Carter's Coupons & Deals

Carter’s Coupons, Promo Codes & Deals — April 2026 Guide

Carter’s isn’t just another kids’ clothing retailer. For generations of American parents, it’s been the default answer to “where should I buy basics that’ll survive a toddler?” The brand has mastered something rare in retail: consistent quality at prices that don’t require a second mortgage, paired with a promotional calendar so predictable you could set your watch by it.

If you’ve got kids under 14, you’re probably already familiar with Carter’s signature pastel onesies, their surprisingly durable playwear, and those coordinated pajama sets that make getting a decent family photo slightly less impossible. What makes Carter’s special isn’t flash or trend-chasing. It’s the reliable combination of cotton that holds up through dozens of washes, sizing that’s actually consistent from season to season, and sales that happen frequently enough that paying full price feels almost optional.

This page exists because Carter’s runs so many promotions simultaneously that navigating them efficiently requires strategy. Between percentage-off codes, tiered spend deals, clearance sections that drop to legitimately jaw-dropping prices, and a rewards program that actually pays dividends if you use it right, there’s a significant difference between what casual shoppers pay and what informed deal-stackers pay. We track every code, test every deal, and update this page daily so you can spend less time hunting for savings and more time deciding whether you really need that fifteenth pair of footie pajamas.

We’re not here to convince you Carter’s is perfect for everyone. But if you value durability over trendiness, appreciate predictable sizing, and don’t mind that your kid will probably match three other kids at daycare, the savings tactics below will help you maximize every dollar.

How We Source Carter’s Deals

Every promo code and deal on www.LoveThoseDeals.com comes through direct affiliate feed integrations with Carter’s and our own verification testing. We don’t scrape codes from random forums or republish expired offers we found on competitor sites. Our system pulls official promotional data multiple times daily, then our editorial team actually tests redemption before anything goes live on this page.

Each deal receives a confidence score based on verification recency, user redemption rates, and stated expiration dates. You’ll see codes marked with “Verified Today” when we’ve personally tested them within the past 24 hours. Carter’s occasionally releases targeted codes to specific customer segments or email subscribers, and those can be hit-or-miss for general use. When we list those, we’re transparent about the variable success rate.

We update this page every morning before 9 AM Eastern, and again if Carter’s drops a flash sale or adjusts their promotional structure mid-day. During peak periods like Black Friday or the back-to-school season, we check more frequently because Carter’s will often sweeten deals or extend thresholds without major announcement.

About Carter’s

William Carter started the company in 1865, originally producing knitted mittens in Needham, Massachusetts. The brand shifted to children’s underwear and union suits, eventually becoming synonymous with infant clothing by the mid-20th century. Today, Carter’s operates as a multi-brand portfolio company that also owns OshKosh B’Gosh (acquired in 2005) and Skip Hop, but the Carter’s flagship remains America’s top-selling baby and kids’ apparel brand by volume.

The company runs over 1,000 retail locations across North America, split between Carter’s standalone stores, OshKosh outlets, and side-by-side dual-brand stores. But their digital operation has become increasingly central to the business model, with the website offering the full catalog including online-exclusive prints and extended sizing that doesn’t always make it to physical retail.

Carter’s positioning is deliberately middle-market. They’re not competing with luxury children’s boutiques on fabric innovation or limited-edition collaborations. They’re also not bottom-feeding on price alone. The sweet spot is parents who need volume—because kids grow absurdly fast—but refuse to sacrifice quality. A Carter’s bodysuit at $6 on sale will genuinely last through multiple kids and still be donation-worthy rather than trash-worthy.

What distinguishes Carter’s in a crowded kids’ apparel market is manufacturing consistency. Sizing charts remain stable year over year, so parents can confidently buy ahead when clearance deals hit. The fabric weight in their basics hasn’t been quietly downgraded the way some mass brands do. And their design approach favors timeless over trendy, which means those animal-print pajamas from 2024 don’t look conspicuously dated in 2026.

What Carter’s Sells

The core of Carter’s business is newborn through 24-month basics: bodysuits, sleep-and-plays, two-piece pajama sets, and layering pieces. A typical newborn bodysuit 5-pack runs $16-20 at regular price, dropping to $10-12 during major sales. Their signature sleep-and-plays with the built-in feet (parents call them “footies”) range from $8-14 individually, or you can catch 4-packs around $24 when sales align.

For toddlers and bigger kids up to size 14, Carter’s focuses on everyday essentials: graphic tees, leggings, joggers, dresses, and seasonal outerwear. You’ll find basic solid tees starting around $6-8, character graphics for $10-12, and their surprisingly decent denim in the $18-24 range at full price. The girls’ dress selection spans simple jersey styles ($12-18) to occasion-ready pieces with tulle or embellishment ($28-38).

Pajamas deserve special mention because they’re arguably Carter’s strongest category. The brand offers snug-fit cotton PJs that meet federal flammability standards without chemical treatments, in sizes preemie through 14. Two-piece sets run $12-18 regularly, but during the frequent “50% off pajamas” promotions, you’re looking at $6-9 per set. They also produce footie pajamas for bigger kids, which is surprisingly hard to find elsewhere, priced around $16-20.

Seasonal items include swimwear (rash guards and trunks for $18-24, girls’ suits $20-30), outerwear (puffer jackets $36-48, fleece pullovers $18-24), and holiday-specific clothing (Easter dresses, Christmas pajama sets, Halloween costumes integrated into regular clothing). The accessories section covers basics like socks, hats, and mittens, generally in the $4-8 range.

Carter’s also maintains a robust clearance section year-round, organized by size and gender. This isn’t picked-over remnants—it’s previous season inventory with markdowns ranging from 30% off to occasional 70-80% reductions. A $24 regular-price dress might hit clearance at $14, then drop to $7 if it sits long enough.

Carter’s vs. the Competition

Feature	Carter’s	OshKosh B’Gosh	The Children’s Place	Cat & Jack (Target)
Price Range (bodysuits)	$3-6 (sale)	$4-7 (sale)	$3-5 (sale)	$4-6 (everyday)
Sizing Consistency	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Variable
Fabric Durability	High	High	Medium	Medium-High
Sale Frequency	2-3x weekly	2-3x weekly	Daily	Minimal (EDLP)
Rewards Program	Yes (points)	Shared with Carter’s	Yes (points)	5% RedCard only
Free Ship Threshold	$35+	$35+	$49+	$35+

OshKosh B’Gosh is actually owned by the same parent company, and you’ll find combined Carter’s/OshKosh stores frequently. The brands share infrastructure, so promotional timing and rewards programs overlap. OshKosh skews slightly more playful and durable (think classic overalls and heavier twills), while Carter’s leans into softer basics. If you’re choosing between them, it’s mostly aesthetic preference. Savvy shoppers treat them as one unified clearance opportunity.

The Children’s Place competes directly on price and runs near-constant promotions that can sometimes beat Carter’s on per-item cost. Their quality has improved notably over the past few years. Where Children’s Place pulls ahead is in trendier styles for older kids—more fashion-forward cuts and prints. Where they fall short is sizing inconsistency (their slim fits run genuinely small, regular fits seem to vary) and fabric that pills more quickly. For basics that need to survive multiple kids, Carter’s holds up better. For a cute outfit you need for one season, Children’s Place sales can’t be beaten.

Cat & Jack at Target revolutionized kids’ retail with their one-year guarantee—anything that wears out within 12 months gets replaced, no receipt needed. The quality is genuinely competitive with Carter’s, and Target’s everyday pricing often undercuts Carter’s regular prices. The catch is that Target runs fewer deep sales. Cat & Jack rarely hits 50% off the way Carter’s clearance does. You’re getting fair pricing daily but fewer opportunities for exceptional deals. Also, Target’s inventory can be inconsistent; sizes sell out and don’t always restock predictably.

Carter’s Savings Tips

The difference between overpaying and deal-stacking at Carter’s can easily hit 60-70% on identical items. These aren’t theoretical tactics—they’re the specific moves that regular Carter’s shoppers use to keep clothing costs reasonable despite kids who seem to grow overnight.

1. Sign Up for the Carter’s Email List

The welcome email alone justifies signing up: new subscribers typically receive a 20% off code valid on regular-price items, deliverable within minutes of confirmation. This is genuinely one of the better clothing retail welcome offers because there’s no minimum purchase requirement and it stacks with many (though not all) sale category discounts.

Beyond the initial code, Carter’s emails 3-5 times weekly with promotional announcements, early sale access, and occasional surprise codes. During major shopping periods, email subscribers get 4-6 hour head starts on doorbusters before they’re publicly announced. That matters when popular sizes in clearance items sell out within hours.

The email cadence is aggressive, so use a shopping-specific email address if inbox clutter bothers you. But unsubscribing is penny-wise and pound-foolish here—Carter’s frequently sends targeted codes to specific segments (new parents, lapsed customers, high-value shoppers) that don’t appear on their website or affiliate feeds. I’ve seen email-exclusive 30% off codes on weeks when the public site maxed out at 20%.

One specific tactic: if you abandon a cart without purchasing, watch your email for the next 24-48 hours. Carter’s runs a cart abandonment sequence that sometimes includes an extra 10-15% off code to encourage completion. It doesn’t always trigger, but it costs nothing to try. Add items, leave them, and check back before the original promo expires.

2. Stack Codes with Sale Items

Carter’s promotional structure allows specific stacking combinations that multiply savings substantially. The general rule: percentage-off codes typically work on sale categories, while dollar-off codes ($10 off $40, etc.) often work on anything including clearance.

A realistic stacking scenario happens weekly: Carter’s runs “50% off sleepwear” as a category sale, then releases a sitewide code for “extra 20% off your purchase.” Both apply. A $16 pajama set drops to $8 with the category sale, then to $6.40 with the stacked code. Throw in rewards points redemption (covered below), and you’re approaching $5 for sleepwear that’ll last 18 months of regular wear.

The exclusions matter. Some codes explicitly state “not valid on clearance” or “excludes doorbusters.” Read the fine print in the email or on the landing page. Carter’s generally doesn’t stop you at checkout—the code just won’t apply—but understanding restrictions prevents frustration.

During the biggest events (Black Friday, back-to-school), Carter’s runs tiered spend deals: “Take $10 off $40, $20 off $60, $30 off $80” or similar structures. These are almost always dollar-off codes that stack beautifully with category sales and clearance. The strategy is to fill your cart with already-discounted items, then structure your total to hit just above a threshold. Spending $61 to get $20 off is better than spending $58 and getting only $10 off.

One limitation: Carter’s typically allows only one promo code per order. You can’t stack two percentage codes or two dollar-amount codes. The stacking happens between a promo code and existing sale prices/clearance markdowns.

3. Use the Loyalty Program Strategically

The Rewarding Moments program (Carter’s loyalty system) is free to join and awards points on every purchase: 1 point per dollar spent in-store or online. Accumulate 200 points, and you unlock a $10 reward certificate valid for 60 days. That’s effectively 5% back, which is decent but not spectacular until you understand the strategic pieces.

First, points earn on the pre-discount total. If you spend $100 but use a 40% off code bringing your actual payment to $60, you still earn 100 points. This is huge. During major sales when you’re already getting deep discounts, the points accumulation accelerates your path to the next reward without requiring additional spending.

Second, reward certificates stack with sales and promo codes in most cases. That $10 certificate functions like cash, applied before promo codes calculate. So if you’ve got $50 in sale items, apply the $10 reward to bring it to $40, then use a “20% off your purchase” code to drop it to $32. You’ve effectively compounded discounts.

Third, Carter’s regularly runs points multiplier events: “Earn double points this weekend” or “Triple points on sleepwear.” These stack with the regular 1:1 earning rate. If you’ve got a major purchase planned—new school year wardrobe, seasonal transition, or stocking up for a new baby—waiting for a multiplier event can generate an extra $10-20 reward certificate from a single shopping trip.

The program also includes a birthday offer (usually 20% off) and occasional members-only early access to sales. Enrollment takes about 90 seconds and requires only email and basic info. There’s no credit card application or fee structure—it’s genuinely just a points tracker.

4. Time Purchases to the Sale Calendar

Carter’s promotional calendar runs with near-metronomic consistency. Understanding the rhythm means you’re never paying full price unless you’re genuinely in an emergency situation.

Weekly, expect at least one category sale: 50-60% off pajamas, doorbusters on bodysuits (5-packs for $10-12), percentage-off outerwear, or “buy more, save more” structures on mix-and-match items. These rotate predictably. If you miss pajamas this week, they’ll be back within 2-3 weeks.

Monthly, watch for the “stock-up sale” format: steep discounts on basics designed to encourage bulk buying. These typically offer tiered pricing (buy 3 get 25% off, buy 5 get 35% off, etc.) on foundational items like bodysuits, leggings, and basic tees. If your kid is in a stable size for a few months, this is when to load up.

Quarterly, clearance gets an additional markdown cycle. End-of-season transitions (late February, late May, late August, late November) bring the deepest clearance cuts. Items that hit clearance at 30% off in mid-season drop to 60-70% off as Carter’s makes room for incoming inventory. A $28 dress might be $18 in clearance initially, then $8-10 in the secondary markdown.

Annually, the absolutely biggest events are Black Friday through Cyber Monday (50-60% off everything is typical, plus doorbuster items at 70-80% off), the January winter clearance (massive cuts on fall/winter inventory), back-to-school in July/August (40-50% off plus free shipping), and scattered spring events around Easter. If you can plan major purchases around these windows, you’re capturing the maximum possible value.

One insider observation: Carter’s often “pre-sales” their big events. The week before Black Friday, they’ll run 40% off sitewide. Casual shoppers jump on it. Then Black Friday hits at 50-60% off. The patient shoppers win. Unless you need something immediately, waiting for the main event beats jumping on the preview.

5. Check for App-Exclusive Deals

The Carter’s mobile app (iOS and Android) occasionally runs promotions that don’t appear on the desktop website or even in email. These aren’t constant, but they’re frequent enough during major shopping periods that having the app installed pays off.

App-exclusive offers typically take two forms: additional percentage discounts (“Extra 10% off in-app purchases today only”) or free shipping with no minimum when you order through mobile. During back-to-school and holiday seasons, expect at least 2-3 app-only deals monthly.

The app also provides earlier notification of flash sales and restocks. Push notifications can alert you within minutes of a doorbuster going live, which matters when popular sizes in hot items (like those themed holiday pajamas) sell out in hours. You can customize notification frequency if you don’t want constant alerts.

One practical benefit: the app saves payment info and shipping addresses more reliably than browser cookies, which speeds up checkout during time-sensitive flash sales. When you’ve got a cart full of doorbusters and you’re competing with thousands of other parents, shaving 30 seconds off checkout can mean the difference between success and “out of stock” disappointment.

The app also integrates barcode scanning for in-store price checks and inventory lookups, though this is more useful in physical retail locations. If you’re in a Carter’s outlet store and spot something you like, you can scan to see if other colors or sizes are available online.

6. Stack Cashback on Top of Promo Codes

Cashback portals like Rakuten, TopCashback, and BeFrugal partner with Carter’s to offer percentage-back rebates on purchases. These stack with promo codes, sale prices, and reward certificates because they’re processed as affiliate commissions, not merchant discounts.

Standard cashback rates at Carter’s hover around 2-4% on regular days, jumping to 8-12% during promoted shopping events (Black Friday, back-to-school, etc.). You click through the cashback portal to Carter’s site, shop normally using whatever promo codes you’ve got, and the cashback credits to your portal account within a few days, paying out once you reach the portal’s minimum threshold (usually $5-25 depending on the service).

Real-world example: You buy $100 worth of items during a 50% off sale, paying $50. You used a cashback portal offering 10% back. You receive $5 cashback (calculated on the $50 you actually spent, not the pre-sale price). Combined with the sale, you’ve effectively gotten $100 worth of merchandise for $45, a 55% total discount.

The friction point is remembering to start your shopping session through the portal. Browser extensions from Rakuten and others can automate this, detecting when you’re on Carter’s site and prompting you to activate cashback. These work reasonably well, though I’ve found manual navigation through the portal website to be more reliable for ensuring the tracking cookie sets properly.

Cashback doesn’t post instantly—expect 30-90 days for the transaction to move from “pending” to “payable” as the portal confirms you didn’t return the items. But once it pays out, it’s actual cash to your PayPal or bank account, or gift cards if you prefer.

7. Use Live Chat for Unadvertised Discounts

Carter’s customer service chat (available on the website during business hours) can occasionally provide additional codes or price adjustments that aren’t publicly advertised. This isn’t a guaranteed tactic, but it works often enough to be worth the three-minute investment.

Specific scenarios where chat helps: You’ve got a promo code that expired yesterday, and a polite inquiry about whether it can still be honored often results in a replacement code. You’re trying to use a code that’s not applying at checkout due to technical issues, and chat can manually process the order with the discount. You’re making a large purchase ($200+), and asking if there are any additional offers available for bulk buyers sometimes surfaces codes.

The key is approach. Chat representatives aren’t trying to gatekeep secret discounts—they’re evaluated on customer satisfaction. Friendly, specific questions work better than demands. “I’m trying to use code SAVE20 but it’s not applying to my sleepwear—can you help me understand the restrictions?” is more effective than “Give me a discount.”

One specific use case: if you’re buying a gift and need it shipped directly to someone, chat representatives can often apply gift messaging or special packaging requests that aren’t options in the standard checkout flow. This isn’t about discounts, but it’s service value.

Holiday periods and weekends can mean longer chat wait times or reliance on less experienced representatives. Weekday mornings tend to connect you with more tenured staff who have broader authority to issue courtesy codes or overrides.

Carter’s Shipping & Returns

Standard shipping at Carter’s costs $6 for orders under $35 and becomes free once you hit that threshold. The $35 minimum is low enough that most parents clear it easily—three pajama sets or a handful of basics typically exceeds it. Delivery timeframe for standard shipping runs 5-7 business days under normal conditions, stretching to 7-10 during November/December peak.

Expedited shipping options include 3-day ($12), 2-day ($18), and next-day ($25) service, though these are rarely worth the cost given Carter’s frequent sales. Waiting a few days to hit a better promotion usually saves more than you’d spend on expedited delivery. The exception is holiday deadlines or genuine emergencies (diaper blowout destroyed the only clean outfit, and you need reinforcements).

Carter’s runs periodic free shipping promotions, sometimes with no minimum, more commonly with reduced thresholds ($25 instead of $35). These happen weekly during peak seasons and sporadically otherwise. If you’re not in a rush, adding items to your cart and waiting 3-5 days frequently results in a free shipping code landing in your email.

In-store pickup is available at Carter’s retail locations, usually ready within 2-4 hours of online order placement. This avoids shipping costs entirely and gives you same-day access. The inventory available for pickup reflects that specific store’s stock, which can be more limited than the online warehouse, but it’s worth checking if you’re near a location.

Returns are accepted within 90 days of purchase with original tags and receipt for full refund. Without a receipt, you’ll get store credit at the lowest price the item sold for in the past 60 days, which can be disappointing if you bought it full-price and it later hit clearance. Keep your email confirmations—they function as receipt proof for online purchases.

Return shipping costs $6 if you use Carter’s prepaid label (deducted from your refund), or free if you return to a physical store location. Given that many Carter’s purchases benefit from free shipping inbound, the $6 return fee can feel frustrating, but it’s industry-standard. Items marked final sale (usually deep clearance) can’t be returned, which is clearly stated at checkout.

Seasonal Deal Calendar for Carter’s

Spring (March-May) brings clearance blowouts on winter inventory—this is when you’ll find puffy jackets and fleece at 70% off, perfect for buying next year’s size up. Easter shopping ramps up mid-March with 30-40% off Easter dresses, outfits, and pastel collections. Post-Easter clearance in late April drops those same items to 60-70% off. Late May initiates the summer rollout with swimwear sales (typically 40% off early season, increasing to 50% by June).

Summer (June-August) centers on back-to-school preparation. July brings the first wave: “buy more, save more” on basics, 40-50% off school wardrobes, and typically a free shipping promotion that lasts several weeks. Late July through mid-August intensifies with additional markdowns and doorbuster basics (5-pack bodysuits for $8-10, uniform-appropriate polos and khakis at 50% off). Late August transitions summer clearance to 60-70% off, ideal for stocking up on warm-weather items for next year.

Fall (September-November) starts with leftover back-to-school promotions tapering off by mid-September. October brings Halloween-themed sleepwear and costumes at 30-40% off, ramping to 50% off by mid-month, then clearance post-Halloween. November is Black Friday preparation: small sales early month, building to the massive Black Friday through Cyber Monday event. Expect 50-60% off sitewide, doorbuster doorbusters at 70-80% off, and free shipping. This is legitimately the single biggest Carter’s event annually. Cyber Monday sometimes offers slightly different doorbuster items or extended deals—worth checking both days.

Winter (December-February) continues holiday shopping through mid-December with 40-50% off sitewide and frequent free shipping. Post-Christmas (December 26 onward) initiates winter clearance with escalating discounts through January: 50% off in late December, 60-70% off by mid-January, sometimes 80% off on final stragglers in February. This is the second-best clearance event annually after back-to-school. January also brings the “stock up and save” format on basics. February transitions to Valentine’s Day themed items and spring preview collections, which aren’t heavily discounted yet.

Carter’s Loyalty Program

Rewarding Moments operates on a straightforward accumulation model: spend money, earn points, redeem for certificates. Every dollar spent earns one point whether you’re shopping online or in physical Carter’s and OshKosh stores (the programs are unified). Reach 200 points, and a $10 reward certificate generates automatically, sent via email and added to your account.

Certificates expire 60 days after issuance, which is generous compared to some retail rewards (30 days is common). You’ll get reminder emails at 30 days and 7 days before expiration. Expired certificates can’t be reinstated, so calendar the redemption window when you receive one.

The program has no tiers or status levels—every member operates under identical earning rates and benefits. This simplicity is refreshing compared to complicated tier structures that require specific annual spending to maintain status. Whether you spend $100 yearly or $2,000, the earn rate stays consistent at 1%.

Special member perks include birthday month offers (typically 20% off, delivered via email), early access to select sales (not all, but usually the major seasonal events), and occasional bonus point opportunities (double points weekends, triple points on specific categories). These aren’t constantly available, but they happen often enough to matter if you’re an active Carter’s shopper.

Best redemption strategy: combine reward certificates with already-discounted sale items or clearance. The certificate applies as a straight $10 reduction before other codes calculate. So if you’ve got $60 in clearance items (already 50% off from original $120 price), apply your $10 reward to bring it to $50, then use a stacked promo code for additional percentage off. This compounds discounts more effectively than using rewards on full-price items.

One tactical note: points post within 24-48 hours of purchase for online orders, immediately for in-store transactions. If you’re close to the 200-point threshold and have a certificate expiring soon, you can sometimes make a small purchase to generate a new certificate before the old one expires, effectively extending your discount window.

How to Use a Carter’s Promo Code

Step 1: Browse the Carter’s website and add desired items to your shopping cart. You can continue shopping across multiple categories—the cart persists as you browse.

Step 2: Click the shopping bag icon (upper right corner) to view your cart and verify items, sizes, and quantities are correct.

Step 3: Click “Checkout” to proceed to the purchase flow. You’ll be prompted to sign in or check out as a guest (signing in is recommended to earn rewards points).

Step 4: On the shipping information page, enter your delivery address. Below the address form, you’ll see “Apply Promo Code” or similar text. Click to expand that section.

Step 5: Enter your promo code exactly as provided (Carter’s codes are usually case-insensitive, but exact spacing matters). Click “Apply” and wait 2-3 seconds for validation.

Step 6: Verify the discount appears in your order summary on the right side of the screen. The reduction should show as a separate line item below your subtotal.

Step 7: Complete payment information and finalize your order. Your confirmation email will show the discount applied.

Troubleshooting: If a code doesn’t apply, check these common issues: minimum purchase requirements (some codes need $40+ orders), exclusions on clearance or specific brands, expiration dates, and item eligibility (some codes work only on regular-price items). The error message usually specifies the issue. If a code should work based on stated terms but doesn’t, try live chat—technical glitches happen, and representatives can manually apply valid codes.

Single-use codes (often from targeted emails) won’t work if they’ve already been redeemed on your account. One promo code per order is the standard limitation—you can’t stack two codes, but codes do stack with existing sales and clearance markdowns.

About This Page

www.LoveThoseDeals.com maintains this Carter’s guide as part of our commitment to transparent, tested deal information. Every promo code listed on our main Carter’s coupon page goes through verification testing before publication, and we update deal listings multiple times daily through direct affiliate feeds and manual checking. We earn affiliate commission when you make purchases through our links, which funds our verification work and keeps this content free to readers.

This editorial guide was last updated April 2026 to reflect current promotional patterns, pricing structures, and program details. Carter’s policies and offers change regularly, and while we strive for accuracy, we recommend verifying specific terms on Carter’s official website before making purchase decisions. Our methodology prioritizes actionable, honest information over promotional hype—we’d rather tell you when to wait for a better sale than encourage unnecessary spending.