Calculate sale prices and savings when shopping. Find out the final price after discount and how much money you save.
A discount is a reduction from the original price of a product or service, typically expressed as a percentage. When you see "30% off," it means the price is reduced by 30% of the original amount. The final price you pay is the original price minus the discount amount.
The discount formula is: Discount Amount = Original Price × (Discount % / 100), and Final Price = Original Price - Discount Amount. For example, a $100 item with 25% off has a discount of $25, making the final price $75.
The most common type, expressed as a percentage off the original price (e.g., 20% off, 50% off). Better for comparing deals across different price points.
Example: 30% off $150 = Save $45, Pay $105
A specific dollar amount off (e.g., $10 off, $50 off). More valuable on higher-priced items, less impactful on cheaper items.
Example: $20 off $150 = 13.3% discount, Pay $130
Buy one item and get another free or at a discount. BOGO Free = 50% off total, BOGO 50% = 25% off total.
Example: BOGO Free on $50 items = Pay $50 for $100 worth
Increasing discounts based on quantity or total spent (e.g., Buy 2 get 10% off, Buy 3 get 20% off). Encourages larger purchases.
Example: Spend $100 get 15% off, Spend $200 get 25% off
Many shoppers misunderstand how multiple discounts combine. When you have two discounts (like a store sale plus a coupon), they don't simply add together. The second discount applies to the already-reduced price.
❌ Wrong: 20% off + 10% off = 30% off total
✓ Correct: 20% off + 10% off = 28% off total
Original price: $100
The order matters! Apply the larger discount first for maximum savings.
| Season/Event | Typical Discounts | Best Categories | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Friday | 40-70% off | Electronics, TVs, appliances | Day after Thanksgiving |
| Cyber Monday | 30-60% off | Online shopping, tech, gadgets | Monday after Thanksgiving |
| After Christmas | 50-80% off | Holiday items, winter clothing | Dec 26 - Jan 15 |
| Presidents Day | 30-50% off | Furniture, mattresses, appliances | Third Monday in February |
| Memorial Day | 25-40% off | Outdoor furniture, grills, summer items | Last Monday in May |
| Labor Day | 30-50% off | Summer clearance, back-to-school | First Monday in September |
| Amazon Prime Day | 30-50% off | Amazon products, electronics | Mid-July (2 days) |
| End of Season | 40-70% off | Seasonal clothing, decorations | End of each season |
Compare Unit Prices, Not Just Discounts
A 50% discount on an overpriced item might still be more expensive than a 20% discount on a competitively priced item. Always check the final price against competitors, not just the discount percentage. Use price tracking tools to see historical prices.
Stack Coupons and Cashback
Maximize savings by combining store sales, manufacturer coupons, credit card rewards, and cashback apps. Some stores allow stacking multiple discounts. Browser extensions like Honey or Rakuten automatically find and apply coupon codes plus give cashback.
Time Your Purchases Strategically
Buy winter clothes in spring, summer clothes in fall, and holiday items after the holiday. Electronics are cheapest during Black Friday and when new models launch. Furniture and mattresses go on sale during major holiday weekends. Track price history to know when deals are genuinely good.
Use Price Matching Policies
Many retailers will match competitors' lower prices. If you find a better deal elsewhere, ask for a price match before buying. Some stores even offer price adjustments if the price drops within 14-30 days after purchase. Keep receipts and monitor prices after buying.
Sign Up for Email Lists and Loyalty Programs
Get exclusive discounts, early access to sales, and birthday coupons. Use a separate email address for shopping to avoid inbox clutter. Many stores offer 10-20% off your first purchase when you sign up. Loyalty programs often provide points, free shipping, and special member-only sales.
Abandon Your Cart Strategically
Add items to your cart but don't complete the purchase. Many online retailers will email you a discount code (usually 10-20% off) within 24-48 hours to encourage you to complete your order. This works best with retailers you haven't purchased from before.
Understanding retailer tactics helps you make rational purchasing decisions rather than emotional ones:
Showing the original price crossed out next to the sale price makes the discount seem more significant. Sometimes the "original" price was never actually charged. Check price history tools to verify if the original price is legitimate.
"Limited time offer," "Only 3 left in stock," or countdown timers create pressure to buy immediately. Many of these sales repeat regularly. If you miss a deal, it will likely come back. Don't let urgency override your budget or needs.
"Free shipping over $50" or "Extra 20% off when you spend $100" encourages you to add unnecessary items to reach the threshold. Calculate if the extra items you're buying are worth the discount or free shipping.
Retailers show percentages for small discounts on expensive items (20% off $500 = $100) and dollar amounts for large discounts on cheap items ($5 off $10 = 50%). They choose whichever sounds more impressive. Always calculate both to understand the real value.
Inflated "original" prices that make discounts appear larger than they are - the item was never sold at that price
Discounts on items you don't need or won't use - saving 50% on something unnecessary is still wasting money
Sales that happen so frequently the "regular" price is rarely charged - the sale price is the real price
Clearance items that are damaged, defective, final sale, or outdated models without proper disclosure
Discounts that require buying more than you need - buying 3 to get 30% off when you only need 1
Low-quality items marked down from artificially high prices - the discounted price is still overpriced
A 55" TV originally priced at $800 is on sale for 40% off during Black Friday:
Result: Pay $480 | Save $320
A jacket costs $120. There's a 30% store-wide sale plus you have a 15% coupon:
Result: Pay $71.40 | Save $48.60
Shoes are $80 each with a Buy One Get One 50% Off promotion:
Result: Pay $120 for 2 pairs | Save $40 (25% off)
Store offers: Spend $100 get 15% off, Spend $150 get 25% off. Your cart is $145:
Result: Smart to add $5 item for better discount tier
| Original Price | 10% Off | 25% Off | 50% Off | 75% Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $18 | $15 | $10 | $5 |
| $50 | $45 | $37.50 | $25 | $12.50 |
| $100 | $90 | $75 | $50 | $25 |
| $200 | $180 | $150 | $100 | $50 |
| $500 | $450 | $375 | $250 | $125 |
| $1,000 | $900 | $750 | $500 | $250 |
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