Are President’s Day sales actually a deal? How to avoid overpaying with smart shopping and mental math

President’s Day sales are everywhere, promising huge discounts on everything from mattresses to electronics. But are you really saving money, or just falling for a marketing trick?

Retailers often use sneaky tactics to make prices seem lower than they actually are. The good news? You can outsmart these sales strategies by using a few practical mental math tricks and shopping strategies to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

How stores trick you into thinking you’re saving

Retailers know that shoppers expect discounts on President’s Day, so they use these common pricing tricks:

• Fake discounts: A store raises the price a few weeks before the sale, then "cuts" it back to the original price. For example, a fridge was $999 in January, then marked up to $1,199 in early February—only to be “discounted” back to $999 for the sale.
• Bundle deals that aren’t real savings: You might see “Buy One, Get One 50% Off” promotions, but if the original price is already inflated, you're not really getting a deal.
• Limited-time pressure: Phrases like “Only 2 left at this price!” create urgency, making you rush into a purchase without checking if it’s a real bargain.

Mental math tricks to spot a real discount

Instead of blindly trusting a sale sign, use these quick mental math strategies to calculate if you're actually getting a deal:

1. Estimate percentages fast

Stores love advertising “30% off” or “40% off,” but is that really a good deal? A quick trick:

• To find 10% of a price, just move the decimal one place left.
• For 20%, double the 10% amount.
• For 30%, triple it.

Example: A $250 jacket is marked as 30% off.

• 10% of $250 is $25
• 30% is $75 (because $25 × 3 = $75)
• Sale price: $250 - $75 = $175

Quickly doing this math in your head helps you decide if the discount is worth it.

2. Reverse engineer inflated discounts

If a store says, “Now 60% off! Was $500, now $200,” you can check if it was really ever worth $500.

• If 40% of the “original price” ($500) would be $200, the math shows they probably never actually sold it for $500 in the first place.

3. Compare price per unit

When shopping for appliances, furniture, or groceries, always compare the cost per unit instead of just the sale price.

Example: Two detergent bottles are on sale. One is $15 for 50 ounces, the other is $18 for 70 ounces. Which is the better deal?

• $15 ÷ 50 oz = $0.30 per ounce
• $18 ÷ 70 oz = $0.26 per ounce

The second option is actually cheaper, even though the total price is higher.

Best and worst things to buy on President’s Day

Not every category has real discounts during President’s Day sales. Here’s what’s worth buying and what’s better to wait for.

✅ Best items to buy

• Mattresses: Huge markdowns, often the biggest sales of the year.
• Major appliances: Refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines get solid discounts.
• Winter clothing: Retailers need to clear out inventory before spring.
• Furniture: Many furniture stores offer deep discounts.

❌ Worst items to buy

• Laptops and TVs: Better deals happen on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
• Spring fashion: New arrivals aren’t discounted yet.
• Outdoor furniture: Prices drop in late summer when retailers make room for fall inventory.

How to outsmart sales and actually save money

Using smart shopping strategies can help you avoid overpaying. Try these tips:

• Check price history: Use sites like CamelCamelCamel or Honey to see past prices.
• Compare across stores: Even if an item is “on sale,” another store might have it cheaper.
• Look for stackable discounts: Some stores let you use promo codes on top of sale prices.
• Use price-match policies: Some retailers match competitors’ lower prices if you ask.

Put your mental math skills to the test this President’s Day

President’s Day sales can be great—but only if you know how to spot real savings. By using mental math tricks, checking price history, and knowing when to buy, you can avoid overpaying and make sure you’re actually getting a deal.

Want to sharpen your mental math skills even further? Download the Elevate app to train your brain with quick and fun math exercises that help you calculate discounts, compare deals, and make smarter financial decisions.