What to Buy in March [Best March Sales and Deals]

March sales present unique opportunities to get items you need or will need later in the year at a deeply discounted price.

At the same time there are things we need to hold off on purchasing in March because there are other times of year where they will be cheaper.

Best Things to Buy in March

Luggage

We are smack in between the winter and summer travel season. That means that people are not making big purchases on luggage.

When demand is low retailers kick in sales to help move their product. This is a good time to pick up a deal on a set or single luggage item.

Fitness Equipment

The New Year resolution wave is over and fitness equipment is going on sale.

Not only can you look for discounts on new equipment, all those people who made impulse purchases trying to keep their “lose weight” resolution are now putting their clothing rack barely used equipment on Craigslist and other sell your stuff sites.

Chocolate

You can still find some Valentine’s Day clearance, it should be in the 50%-90% off range. Even better is that you can find chocolate on sale from high end chocolate shops and manufacturers.

If you have a chocolatier in your area or look around for Godiva and Ghirardelli, you can find as much as 50% off the items they need to move.

Frozen Foods

March is national frozen foods month and to celebrate the frozen foods industry puts lots of items on sale.

Fankly, frozen foods are frequently on sale, but you should see an uptick in advertising and coupons that are available. Checkout sites like Coupons.com and Ibotta for offers.

Gift Cards

There is a major slowdown in spending between President’s Day and Memorial Day. For this reason you should see more deals on discounted gift cards.

This can be in the form of gift cards as a rebate for purchasing specific items or on the aftermarket on websites like Cardpool.

St. Patrick’s Day Deals

St. Patrick’s day will bring special promotions to get you to purchase as many green things as the retailers and restaurants can get you to purchase.

We should see BOGO offers and big discounts at restaurants and retailers that will take advantage of the partying.

Flowers

This may not strike you as a good time to buy flowers, but there is very little to push the florist market in the month of March.

The prime time for sales is Valentine’s and Mother’s day. Florists will be pushing deals with up to 25% off the standard price.

Jewelry & Perfume

Once again the Valentine’s day hangover gives us an opportunity to buy things at a discount. If you are looking for something nice for a birthday, Christmas, or next Valentine’s then this is one of the best months to make that purchase.

Engagement ring sales go up in May in preparation for all those summer proposals so now might be a good time to start looking (for all you losers who need to step up).

Cruises

In a normal year March is the end of the “Wave Season” for the cruise industry. You can get discounts and free upgrades if you can take a cruise this month.

With COVID-19 still a major problem for the cruise industry, they are offering super discounts while trying to rebuild the demand for cruises.

Craft Supplies

March is also National Craft Month and the craft stores put sales up to get people rolling on their next projects.

There should be everything from sales, sweepstakes, events and even free crafting classes for kids and adults (don’t tell my wife though).

Winter Sports Gear

Whether you are into skiing, sledding, or snowboarding, the end of the season for these sports is upon us.

If you are looking for higher end equipment that will not make it to the Summer clearance then March is a good time to get up to 20% off the standard price.

Cold Weather Clothing

There will not be a ton left on the shelves, but what is left of winter wear is going to be deeply discounted.

Retailers are desperate to get these clothes off their shelves so that they are no longer eating up valuable shelf space. You can see as much as 75% off to get ready for next winter.

Summer Camps

March is when all the early bird specials for summer camps will begin and most will end sometime during this month.

If you are not sure where to start you can see a list of accredited camps from the American Camp Association or check your local YMCA to see what they have going on this summer.

Golf Clubs

With the grass getting ready to go green, new golf club models are just about to come on the shelves. To make room for the latest and greatest, last years perfectly capable golf clubs will be going on sale.

Expect to see the discounts on these older models grow as we get closer to April.

In Season Produce

Every month has specific produce that is in season. Because there is so much supply for in season produce prices drop.

If you have a large freezer you might want to work on making some meals with in season produce that you can eat later on. We should see big discounts and even BOGO offers on these items:

Artichokes
Avocados
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards
Grapefruit
Guavas
Lemons
Limes
Oranges
Parsnips
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Tangerines

What not to Buy in March

Just as there are items to take advantage of sales there are always items that are at their highest prices during each month. The worst things to buy in March are:

Spring Apparel

If it is clothing at the very beginning of a season then it is rarely going to be at a lowest desired price. Spring is in the air and the prices on Spring apparel are at their highest.

Stay away from these items for a few months until the summer season takes full swing and pushes them onto the sale and clearance racks.

Smart Phones

March used to be a great month for cell phones. All the manufacturers would release their latest and greatest models after showcasing them at the Mobile World Congress, and the very good previous models would go on sale.

While they still show off what is coming next at the MWC, the manufacturers have settled in to releasing new models on their own schedules.

We can thank Apple for making it harder to figure out when to buy a new phone since they were to first to diverge, but the other manufacturers have done the same and now you have to wait and watch on your favorite brand.

Lingerie

This is the one item that does not follow the bust of Valentine’s day (no pun intended).

There will be some minor discounts, but we are only a few months away from when Victoria’s Secret does their Semi-Annual sale. Other lingerie retailers will also do sales during June and July to compete with the market leader.

Final Thoughts on Best Things to Buy in March

Always be looking out for a good deal when you are in the stores. While we have covered the best things to buy in March, there are always deals that can pop up when you do not expect them.

These can be clearance or sale items the the store has had for too long or has too much inventory. So make sure you are always checking and finding the best price.

If March sales do not provide you with any items you need, then be ready, because April sales are right around the corner.