May Is the Best Month To Buy These 15 Things

We usually think of Black Friday as a major shopping event and a prime time to save money on essentials and splurges. But with Mother's Day and Memorial Day within a few weeks of each other, May can also be a prime shopping time.

Warm weather ushers in new summer inventory, leaving a sale of springtime clearance items in its wake. Here are a few sales and discounted items to be on the lookout for in May.

Stemming from the pun "May the fourth be with you," May 4th is the unofficial Star Wars day. Look for stores capitalizing on this trend with sales of Star Wars branded merchandise.

By May, stores are beginning to clear out their springtime inventory to make way for summer clothing, swimsuits, and other seasonal wares. Look for deep discounts on spring clothing (and maybe a few leftover winter pieces, too) during the month of May.

Once the weather warms up, customers think about spending more time outdoors. This trend leads to sales on outdoor furniture, lighting, potted plants, and other yard-centric items. 

Many hardware and big-box stores run specials on outdoor accessories around Memorial Day.

Fine jewelry is a common purchase around Mother's Day, so look for after-holiday discounts on bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more. 

This could be mom-specific merchandise such as an "I Love You, Mom" pendant or more general pieces like gold earrings or a tennis bracelet.

Whether it's for Mother's Day gifts or coinciding with the onset of summer, fitness trackers are a popular sale item in May. Options can be upscale, including GPS and sleep tracking, or simple with basic features like a heart rate monitor and step counter.

Walks with children are much more pleasant once the weather warms up, so look for sales on strollers of all shapes and styles. Data from Consumer Reports suggests that many retailers sell strollers at a discount around this time of year.

Strawberries are one of the few fruits that mature early in the U.S., so their price often dips in springtime, but their quality starts to go up. 

Whether you want a strawberry shortcake for a Mother's Day celebration or just a great afternoon snack, strawberries make a wonderful — and economical — spring treat.

Like strawberries, asparagus tends to mature early and can be found fresh in grocery stores between April and June. 

During this window, you're likely to find the freshest and least expensive asparagus; it may be difficult to find fresh asparagus at a good price during other times of the year.

Warm weather means it's time to start mowing the lawn again. Look for Memorial Day sales on leaf blowers, chainsaws, lawnmowers, and other lawn care equipment.

Most pools don't open until Memorial Day, but sunscreen will go on sale before then as people are spending more time outdoors. You may find some good deals on insect repellant too.

Memorial Day is a huge sale day for large appliances. Look for deep discounts on washers, freezers, fridges, and more.

As a popular Mother's Day gift, perfume tends to go on sale right before the holiday. Look for markdowns both in retail stores and online.

A grill at the venue enhances Memorial Day barbecues, Mother's Day brunches, Father's Day parties, and graduation soirees. Starting in May, hardware stores and big-box retailers offer sales and discounts.

Another popular outdoor accessory, bike helmets, also go on sale in May. Bike shops and big-box stores may offer Memorial Day sales on helmets and other bike accessories.

You might not need one in May (or, depending on where you live, you might have had your AC on since March), but stores know that customers like to have their AC installed and taken care of before the heat of summer is in full swing. 

If you need one for your home, don't pass on a great May deal on an air conditioning unit.

May is a big shopping time. Many stores have Mother's Day and Memorial Day sales, and most are clearing out spring inventory to make room for seasonal summer items. 

If you capitalize on these trends, you may be able to score some great deals and keep more cash in your wallet.