Many of us fall into patterns where we spend money on certain items on certain days. For instance, you might shop for groceries on Saturday afternoons and fill up your gas tank Monday mornings on your way to work. But could your timing be better?
Maybe. What follows is hardly scientific, but generally, some days yield bigger discounts on certain purchases than others. If you’re looking for ways to save a few bucks, you may want to schedule your purchases based on these suggestions.
Sunday
Airline tickets. Going somewhere? This is the best day to purchase airline tickets, according to Airlines Reporting Corp, which processes tickets for travel agencies. The company looked at almost 130 million tickets purchased in the U.S. from January 2013 to July 2014 and determined that if you purchase a ticket on a Sunday, you may pay an average of 19 percent less for a domestic flight and 27 percent less for an international flight.
Swimsuits. According to ShopItToMe.com, you’ll find the best swimsuit deals on Sundays, although it depends on the season. The reason is likely because it’s the end of the weekend and fewer people are interested in buying an outfit for the pool or beach.
Groceries. As long as you can stand the crowds of shoppers stocking up for the week, Sunday is a good day to save on food — although it’s not the only good day, says Melea Johnson, founder of Freebies2Deals.com. “Most grocery stores or drugstores have their weekly ads starting on Sundays or Wednesdays,” she says. “So shopping on a Sunday, Monday or Wednesday would be the best time to get all of those amazing advertised weekly deals before they sell out.”
Gas. You’d think with more people out and about on the weekend, demand for gas would be higher and prices would follow. But Sunday is a fine day for filling up in many states, according to a GasBuddy.com study released in January. There are a few exceptions — Wednesday is the best day to buy gas in South Dakota, for example — but for most of the country, the weekend is your best bet.
Monday
Cars. Why is Monday the best day to buy a car? Theories abound, including the idea that disgruntled salespeople who didn’t fare well over the weekend are now eager to make a sale. You may also think more clearly and carefully by car shopping on a day when you’re in the midst of fewer buyers. Shopping on a weekend might inspire you to make a purchase in haste, especially if you find a used car you like and there are no similar models on the lot.
Electronics. You can often find computers, TVs, tablets and similar products discounted on Mondays, although other good days to buy include Tuesdays and Thursdays, says Ted Nguyen, co-founder of Faveable.com, a shopping site for men. “It’s hard to quantify or generalize about the savings on Monday deals, but one can save an additional 10 to 20 percent on electronic items compared to the average sale price,” Nguyen says.
Tuesday
Kids’ meals at restaurants. You’ll find a lot of kids-eat-free specials on Tuesdays (and Wednesdays) when fewer people are dining out. Check out MyKidsEatFree.com and KidsMealDeals.com to find restaurants offering such specials near you.
Movies. Movie theaters often feature discounted tickets on Tuesday nights. Because unless you’re retired or a teenager during the summer, who goes to a movie on a Tuesday night?
Airline tickets. While the latest research shows the best time to buy a flight is Sunday, many travelers and travel experts have sworn by buying airline tickets on Tuesdays. Indeed, Airlines Reporting Corp. determined that if you’re going to purchase a ticket on a weekday, this is the day.
Wednesday
Groceries. As Johnson said, if you missed out on shopping on Sunday, Wednesdays are another day when grocery stores typically begin offering new discounts and coupons.
Jewelry. According to Extrabux research, online jewelry prices tend to drop a little on this day, but typically only by a few dollars.
Thursday
Clothes. Thursday can be a good day to shop for clothes. A lot of weekend sales begin today, as stores aim to get customers in their shops during the week.
Handbags. According to ShopItToMe.com, on average, handbags are discounted up to 36 percent on Thursdays versus other days.
Friday
Gas. This is another good day to fill up your tank, according to GasBuddy.com. Otherwise, today is slim pickings. Even the infamous Black Friday may not be so great for finding deals. Many experts say the best deals come in the days leading up to, and after, Black Friday.
Saturday
Items at department stores. Many consumers have the free time to shop today — but also time to do other things, like go on a hike or visit friends. Retailers realize they’re competing for your free time. “Department stores will usually have special sales over the weekends when most people are able to shop,” Johnson says.
Gas. Today is another good day to fill up, according to Gasbuddy.com.
Outerwear and lingerie. In particular, these items are often on sale on Saturdays, according to a two-year study by ShopItToMe.com. You can find lingerie, on average, 37 percent cheaper than during other times in the week, and jackets and outerwear are typically 51 percent cheaper than the rest of the week.
Again, these general guidelines may not pan out when you find yourself in the shopping trenches. In many ways, what matters isn’t the day of the week but how financially comfortable you feel spending money. Unless there are serious savings, what one consumer thinks is a deal may be another consumer’s rip-off.
More from U.S. News
5 Sneaky Tricks Retailers Use to Trigger Overspending
12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families
9 Scary Things Consumers Do With Their Money
The Best Days to Shop for Everything originally appeared on usnews.com
