Most people think of September as the month when summer ends and the fun stops. Those people aren’t maximizing their savings. In the world of retail, September is a gold mine, with Labor Day sales, end-of-season clearances, new model year rollouts and the first wave of “get-ahead” shoppers scoring coats and boots while everyone else is still wearing sandals.
Every store and category on this list is available through Rakuten, which means you can earn Cash Back on your purchases while still taking full advantage of every sale, promo code and clearance rack you can find. Smart timing plus Rakuten? That’s a very satisfying combination.
Here are the 10 best things to buy in September.
1. Mattresses
If you’ve been sleeping on a mattress that has seen better days (or better decades), September is your moment. Labor Day is, without exaggeration, the biggest mattress sale event of the entire retail calendar. Every major brand runs deep discounts during Labor Day weekend, and many extend the sale for a week or two on either side.
Retailers such as Casper run their steepest promotions of the year around this time, and the mattress deals are real, not the kind of “sale” that shaves $20 off a $2,000 mattress. If a new mattress has been on your list, waiting until September is one of the smarter financial decisions you can make. Add Rakuten Cash Back on top, and your future well-rested self will be very pleased with present-day you.
Why September: Labor Day mattress sales are the biggest of the year. This is not a drill.
Where to buy: Casper, Mattress Firm, Nectar
2. Major Appliances
Refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers: big appliances are a serious investment, and September is one of the best months to make that investment. Two things happen simultaneously: Labor Day drives major appliance promotions across retailers such as Best Buy, and manufacturers begin rolling out new model year lines in the fall, which means last year’s models need to move.
The overlap of Labor Day sale pressure and inventory clearance for incoming models creates a genuinely excellent buying window. You get a fully capable, current-generation appliance at a meaningful discount, simply because a newer version is on its way. Best Buy’s Labor Day appliance deals in particular are worth watching closely.
Why September: Labor Day promotions meet model year transitions. Old inventory has to go somewhere.
Where to buy: Best Buy, LG, Samsung
3. Patio and Outdoor Furniture
By September, retailers have fully committed to fall and they’re aggressively moving summer inventory out the door. Patio furniture that was $800 in May is now $400, $300 or less, depending on how motivated the store is to reclaim the floor space.
The obvious caveat: You’re buying furniture you won’t use until next spring. But if you can store it, the savings are significant enough to make that a very easy trade-off. Think of it as prepaying for a very nice patio at a very reasonable price.
Why September: End-of-summer clearance brings some of the deepest outdoor furniture discounts of the year.
Where to buy: Target, Ashley, Raymour & Flanigan
4. Grills and Barbecue Equipment
September says the grilling season is over. September is wrong. Stores don’t know that, though, so they’re slashing prices on grills, smokers, outdoor pizza ovens, and all the accessories that go with them — and this is your opportunity to let them be wrong while you shop.
Lowe’s clears its outdoor cooking inventory in September, with significant markdowns on gas and charcoal grills alike. Even if you get in only a few more cookouts before winter, buying a grill at half price in September and firing it up in April is a perfectly sound plan.
Why September: End-of-season inventory clearance means grills and outdoor cooking gear are priced to move.
Where to buy: Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Barbeques Galore
5. TVs
TVs show up on this list for two reasons that work in your favor at the same time. First: Labor Day deals. Major stores run TV promotions across the holiday weekend, and Best Buy consistently offers some of its best TV pricing of the preholiday year. Second: The new TV model year arrives in the fall, which puts pressure on stores to clear current-generation inventory before the new stuff lands.
The result is a surprisingly good window for TV shoppers, especially for anyone who doesn’t need the absolute latest model and just wants a great screen at a great price.
Why September: Labor Day deals plus the new model year incoming equals real discounts on current-generation TVs.
Where to buy: PC Richard & Son, Best Buy, Sony
6. Summer Clothing and Swimwear
End-of-season clothing clearance is one of the most reliable discount events in retail. By September, stores such as Old Navy, Gap and Macy’s are pulling summer inventory to make way for fall collections, and the markdowns can be steep: 50%, 60% and sometimes more on swimwear, shorts and warm-weather dresses.
Yes, you’re buying summer clothes you won’t wear for another eight months. But if you know your size and you know what you like, shopping summer clearances in September is one of the best clothing bargains available all year. Future you, standing in a June heat wave wearing a swimsuit you bought for $14, will be quietly smug.
Why September: Stores are clearing summer inventory fast, and the discounts are some of the deepest of the year.
Where to buy: Old Navy, Macy’s, Gap
7. Boots
Here’s a September fashion truth: The moment boots hit stores for fall, the best styles in the best sizes start disappearing. If you wait until October or November to shop for boots, you’re getting the leftovers. Shopping in early September, right as the new arrivals land, gives you first pick of the full selection before the rush.
DSW stocks their strongest boot assortments in early fall, and early-season deals do appear, especially on styles carried over from last year. Even at full price, buying boots in September beats the mid-fall scramble when your size is nowhere to be found.
Why September: First access to fall boot inventory, before your size sells out and before the holiday rush inflates demand.
Where to buy: DSW, Timberland, Dr. Martens
8. Winter Coats
September may feel early for coat shopping. It isn’t. Department stores such as Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue bring in their winter outerwear collections in late August and September, and the early-season pricing is often better than what you’ll see in December, when everyone suddenly needs a coat at the same time.
Getting ahead of the winter coat rush means a better selection, calmer shopping and occasionally a preseason sale designed to move early inventory. Buying a coat before you desperately need one is always a better experience than buying one in a January parking lot wind tunnel.
Why September: Early-season coat inventory means better selection and better prices before peak winter demand.
Where to buy: Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
9. Fitness Equipment
September is a natural reset point. Summer winds down, routines return and a lot of people decide it’s the year they’re actually going to use the treadmill. The good news: Stores are clearing end-of-summer fitness gear (think outdoor fitness equipment, bikes and summer-adjacent items) while simultaneously restocking for the fall fitness wave.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is a reliable destination for September fitness equipment deals, with clearance on summer gear and early-fall promotions on equipment for the indoor training months ahead. Whether you’re upgrading your home gym or starting fresh, September offers a useful combination of clearance pricing and good new inventory.
Why September: End-of-summer fitness clearance meets fall restock season. It’s good timing for a home gym upgrade.
Where to buy: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Scheels, Nike
10. Luggage
This one’s a bit of a sleeper pick, but hear us out. September is actually one of the best months to travel. There’s cheaper flights, less crowded destinations and pleasant weather in most of the country. It’s also the moment when retailers begin positioning travel accessories ahead of the holiday travel rush, which means luggage deals start appearing before prices firm up in October and November.
Whether you’re planning a fall trip or getting ahead of holiday travel, shopping for luggage in September hits a sweet spot: post-summer pricing without the scarcity of peak holiday demand. Macy’s and Target both carry solid luggage selections with September sale events worth watching.
Why September: Off-peak travel timing meets preholiday deal pricing. Get the bag before everyone else needs one.
Where to buy: Samsonite, Macy’s, Target
Earn Rakuten Cash Back on All of It
Every category on this list has Rakuten partners, which means every purchase you make this September is an opportunity to earn Cash Back on top of whatever sale or promo you’re already taking advantage of.
The move is simple: Before you head to any of these stores, start your trip at Rakuten.com or activate the Rakuten browser extension. Your Cash Back is tracked automatically from there. It stacks with store sales, coupon codes and loyalty rewards, so the patio furniture already marked down 40% is also earning you Cash Back. The mattress you’re buying at a Labor Day discount? Cash Back. The boots you grabbed before your size sold out? Also Cash Back.
Cash Back accumulates in your Rakuten account and gets paid out quarterly as a check or PayPal deposit. No rebate mazes, no complicated redemption process. Just real money back, every quarter, for shopping you were already planning to do. Start at Rakuten, click through and let September work for you.
FAQs About the Best Things to Buy in September
When exactly is the best time to shop Labor Day sales?
Most Labor Day sales go live the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day weekend and run through the Tuesday after. Some stores extend deals for the full week following the holiday. For mattresses and appliances especially, the full weekend is worth monitoring.
Is it worth buying summer clothing and swimwear you won’t use until next year?
If you know your size and tend to buy the same styles year to year, yes. End-of-season clearance on basics such as swimwear, shorts and lightweight tops can hit 50% to 70% off, which is hard to beat. Just stick to versatile pieces rather than trend-driven items that may feel dated next summer.
Are boot and coat prices actually better in September than later in the season?
For selection, definitely yes. Especially for popular sizes. For pricing, it depends on the store. But many department stores run early-fall promotions in September to drive traffic. You’ll also avoid the supply crunch that happens midseason when restocks slow down.
Can I use Rakuten Cash Back in combination with a store’s sale prices?
Yes. Rakuten Cash Back is earned on the total purchase amount after any store discounts, coupons or promo codes are applied. You’re getting the sale price and the Cash Back.
How does Rakuten Cash Back work?
Sign in to your Rakuten account, find the store you want to shop at and click through to activate Cash Back. Then shop like you normally would. That’s it! Your earnings accumulate in your account and are paid out quarterly via check or PayPal. There’s no minimum spend to earn, and no complicated hoops to jump through.
Are all the stores mentioned in this article Rakuten partners?
Yes! Every store referenced in this post is a Rakuten partner, which means Cash Back is available on eligible purchases made through Rakuten.
