Just because Amazon Prime Day and other major summer savings events happened at the end of June doesn’t mean July Fourth sales are a wash. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Retailers want to start July strong, so to get shoppers back online and in-stores, they’re slashing prices, especially on products they didn’t discount much last week, says Stephanie Carls, a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot. The best Fourth of July deals center around seasonal items like cooling appliances, summer clothes and shoes, and outdoor sporting goods, as well as major home and kitchen appliances, mattresses and furniture. And don’t be surprised if you see more retailers than usual offering extras like free delivery, gifts with purchase and bundles: Many of them are going all-out since it’s the United States’ 250th anniversary.81 percent of Americans plan to shop July Fourth sales, according to a recent survey by RetailMeNot. If you’re one of them, read through this guide before you start filling your cart. I talked to experts about what’s actually worth buying, why some products are better to wait on and saving tips to put money back in your pocket. I also shared advice I’ve learned first-hand after covering major sales events for over six years.Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.What to buy during Fourth of July salesCooling appliancesMuch of the U.S. will experience temperatures into the upper 90s and 100s this holiday weekend, with heat alerts currently spanning 35 states. If buying a new air conditioner or fan is on your to-do list, you’re in luck: July Fourth sales offer impressive discounts on various models, like window ACs, portable ACs, fans and personal fans. Beyond the discounts, Vipin Porwal, the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty, says early July is the ideal time to buy cooling appliances during the summer because that’s when inventory is the highest. As inventory decreases but interest remains high, prices typically go up closer to August.July Fourth sales on cooling appliancesSummer clothes and shoesStores are officially starting to clear out warm-weather clothes and shoes to make room for new fall styles before the back-to-school shopping season starts, says Carls. Discounts are usually in the 20 to 40 percent range, especially online where many brands do sitewide sales, says Porwal. For example, I always shop Gap and Old Navy’s Fourth of July sales, which tend to offer between 40 to 70 percent off sitewide. I take advantage of deals to replace my beat up sandals and stock-up on summer basics that I can transition into a fall wardrobe, like dresses, shorts, linen pants, lightweight jackets, T-shirts and tank tops. Activewear and swimsuits will be deeply discounted, too.July Fourth sales on summer clothes and shoesOutdoor sporting goods, games and toysSimilar to summer clothes and shoes, retailers want to start getting rid of anything related to warm-weather outdoor activities like hiking, camping, fishing, swimming and beach-going. Porwal recommends shopping for these types of products at big box and sporting goods stores, which offer “huge sales” in terms of inventory and discounts around 30 percent on average. I’m seeing some of the best deals at REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Backcountry, for example.July Fourth sales on outdoor sporting goods, games and toysMajor appliances, mattresses and furnitureHoliday weekends like July Fourth are one of the best times of year to make large purchases like mattresses, furniture and major home and kitchen appliances, says Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, a shopping and savings strategist at Rakuten. Products in these categories hit some of their lowest annual prices, rivaling Black Friday discounts in some cases, especially when retailers throw in extras like free delivery, installation and haul-away, as well as offer bundle or “spend more, save more” promotions, says Carls. I’ve seen particularly lucrative deals around major home products at Home Depot, Lowe’s and Best Buy.July Fourth sales on major appliancesJuly Fourth sales on mattresses and furnitureWhat to skip during Fourth of July salesTech, especially TVs, laptops and video game consoles: Retailers save their best deals on the priciest tech for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, says Gerstley. You also won’t see extra-low prices on smaller devices like earbuds, speakers and smart home gadgets until October the earliest, which is when Amazon is likely to have its second Prime Day-level sale (it hasn’t been confirmed yet).Grills and patio furniture: Patience pays off when it comes to buying grills and patio furniture, says Carls — retailers don’t do their deepest price cuts in these categories until Labor Day when they’re desperate to get rid of remaining merchandise. That said, if you want to buy a grill or patio furniture now to use throughout the rest of the summer, you’ll find decent deals this holiday weekend, says Carls. Plus, there’s more inventory now than there will be in early September. Ultimately, you have to choose between waiting to buy grills and patio furniture to get the lowest price, or buying now to choose from the best selection.School supplies: Back-to-school sales typically don’t start until after July Fourth, so hold off on buying related supplies until later this month or August, says Porwal. Some states also have Tax Holidays coming up that can help you save even more on school supplies, and retailers usually roll out their student and teacher discount specials in a few weeks, too.Expert tips: How to save money while shopping Fourth of July salesSet a budget and make a shopping list: Go into Fourth of July sales with a maximum amount of money you’re comfortable spending, and make a list of everything you want to buy. Doing so helps you avoid impulse purchases, a.k.a unnecessary spending.Stack savings: “The sale price is just the starting point,” says Carls. Layering promo codes on top of stores’ discounts, shopping through a cash back extension and paying with a credit card that lets you earn points helps your money go further and puts more back in your wallet long-term.Compare prices: Almost every brand and retailer hosts Fourth of July sales, so compare prices to see who has the lowest ones after you factor in additional promo codes, cashback opportunities and shipping fees, says Gerstley. Sign up for brands’ newsletters and SMS lists: Retailers keep shoppers updated about new price drops, limited-time deals and exclusive promo codes through newsletters and texts, as well as their social media platforms.Familiarize yourself with return policies: Most retailers don’t have special return policies during sales, but double check to make sure. If something is a final sale, a retailer usually explicitly tells you.Frequently asked questionsAs far as discounts go, Fourth of July sales are comparable online and in stores, experts say. However, shopping online makes comparing prices across retailers easier, and it lets you use browser extensions that help you find additional promo codes and cashback offers, says Carls. Plus, some cashback extensions offer double or triple rewards during big sales events like July Fourth.That said, “sometimes seeing is believing,” says Porwal. Being able to measure or test out a product in-store before you buy it can’t be beat, especially if you’re shopping for a big-ticket item like a mattress, piece of furniture or large appliance. While you’re walking through the aisles, be sure to pull up the retailer’s website and check products’ online price — if it’s lower online, you might be able to price match at the register, says Carls. Shopping in-store also means you (usually) get to take your purchase home the same day.To get the best of both worlds, Porwal recommends buying online and picking up in-store. You get the convenience of online shopping along with easy access to additional saving tools, and the immediacy of shopping in-store while saving on shipping fees.The Fourth of July is a federal holiday, so many businesses close their doors for in-store shopping, but big box retailers, grocery stores and pharmacies are typically open. Always check a retailer’s website or social media pages for their holiday hours before leaving home.Fourth of July sales already started at dozens of retailers online and in stores. We’re constantly updating our list of the best July Fourth sales throughout the holiday weekend, so bookmark this page to check back in.Because the Fourth of July lands on a Saturday this year, sales run through the whole weekend, says Gerstley. You might see some spill over into the following week, but plan on July 5th being your last chance to shop the absolute best deals.Meet our expertsAt NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.Vipin Porwal is the CEO and a consumer savings expert at Smarty.Stephanie Carls is a retail insights expert at RetailMeNot.Ashley Feinstein Gerstley is a shopping and savings strategist at Rakuten.Why trust NBC Select?I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered major sale events and consumer savings since 2020, and I regularly appear in related NBC News NOW and TODAY segments. For this article, I spoke to three experts about what to buy and skip during July Fourth sales and shared advice I’ve learned first-hand over the years.Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.