Shopping on President’s Day this weekend? If so, we’ve got some great tips for you. Many of these deals can be found starting on Friday, Feb 12th and going all the way through President’s Day on Monday, Feb 15th.

Check out our picks below:

Don’t buy Spring Apparel. Spring Apparel lines started rolling out during January, but still aren’t going to be discounted heavily for a couple months. It’s unlikely that consumers will see more than 25 percent off retail prices on Spring clothing.

What to buy instead? Winter Apparel. Over the entire week leading up to President’s Day, expect discounts up to 80 percent off retail on items like winter coats and cold weather accessories. Look to retailers like REI and Columbia to lead this charge as well as big chains like Macy’s and Kohl’s to participate as well.

Don’t buy Patio Furniture. As the warmer months are approaching, patio sets and other types of furniture like outdoor beds will be priced at a premium rather than a discount. It’s also unlikely that consumers will find discounts on last year’s models as inventory has dwindled due to closeouts in November, December and January. The same advice goes for gas grills as well.

What to buy instead? Mattresses and Indoor Furniture. As always, President’s Day is fantastic for purchasing a new mattress with discounts reaching as high at 60 percent at major retailers like Macy’s. In addition, new furniture models are arriving in stores pushing older models off the show floor into the clearance section. Look for discounts between 15 to 25 percent on indoor furniture at major chains.

Don’t buy Jewelry. Not surprisingly, jewelry stores are reaping the rewards of Valentine’s Day, the holiday directly preceding President’s Day. Any existing sale will likely be no more than 10 to 20 percent off. Wait until August and September for the best jewelry discounts.

What to buy instead? Valentine’s Day Candy on President’s Day. Desperate to shift the seasonal shelves to Easter candy as soon as possible, retailers will heavily discount candy and other sweets starting early President’s Day morning. Look for discounts up to 80 percent off retail prices. Complex flower arrangements that didn’t sell on Sunday may also be heavily discounted.

Don’t buy Toys for Kids. Toy sales have almost completely dried up after an aggressive holiday shopping season. While many retailers will have general site-wide sales for President’s Day, toy prices will be at full MSRP and won’t offer the same level of aggressive discounts as November and December.

What to buy instead? Electronic “Toys”. Of course, adults will be delighted at discounts on electronics such as televisions, smartphones, tablets and laptops. Look for discounts from 25 to 40 percent on last year’s models. This trend will only get more aggressive in March as the Japanese fiscal year comes to a close. However, be aware that inventory dwindles as discounts increase.

Don’t buy Luggage. In general, luggage will be at full price on President’s Day, perhaps between 5 to 10 percent off retail. If you really need to replace a set of luggage, look for discounts to kick in around mid-March as new models roll into stores in time for summer travel.

What to buy instead? Spring Break Travel Deals. Assuming you are visiting an area with low COVID transmission or have been vaccinated already, travel is typically priced well several weeks before most Spring Break holidays around the country. Look for aggressive discounts on both airfare and hotel bookings as well as combined packages from sites like Priceline, Travelocity and Kayak.

Don’t buy Home Improvement Materials / Gear. Deals on home improvement materials typically spike toward the end of February / start of March. The same can be said for tools used for home improvement. However, tools prices bottom out during November, typically during Black Friday sales.

What to buy instead? Home Goods. Often labeled as White Sales, prices on items like comforters, towels, sheet sets and similar items plummet as retailers close out winter lines of these products. In addition, look for solid sales on kitchen\ items like cookware and small appliances as well as decorating items like lamps, small end tables and wall art.

What not to Buy on President’s Day (and what to buy instead!)

Ebay is highlighting a number of discounted items through tomorrow (Feb. 17) as part of its Presidents Day event. While the items on the list run the gamut of top products throughout the site, there seems to be a pretty heavy emphasis on home appliances, maintenance and cooking.

Head on over to the site to check it our for yourself. The site is touting 60% as the median discount on the items. Here are some of the better deals, in case you’d prefer we do the research for you.

Home-Made Pasta, Because It’s Awesome

This pasta-maker is cut down by 60% to a very affordable $29.95. If you ever wanted to justify buying something so unnecessary, this is the time to do it, especially for those who prefer to fantasize about a better life in their dinky kitchens.

A Fruit Juicer from the Future

Whenever somebody designs something to look like it belongs in the Jetsons’ home, they’re allowed to put a staggering high price on it. This fruit juicer started out at $95, and now it’s down to a measly $39.95. That’s 70%. Whether you tell people how much you paid for is something you need to consider for yourself.

A Screwdriver for the Weak

You could buy a set of normal, manual screwdrivers, or you could live rich and go for the electric kind, and now you can do it on the budget of a layperson. This Black and Decker refurbished, battery-powered screwdriver comes with all the perks: magnetic attachment, anti-stripping mechanisms, shame. It’s down 76% to about $21.

Grass-Trimmer

Honestly, I can’t come up with any kind of quip about a grass-trimmer. It’s a pretty boring thing, but this one is 74% off, so it’s a little less boring when you buy it.

A Super-Advanced Tiny Shovel

Because when else are you going to buy a shovel that isn’t just a shovel? And when else can you feel like William H. Macy in Mystery Men?

Ebay’s Presidents Day Sale is About Tools and Cooking

While the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day are the yin and yang of important calendar dates in February, it’s Presidents’ Day that’s traditionally been the holiday to lure bargain shoppers. You’d think Presidents’ Day was an important holiday by the sheer number of retailers who choose it every year to roll out their three-day weekend sales.

If anyone cares about Presidents’ Day, it’s because of the sales.

February is a transitional month when new products—particularly tech and home—are about to arrive for spring, so you have a unique chance to find some steep discounts that won’t last long.

Super Bowl and Beyond

If you’re in the market for TVs and home theater, this is a good time of the year to find good deals on last year’s models as the new models start appearing in retailers’ inventory, post CES. Since the technology upgrades on TVs are fairly incremental from year to year, it’s unlikely you’re missing out on as much as you would if you were buying an older laptop.

You’ll also start seeing more refurbs of last year’s models coming available, knocking the sticker price down even further. You typically want to stick with manufacturer refurbished products, which offer the same or similar warranties.

Walmart, Best Buy, Fry’s and Amazon will all have excellent online deals on older model and refurbished HDTVs.

Everyone’s Favorite Holiday, Part I

On Ben’s Bargains, you’ll see the usual flower, candy and chocolate deals from Groupon and Living Social, such as a $40 FTD credit for $20. You’ll also see department stores and online jewelry sites like Ice.com and Ross-Simons push modest discounts in early February. Of course, the steeper discounts will come after the 14th.

Watch out for deals for photo books from places like Snapfish and Walgreens that will be capitalizing on the need to give keepsakes for Valentine’s.

You will also see many chain restaurants promoting special deals and freebies around this time of year. Last year, we compiled a restaurant roundup of the various offers that were part of Valentine’s Day promotions.

Everyone’s Favorite Holiday, Part II

A week later, the holiday that no one asked for annually has tons of sales, ranging from apparel to bedding (and mattresses) to tools. While these product categories may have nothing to do with presidents of the United States, expect the three-day weekend to be one of the best times of the year for these product categories.

Say a thank-you to Abraham Lincoln when you find a cheap mattress.

Everyone’s Most Hated Day

With the IRS starting to accept tax returns on January 31, 2014, all the companies that make tax software are in competition mode right now and that will only continue through mid to late February.

You will likely find discounts on tax software bundles very soon, especially since those same companies are competing against aggressive marketing campaigns on television at the moment. Look for bundles that include federal and state filing with a typical discount of 25 to 40 percent off of the MSRP.

If You’re OK With Refurbs

Although we’re probably a good 8 to 10 months away from the arrival of the 5th generation Intel chips, you should start seeing some discounts on 4th generation Haswell computers as part of the natural life cycle of tech.

This will be attributable to more refurbished 4th generation laptops and desktops coming available.

Off-Season Purchases

February is also your last chance for finding deals on off-season summer purchases like patio furniture, grills and air conditioners (and boats). This year, we’ve already been seeing a lot of fantastic clearance prices on these types of products from Home Depot and Sears. It always pays to plan ahead on these big ticket seasonal items.

Don’t wait too long, however. In the latter part of the month, spring items will start to arrive in stores at full price. You want to catch these deals in the first part of February.

Other off-season deals include luggage and travel deals since this is a slow time for travelers.

Got New Year’s Resolutions?

If you’re one of the few who have actually managed to hold onto their New Year’s resolutions, you might be motivated enough to scope out the remaining deals on indoor fitness equipment that are making room for the soon-arriving summer models.

Don’t Forget Deal Alerts

If you want to make sure you don’t miss any upcoming  February deals on Ben’s Bargains, don’t forget to set up deal alerts (registration required). You’ll receive an instant email and get the first chance to jump on a great deal before it disappears. And the best deals are gone fast!

You’re also welcome to send us tips or suggestions. Good luck!

– Mike Flacy contributed to this report.

Waste Not, Want Not: Best Deals to Buy in February