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Labor Day is about a week away, but early deals are already here — and, not all of them are great. The best ones center around a few key categories, according to experts I talked to: summer-related products, mattresses, furniture, major appliances and warm-weather fashion.
If you’re browsing online or heading into stores leading up to the holiday weekend — which 73 percent of shoppers plan to do, according to a recent survey by RetailMeNot — that’s what you should focus on. And to help you get started, I curated a list of the absolute best early Labor Day deals across retailers like Amazon, Target, Old Navy, Brooks, Home Depot, REI and Ulta. I also answered all your saving and spending questions, including why you should avoid buying tech right now.
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All of the early Labor Day deals I recommend are at least 20 percent off, highly rated and from brands I’ve previously covered. The NBC Selected team also tested a handful of the products to share our firsthand experiences with them, and I consulted experts about the best categories to shop from the thousands of Labor Day sales to make sure my picks align — learn more about what to buy and skip in the FAQ section below. I’ll frequently update this list leading up to Labor Day as more sales begin.
The Brooks Ghost Max is one of my favorite walking shoes for women and men due to its thick layer of soft cushioning that keeps my feet comfortable for hours whether I’m exercising, commuting or running errands around town. It’s also ideal to wear for casual runs and when you’re standing for long periods of time. The Ghost Max, which earned the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, has a curved outsole that makes your heel-to-toe transitions as smooth as possible, as well as a wide, stabilizing base.
According to RetailMeNot data, groceries is the number one category that shoppers are planning to spend on during Labor Day weekend, which is indicative of the economic pressure many are still facing as the cost of living continues to rise. Retailers are more focused on discounting summer clearance, mattresses, furniture and major appliances (which we have deals for below), but you can find grocery deals here and there, especially on bulk nonperishables, like these granola bars.
You get 30 gluten-free bars in total with this pack, which you can throw in the kids’ lunchboxes or keep in your car, desk drawer or everyday bag. There’s 10 of each flavor: caramel almond and sea salt, dark chocolate nuts and sea salt, and peanut butter dark chocolate.
This 12-ounce, dishwasher-safe, stainless steel cup fits most car cupholders, so you can take it with you while traveling or commuting, or you can put it in the cupholder on a folding chair outside. It’s insulated to keep beverages hot or cold for hours, and it comes with a tightly-fitting sippy lid with a slider to prevent splashes when you’re not using it. Select colors are currently 40 percent off: Cream Gloss, Wisteria Shine and Gunmetal Shine.
You can find some of the best bedding deals during three-day holiday weekends like Labor Day, so if you’re in the market for new sheets, now is the time to buy. Parachute, a luxe linens brand, has an exclusive Target collection, offering lower-priced products that maintain the same high quality and overall feel it’s known for. The Casual Organic Cotton Sheet Set comes with a fitted sheet, a flat sheet and two pillow cases. The fabric feels soft and airy against your skin, and it’s ideal for hot sleepers, according to the brand. You can get it in queen and king sizes.
Retailers drop prices on summer clothing during their Labor Day sales to get rid of warm weather apparel and make room for fall styles, says Vipin Porwal, CEO and consumer savings expert at Smarty, a shopping and rewards platform. I use this as an opportunity to stock up on basics like this Old Navy T-shirt, which I add to my cart every time it’s on sale. I wear it while temperatures are still high and layer under sweaters once it’s chilly out. The shirt has a relaxed fix that’s not too tight or baggy, gets softer with every wash and hits right below my hips, so I can tuck it in if I want to. It fits true-to-size, too.
Labor Day is typically known for its deals on major home appliances, but there are plenty of strong discounts on smaller ones, especially those that revolve around cleaning. Shark makes some of the best cordless vacuums, including this model, which has a 4.2-star average rating from more than 16,000 Amazon customers (at the time of publishing). The vacuum has LED headlights to help you spot dirt and pet hair, and powerful suction to get rid of it. It also senses the type of floor you’re cleaning to automatically adjust its settings accordingly.
You get 40 minutes of runtime on a full battery, according to the brand. You can convert the appliance to a handheld vacuum, letting you attach the included crevice and pet-multi tools when you want to clean stairs, windowsills or between couch cushions.
Comfrt’s Dreamer Blanket comes highly recommended by NBC Selected commerce editor Cory Fernandez, who says it’s just as soft and cozy as you’d hope (the brand sent him one to try). It’s covered in velvety fabric on both sides, and is semi-stretchy and machine-washable. The throw blanket is available in four sizes from medium, which covers one person, to XL Dreamer, which covers a king bed.
September is when people get back to their routines, and for me, that includes meal prepping. I use these Rubbermaid containers to store food for easy work-week meals, as well as pack lunch, leftovers and freshly washed produce in them. They come in a pack of five, have a 3.2-cup capacity to hold a full one-person meal and come with tightly-fitting, leak-resistant lids. There are also vents built into the lids, so you can microwave food in the covered containers. They’re clear, letting me see what’s inside, stackable for easy storage, and safe to put in the microwave, dishwasher and freezer, according to the brand.
