Shopportunist: Labor Day deals worth the work
Labor Day. What better day to celebrate work -- by shopping?
As summer winds down, sales ramp up. Retailers will clamor over the coming days to lure consumers away from summer send-offs with enticing Labor Day sales on apparel, grills, school supplies, mattresses and more.
It's just the beginning, really. The unofficial end of summer means we are mere weeks away from a flurry of holiday shopping ads, annoying jingles and a nonstop parade of retail promotions. Labor Day weekend is the last major sales event before the multi-day bonanza that is Black Friday and retailers are already teasing to the season. Walmart just released its list of hot holiday toys. You can bury your toes – and head – in the sand, bid adieu to summer and renounce rash, premature purchasing. My budget is still bruised from all the requisite back-to-school buys.
But, if you're a shrewd holiday shopper eager to spread out the spending, you may want to whip out the list now. There may be more to bag than bargain-priced patio sets and swimsuits this weekend. Some Labor Day savings could rival and potentially beat prominent sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
If you're so inclined, you can score some great deals this weekend. But, like any shopping extravaganza, some bargains are better than others. The savings experts at online marketplace Offers.com created this guide to the best and worst buys of the holiday weekend.
What to buy
Grills: After Labor Day, consumers' appetites begin to turn from burgers and dogs to mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. To regain customer interest, retailers discount grills as much as 80%. You'll see some of the best grill deals at retailers like Sears, Home Depot and Walmart.
Patio furniture: As with...