Memorial Day Sales

Ready to shop? Here are some of the best deals you’ll find this weekend, according to our panel of experts:

Cars: Cash back, special financing offers

Of all the cars that are discounted this Memorial Day weekend, several deals stand out, says Matt Jones, a senior editor at Edmunds.com. “The Acura TLX is more than $9000 off—that’s a big discount for a car that’s in the $37,000 range, and for an import; $2500 cash back on the Toyota Camry and 0% financing for 6 years-both; Chevy’s offering 20% off the sticker price of the Malibu, which is a freaky good deal; almost $10,000 off the Ford Expedition; and the lease deal on the Lexus CT200h—just $250 a month, $1500 down is really good, too.”

Expect bargains at the pump, too! “We’re projecting Memorial Day prices will average just $2.39/gallon,” says Dan McTeague, a Sr. Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy. “This is substantially lower than the 10-year average of $3.15/gallon, and is the second cheapest in a decade.”

Spring clothing: 20%-90% off

America’s retailers are closing stores faster than ever (In fact, the industry is on pace to surpass the 18 major retail bankruptcies set in 2009.), and with no end in sight, the savings on apparel – which accounts for over 40% of all Memorial Day sales - is more significant than ever, says Lindsay Sakraida, Director of Content Marketing with DealNews.

Need a light jacket? Cardigan?

Buy now. “The mid-range discount for Memorial Day weekend is 50%-70% off, but the sales get even better with stackable coupons.”

Think: 90% off. That’s better than usual. “There’s lots of inventory that needs to be moved,” says Sakraida.

Mattresses: 50%+ off

“May is typically a good time to replace your mattress with a springy new one, and Memorial Day deals pop up consistently year after year,” says Sakraida. And this year is no exception. “You’ll see 50% off, if not more.”

Included on Wallethub’s list (of best “cherry-picked” deals for Memorial Day): the Beautyrest Queen Mattress set for $796 (60% off); Sears.

“The biggest discounts tend to be on the lower-end models; the smaller discounts are on the higher-end, often in the form of a coupon,” says Sakraida.

Appliances: 30%-50% off

”You’ll find deep discounts on a wide variety of large appliances, from stoves to washer-dryer sets.

In particular, Memorial Day sales are known for featuring fantastic refrigerator deals,” says Kerry Sherin, Kerry Sherin, savings expert with www.Offers.com.

Sherin recommends shopping at Home Depot, Sears, and Lowe’s, where you could score discounts of up to 40% off on top brands such as Kenmore, Frigidaire, and Samsung.

Included on Wallethub’s list (of best “cherry-picked” deals for Memorial Day): Kenmore’s French Door Refrigerator for $999 (50% off); Sears.

Home décor and kitchen items: 50%-75% off

”Every year, retailers like JCPenney, Macy’s, and Kohl’s run site-wide sales where you can score excellent deals on a variety of home goods, from small appliances to kitchenware and bed and bath products,” says Sherin.

Included on Wallethub’s list (of best “cherry-picked” deals for Memorial Day): Crux Kitchen Electrics for $35-$89 (40% off); Macy’s

Vacations: 20%-50% off

If you haven’t yet made your summer travel plans yet, Memorial Day weekend is actually a decent time to book a trip, says Sakraida.

You’ll see some respectable sales for hotels and packages from Travelocity, Hotels.com and many others.

How does a 4-night Mexico Carnival Cruise for two in August sound–for under $600?!

What Not to Buy:

Hold off on summer items (things like sandals, swimsuits), grills, patio sets and outdoor items, as well as TVs and electronics.

Vera Gibbons is a financial journalist and Senior Consumer Analyst with GasBuddy.com and founding editor of nonpoliticalnews.com, a daily newsletter.

A former analyst with MSNBC who appeared regularly on the “Today Show,” Gibbons was previously a Financial Contributor with CBS News.