While discount codes and sales appear throughout the year, certain periods reliably bring bigger and more widespread reductions than others. Knowing roughly when these fall can help you time bigger purchases, rather than paying full price shortly before a major sale begins.

January sales

The new year is traditionally one of the biggest sale periods, as retailers clear stock from the Christmas period. This is often a good time for homeware, fashion and electronics, though sizes and specific items can sell out quickly once a sale starts.

Spring and end-of-season clearances

As seasons change, retailers reduce stock that has not sold to make way for new ranges. This can be a good opportunity for clothing and outdoor items in particular, especially if you are happy to buy slightly ahead of the season you actually need something for.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Late November has become one of the most competitive periods for discounts across almost every category, with many retailers extending offers across several weeks rather than a single day. It is worth comparing prices in the weeks beforehand so you can judge whether a Black Friday price is a genuine saving.

Boxing Day and the post-Christmas period

The days following Christmas often bring another wave of sales, partly overlapping with January discounting. This period can be useful for gifts, seasonal items and anything left unsold from the run-up to Christmas.

Retailer-specific sale events

Many individual retailers also run their own annual sale events outside these general periods, such as anniversary sales or member-only events. Signing up to a retailer’s newsletter is often the easiest way to hear about these in advance.

CheckoutDeals tracks current deals and discount codes throughout the year, so you can check what is available whenever you are ready to buy rather than waiting for a specific date.