dont have to memorize the calendar. 📅
Happy saving! 💰
