Will you be perusing the sales this weekend?  There are so many offerings it can get overwhelming on what’s truly a good deal now and what can wait.  Navigate Labor Day sales by learning what to buy now and what to skip to avoid drowning in a sea of bad purchases! Follow this shopping guide from consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch.

Buy: Mattresses

Holiday sales are always a good time to buy big-ticket items like mattresses and furniture. If possible, head to a local furniture or mattress store before the weekend rush to test out different options and research pre-sale prices so you can identify any misleading offers. Macy’s makes it easy to save this year — on Sept. 2, the department store launched a Labor Day furniture and mattress sale when shoppers can reserve their purchases before the sale begins.

Skip: Automobiles

Since Labor Day falls at the beginning of the month, car dealerships are less likely to offer a big discount despite what their banners tell you. A better time to shop for a vehicle is at the end of the month when sales associates are more motivated to negotiate in order to meet sales quotas. Otherwise, hold off until October when dealerships will be pushing excess 2015 inventory at even deeper discounts!

Buy: Summer Clothes

It’s hard to plan ahead to next summer when you’re focused on back-to-school, but now is the time to stock up on warm-weather essentials. Major retailers will reduce already-discounted summer items during the popular holiday shopping event, so look out for deals on swimsuits, sandals, linen suits and other lightweight apparel. Make sure you also look for Labor Day coupons to take advantage of these deep discounts from sites like Coupon Sherpa. For example, you can currently take an extra 25% off clearance items and 20% off sale items with this Lord and Taylor coupon code.

Skip: Back-to-School Apparel

While we’re still in the thick of the back-to-school season, kid’s fall clothing isn’t really a necessity right now as summer temperatures will continue into the first few weeks of the new school year. The best time to buy sweaters, jeans, outerwear and boots is in October. Wait for Columbus Day sales to scoop up the biggest savings!

Buy: Luxury Goods

If there’s a luxury-brand watch or handbag you’ve been drooling over, Labor Day is one of few shopping events during which you may score a lower price. Like other apparel and accessory retailers, luxury brands need to clear out summer inventory to make room for fall must-haves. Make sure you compare sales before you buy, and check out sites like TheRealReal.com for designer goods at cut-rate prices.

Skip: Halloween/Harvest Decor

Though summer isn’t technically over until later this month, retailers are already promoting fall in a big way with Halloween and harvest-themed decor lining store shelves. While you may see a small discount on these decorations, don’t let the temptation of the season entice you to buy just yet. In fact, the best time to buy Halloween decor is the last couple of days before the big event.

Buy: Outdoor Entertaining Essentials

The season for backyard parties and barbecues may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you can’t outfit your outdoor oasis with new entertaining essentials. End-of-season sales will offer savings of 40 to 60 percent on grills, patio furniture, umbrellas and servingware. In addition to in-store sales, make sure to look for these big-ticket items online, too: Overstock.com, for example, is offering up to 70% off outdoor furniture and decor, with many items shipping free.

Skip: TVs

On the cusp of football season, retailers are promoting some seemingly good offers on TVs to help shoppers kick off the opening game with a new big screen. However, the best two times to buy a new TV are during Black Friday weekend and at the end of January in time for Super Bowl. If there’s a certain model you’re eyeing, keep tabs on sales using TrackIf.com so you don’t miss out when the price drops.

Buy: Luggage

With the busy travel season behind us, you’ll find a bevvy of deals on travel goods like suitcases, duffle bags and other accessories. Look for deals on luggage sets to get the best bang for your buck. You’ll save even more by shopping online, so compare prices using PriceGrabber.com and scope out deals at sites like eBags.

Skip: Smartphones

Apple will likely release the newest iPhone on Wednesday, September 9, so hold off until this news is announced before updating or buying a new smartphone. Once the latest device is released, you’ll find huge discounts on old iPhone models, plus additional savings on Android devices competing with Apple to make sales.

(Shared with permission.  Andrea Woroch is a money-saving expert who transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers by sharing smart spending tips and personal finance advice. As a sought-after media source, she has been featured among such top news outlets as Good Morning America, Today, CNN, Dr. OZ, New York Times, MONEY Magazine, Consumer Reports, Forbes and many more. In addition, Andrea’s stories have been published among leading publications and sites such as Yahoo!, AOL Daily Finance, CNN Money, Huffington Post, LearnVest and New York Daily News. Check out Andrea’s demo reel or visit her website at AndreaWoroch.com for more information about booking an interview or requesting an original written article. You can also follow her on Twitter or Facebook for daily money tips.

For all media inquiries, please contact Andrea Woroch at 970-672-6085 or email andrea@andreaworoch.com