Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day Weekend: What to Buy And Not to Buy

— -- The sale gurus at DealNews.com have done it again, analyzing last year’s holiday weekend sales to give us a feel for where the bargains are this time around. Here are “Go” and “No” picks for both Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day shopping.

Valentine’s Day:

GO:

•Jewelry. You could see discounts of as much as 94 percent off, according to DealNews, though sales in April can be even better.

•Flowers. DealNews says retailers often discount bouquets 30 percent for lovers, though they drop prices even more in April for, what, tax day?

•Personalized Gifts. There are lots of nice sales on photo books and cards.

NO:

•Chocolates. DealNews says the sweet stuff is overpriced around V-day. Hold off if your sweetheart thinks thriftiness is hot!

President’s Day:

GO:

•Clothing. You could get as much as 67 percent off, especially on winter apparel, says DealNews.

•Tech. Last year on Presidents’ Day weekend, electronics made up 32 percent of all sales and this year is expected to be similar.

•Furniture. New lines debut this month, so the old ones often go on sale.

NO:

•Mattresses. Yes, you will probably see sales over Presidents’ Day weekend, but mattresses are big purchases, and the discounts are even deeper in April and September, so I say wait.

Opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author.

Elisabeth Leamy is a 20-year consumer advocate for programs such as "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show." She is the author of Save BIG and The Savvy Consumer. Elisabeth is also a professional speaker, delivering talks nationwide on saving money, media relations, and career success. Elisabeth receives her best story tips from readers, so please connect with her via Facebook, Twitter or her website, to share your ideas.