Estimated savings
You might also be curious what the difference really is between shopping for, say, a computer on a Monday versus on another day of the week.
- Average savings per item: Just by following this day-by-day online shopping guide, you can expect to save between 37-55% for each item listed!
Shopping online: a day-by-day guide
These results have been compiled by a number of online heavies and are corroborated by luminaries like Time, CBS News, Real Simple and other trusted media resources.
1. Monday
As it turns out, experts agree that, overall, Monday is the best day to buy pretty much anything online, especially electronics.
- Computers: Desktops, laptops, tablets, devices
- Electronics: TVs, game consoles, video games, cameras
- Autos: Cars, trucks, motorcycles
- Men's casual tops: T-shirts, athletic shirts
- Women's coats and purses: Coats, jackets and purses
2. Tuesday
Tuesday is "the" day to scope out discount airfare deals.
- Airline tickets: After 3pm on Tuesday is ideal.
- Women's swimwear: Swimsuits, cover-ups, swim shorts
- Men's accessories: Ties, watches, belts, sunglasses
3. Wednesday
Wednesday is a mid-week catch-all day—not only can you find some cool savings on groceries (especially later in the evening), but financiers say Wednesday is also the best day to make financial investments on the stock market.
- Groceries: Look for mid-week markdowns from online grocers.
- Jewelry: Rings, women's and kids’ watches, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.
- Girls’ casual tops: Tank tops, t-shirts, blouses
- Shoes: Flats, heels, athletic shoes, sandals (for women, men, kids)
- Stocks: Yup—as in the financial kind.
4. Thursday
Starting on Thursday and moving towards the weekend, you will begin to see a lessening of online discounts.
- Clothing: In general, Thursday is considered a prime day for clothing markdowns.
- Bags: Purses, tablet and laptop bags, briefcase bags
5. Friday
Friday is an overall light day on discounts—retailers are preparing for the weekend and they've already had their major discount pushes earlier in the week.
- Accessories: Jewelry, scarves, wraps, hair accessories, etc.
6. Saturday
Saturday is "the" day to shop for boys’ clothing as well as reading material.
- Literature: Books, textbooks, digital and audio books
- Men's casual bottoms: Swim trunks, slacks, sweats
- Women's casual tops and purses: Blouses, t-shirts, tank tops, athletic wear, swim wear
- Women's dresses and bottoms: Dresses, slacks, skirts
- Underthings: Underwear for all, lingerie for women
- Outerthings: Jackets, coats, athletic outerwear, hats, gloves, warm socks
- Men’s dress bottoms: Slacks, pants, formal wear
- Boys’ clothing: Tops, bottoms, underwear, socks, etc.
7. Sunday
Sunday may be a "day of rest" for some folks, but not for online shoppers. You will find your best deals on some big ticket items on this day.
- Major appliances: Dishwashers, washer/dryers, stoves, ovens, etc.
- Household goods: Eye care, dental care, paper and cleaning goods, nonperishable foods
When to shop online for the holidays
If you plan to shop online for the holidays this year, mark these dates in your calendar. The reason these dates stand out statistically is simple: each hovers around "big" shopping dates like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with savvy merchants hoping to cash in on customers coming early or late to the online party.
- November 2 – 12: The pre-Black Friday buildup can be a good time to nab great online discounts. Plus, you can score some great post-Halloween deals!
- November 28 – December 2: Black Friday is on November 28th this year, and Cyber Monday is December 1. While online merchants don't get quite the crush their brick-and-mortar cousins experience, they are still keen to lure shoppers to their sites, especially on and around their "special" Cyber day!
- December 21 – 24: Holiday shopping procrastination is alive and well—and online merchants know it. Just take care not to let last-minute shipping fees eat into your savings!
