Market Briefs Newsletter

Subscribe to our FREE finance & business newsletter to get financial news you can finally use.

Thanks for signing up to Market Briefs! Please check your email to confirm your subscription. If you don't see the email in an hour, check your spam and promotions folder. 

Be sure to read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Minority Mindset

Minority Mindset

Defy all odds.

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • WEALTH
    • REAL ESTATE
    • CRYPTO
    • STOCKS
  • PRODUCTS
  • MONEY 101
  • GUAC TALK
Advertiser Disclosure

Our promise to you.

Minority Mindset, LLC is an independent, advertising-supported publisher. We are not an investment advisor. Always do your own due diligence and never blindly listen to a random article on the internet. We do our best to provide financial education with our free videos, articles, tools, and other self-help content. But these are for informational purposes only, they’re not investment advice.

Minority Mindset does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information regarding your individual circumstances. The examples we provide are hypothetical and we encourage you to get advice from a qualified professional regarding specific investment, tax, legal, and financial issues. Previous market performance does not guarantee future performance.

We want everyone to be able to make educated financial decisions. We do not feature every company or financial product available. However, we’re proud of the financial education and guidance that we provide at no charge.

We’re paid by our brand partners and advertisers. This may influence which products we mention, review, and where they appear on our site. But it does not affect our recommendations or advice.

See more from Saving

The Lowdown on Labor Day Sales (Plus the Best Deals to Save the Most)

September 5, 2021 by Makenzi Wood

Makenzi Wood September 5, 2021

Disclaimer

We only endorse products that we truly believe in. Some of the links below may earn us some extra guac at no additional cost to you. Please pass the chips & thank you for feeding our habit.

Labor Day is around the corner, guys! While none of us are going to turn down a three-day weekend, many folks aren’t sure about the origins of Labor Day. It’s actually one of the older federal holidays in the US with a long and not-so-illustrious history.

Observed on the first Monday of September, Labor Day honors the everyday workers who keep America running.

Let’s dig into the origins of Labor Day, how we celebrate it today, and how you can find the best Labor Day sales (and fails) of the season.

Get Your Free Money Management and Investing Guide

The History of Labor Day

It wasn’t a good time to be a worker in the late 1800s. With zero child labor laws, 12-hour days, and terrible conditions, it’s no wonder that laborers quickly organized into unions.

The first Labor Day celebration happened in 1882 in New York City when 10,000 workers marched to City Hall, but this was far from a national celebration.

In the 1890s, an economic depression caused the Pullman Palace Car Company to cut its workers’ wages and fire union representatives. This was, naturally, a very unpopular decision among the workers, who called for a boycott of Pullman’s railroad cars. Hundreds of thousands of railroad workers quit their jobs over railroads’ continued use of Pullman’s cars, too.

This led to a massive strike that the U.S. marshals had to break up, by order of President Cleveland. The problem was that 13 workers were killed during the strike, which certainly wasn’t a good look for the government. In his efforts to clean up this PR nightmare, President Cleveland established Labor Day as a federal holiday in 1894.

Celebrating Labor Day Today—And The Origins Of Labor Day Sales

For my family—and many families across America—Labor Day signifies the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of the school year. Although fall doesn’t technically start until the autumnal equinox, Labor Day is a kickoff day for fall activities like school and sports.

Traditionally, cities celebrated Labor Day with parades that had a heavy union presence. The idea was to provide a day of rest and entertainment for American laborers, who barely knew the meaning of taking a day off. Today, most cities still host parades, although they tend to be more focused on local businesses instead of unions. It’s also not unusual to see contests, grilling competitions, and fireworks on Labor Day.

Of course, for many of us, Labor Day is also synonymous with big sales. Unlike Mother’s Day and other commercialized holidays, there’s no clear indication of why Labor Day became so commercialized. Since it’s been a holiday for well over 127 years, my guess is that Labor Day’s commercialism developed slowly over time. It’s likely that these factors are the reason why Labor Day is such a big shopping holiday:

  • Labor Day signifies the back-to-school season: And when your kids start school, they need supplies. That means parents need to shop for school supplies, clothes, and more around the beginning of September.
  • Moving: 70% of all moves happen in the spring and summer. That means many families are just now settling into their homes before school starts. They’re going to need mattresses, appliances, and other home goods, which is why these items are usually on sale around Labor Day.
  • Changing seasons: No, it isn’t technically fall until the autumnal equinox, but most people see Labor Day as a sign that fall is on the way. Any time the seasons change, Americans want to buy products associated with that season (hello, pumpkin spice latte).

There’s no clear indication of when stores started offering Labor Day sales, but it makes sense that we’ve commercialized this holiday. A day dedicated to American workers and their prosperity can easily become an excuse to make a quick buck.

The 6 Best Labor Day Sales

While retailers definitely make money during the Labor Day rush, shoppers can save big if they know what to buy. You’ll see most sales during the three-day Labor Day weekend, but it’s not unusual to see continued sales for the weeks before and after Labor Day.

Want to spend your weekend shopping for sales? You’ll see the best deals on these items:

  • Appliances: Most appliance brands release new upgrades in the fall in anticipation of the holidays. While you might get a better deal on Black Friday, you can still save 20 – 40% on Labor Day appliance sales.
  • Summer clothes: Swimsuits are expensive ($40 – $60 apiece) at the height of summer. But retailers are trying to make room for fall clothing right now, which means you can snag summer clothes for steep discounts. Stock up on swimsuits, shorts, and flip-flops for up to 70% off this weekend.
  • Grills: Grilling is a big part of my family’s Labor Day celebrations, but this holiday does mark the end of the summer grilling season. Because grilling is technically out of season, it means it’s a good time to buy a grill! If you don’t mind waiting until next summer to get your use out of it, buy a grill on Labor Day for more savings.
  • Patio furniture: Fall is around the corner, and for most folks, that means retreating indoors away from the chill. Because people spend less time outdoors in the fall, you’ll see better deals on outdoor furniture. It’s not unusual to see up to 70% off sales on outdoor couches, table sets, wicker furniture, and more.
  • Mattresses: I swear, mattress stores will use any “holiday” as an excuse to get people in the door. But yes, Labor Day mattress sales are still pretty good—you can expect to save 10 – 20%. You should also ask if there are any extras included in the sale. I bought a mattress during a Labor Day sale that included credits for pillows, a bed frame, and even delivery.
  • Electronics: The back-to-school season is upon us, so Labor Day is a good time to get new electronics. Labor Day deals are dwarfed in comparison to Black Friday/Cyber Monday, but they’re still a great time to upgrade your phone or computer if you can’t wait that long.

But not all sales are a good deal. You’ll definitely want to avoid these less-than-affordable “deals” during the Labor Day sales:

  • Decorations: Fall decor and Halloween decorations are hitting the shelves, but this is the worst time to buy them. Retailers might promise “sales” on decor, but it’s just a ploy to get you in the door. The best time to buy decor is after the end of a season, not before.
  • Fall clothing: Sweaters, boots, scarves, and jackets are popular buys during Labor Day, but they’re marked up right now due to the new season setting in.
  • Toys: Wait until Black Friday/Cyber Monday to start holiday shopping for your kids. Retailers might promise Labor Day toy discounts, but if you can wait two months, you’ll get better deals closer to the holidays.

Get the Minority Mindset Money Management Guide

The Bottom Line

Most of us think of Labor Day as a fun three-day weekend that we spend outdoors or with our family. Although Labor Day has become a commercial holiday, its purpose still stands true today: it’s a much-needed day of rest, fun, and family for America’s hard working citizens.

If you’re on the hunt for deals during the long weekend, you’ll save the most money if you scout deals on:

  • Appliances
  • Summer clothes
  • Grills
  • Patio furniture
  • Mattresses
  • Electronics

They might sound tempting, but it’s best if you skip any “sales” on these items:

  • Decorations
  • Fall clothing
  • Toys

Feel free to shop ‘til you drop this Labor Day weekend, but keep the spirit of the holiday in mind. Try to support local small businesses or buy American-made products when possible to pay homage to this patriotic holiday.

Keep Reading:

  • How To Live A More Frugal Life
  • Your Dog Doesn’t Need that Sweater (and other Money-saving Tips for Pets)
  • How Much Money Do I Need In Savings? 5 Tips To Pick Your Magic Number

Get the Minority Mindset Money Management and Investing Guide!

Written by Makenzi Wood.

Kenzi is a writer obsessed with frugal living. She's a reformed shopaholic who's now happily debt-free and working towards FIRE.

Primary Sidebar

Advertiser Disclosure

Our promise to you.

Minority Mindset, LLC is an independent, advertising-supported publisher. We are not an investment advisor. Always do your own due diligence and never blindly listen to a random article on the internet. We do our best to provide financial education with our free videos, articles, tools, and other self-help content. But these are for informational purposes only, they’re not investment advice.

Minority Mindset does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information regarding your individual circumstances. The examples we provide are hypothetical and we encourage you to get advice from a qualified professional regarding specific investment, tax, legal, and financial issues. Previous market performance does not guarantee future performance.

We want everyone to be able to make educated financial decisions. We do not feature every company or financial product available. However, we’re proud of the financial education and guidance that we provide at no charge.

We’re paid by our brand partners and advertisers. This may influence which products we mention, review, and where they appear on our site. But it does not affect our recommendations or advice.

More From Saving

  • How Minority Mindset Created Market Briefs
  • Best Finance Newsletters You Can Subscribe To
  • How To Survive The Return Of Student Loan Payments In 2022
  • A Hard Check Can Damage Your Score - Here's Why

Get Your FREE Guide To Building Wealth

& our daily newsletter

Thanks for signing up for our financial education emails! Check your email to confirm your subscription. If you don't see the email in an hour, check your spam and promotions folder.

Be sure to read our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.

Featured Saving Posts

Minority Mindset Market Briefs

How Minority Mindset Created Market Briefs

Best Finance Newsletters

Best Finance Newsletters You Can Subscribe To

Are Warehouse Club Memberships Worth It

Is that Costco Membership Worth It?

What to Do When You Have Gone Astray on Your Budget

Your Budget is Busted... Get Back on Track With These Simple Steps

The Latest On Saving

Student Loan Repayment 2022

How To Survive The Return Of Student Loan Payments In 2022

Differences Between Hard and Soft Credit Check

A Hard Check Can Damage Your Score - Here's Why

The Lowdown on Labor Day Sales (Plus the Best Deals to Save the Most)

how inflation affects your grocery bill

How Much Is Inflation Really Affecting My Grocery Bill?

How to Get Started With Couponing

How To Get Started With Couponing

How To Buy Healthy Groceries on a Budget

How To Buy Healthy Groceries on a Budget

How to Vacation on a Budget

How to Vacation on a Budget

Combing through your bank statements help you to spot and fix any problems in your finances.

How to Spot and Fix Problems in Your Finances

How to Recover Financially After COVID

Learn what to - and to not - buy at your local wholesale club

13 Things You Should (And Shouldn’t) Buy At Your Nearest Wholesale Store

Footer

As Always Keep Hustlin’

Company

  • About Us
  • Store

Help

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • YouTube

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Opt-Out
  • Comment Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow us on:

Disclaimer: The information on this site is of a general nature only. It does not take your specific needs or circumstances into consideration. You should look at your own personal situation and requirements, and seek independent professional advice, before making any financial decisions. Our content is provided for informational purposes only, and no content that is provided or included in our products or services is intended for trading or investing purposes. We will not be liable for the accuracy, usefulness, or availability of any information transmitted and/or made available by way of our products or services, and shall not be responsible or liable for any trading and/or investment decisions made by you based on any such information. For a further understanding of this Disclaimer and use of our site, please see the information contained in our Terms of Use and Advertising Disclaimer.

Minority Mindset may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased or recommended through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnership with retailers and brands.

Minority Mindset has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Minority Mindset and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

© 2022 Minority Mindset, LLC. All Rights Reserved.