Presidents Day Sales 2016: the four best things to buy today

Presidents Day isn't just a time for thinking about US history, it's also a great opportunity to score everything from electronics to home appliances at deep discounts. 

Oh say, can you see, in malls and on websites, the star-spangled signs for Presidents Day sales? Most major retailers would have you believe that the sales this weekend are too big to miss, but that's not entirely true.

We hate to blow the whistle on the whole thing, but we here at Brad's Deals track prices on popular items all year long, and we know that the best deals don't necessarily coincide with this holiday weekend. Still, there are certainly sites worth visiting and items to look for. Here's what our editors think you should buy at this year's Presidents' Day Sales:

Furniture & Mattresses

We tend to see some of the lowest prices on furniture and mattresses this weekend, both in-store and online, and many retailers also offer free delivery. You can get up to 70% off furniture at JCPenney and take an extra 20% off with coupon code 2SAVNOW. Discounts on most items match the lowest prices we've seen yet, including an 86" microfiber sofa for $628 delivered.

We also found deep discounts at Designer Living, and you can get an extra 10-15% off already-discounted prices at Overstock. Check out mattress sets for as low as $200 at 1-800-Mattress. You can even find some pre-season sales on outdoor items, including up to 60% off plus an additional 15% off patio furniture at Kohl's.

Appliances

Prices on appliances will be lower this weekend than they have been in recent months, but they aren't the lowest we'll see all year. We've seen retailers jack up the list price on their appliances in order to advertise deeper discounts, so be mindful of the final price. If you can wait 2-3 months to get a new fridge, you're likely to find a better deal. Still, watch out for low prices on select appliances at Sears, Home Depot and Best Buy.

Winter Clearance Apparel

Have you seen the new Spring styles hitting stores and considered paying full price for a pair of shorts simply to perpetuate a delusion that warm weather will soon arrive? I hate to break it to you, but it's still cold here in Chicago and many other places around the country. It won't get warm in March. It won't even get warm in April. I'm not going to say anything about unpredictable rain showers in May, because I'm not trying to ruin anyone's day. My point is, you still need the things that are deeply discounted right now.

Maybe you've avoided getting that pair of trusty snow boots because you'd be hard-pressed to find a Sorel sale, and now you can get up to 50% off at Sorel.com and REI. Maybe you've been roughing it without a North Face parka or you're on the lookout for a lightweight jacket for Spring travel, like this men's ThermoBall jacket for just $99. Or maybe you need (want) to stock up on sweaters, which are an extra 30% off at Urban Outfitters, or take an extra 25% off already-discounted designer apparel at Nordstrom Rack. You're not likely to find the styles you want at a lower price than they are right now (unless you really luck out), so go ahead and fill in the gaps in your Winter wardrobe - you have our permission.

Another fashion tidbit from editor Nicole: "Plenty of big name brands are slashing their prices, from Tory Burch to Kate Spade. Those lucky enough to catch flash sales can also score some serious savings, so keep your eyes peeled."

Electronics

If you are in desperate need of a new TV, this weekend might be a good time to check out Best Buy or Walmart, but if you can wait until November, you'll likely find better deals and more choices around Black Friday. You can also get $100 off all models of the Apple Watch, and check out HP's Presidents Day sale if you're looking for a new laptop.

Rest assured, this weekend is not the only time you'll see prices this low, and you'll likely see similar sales even before Black Friday. President's Day is promoted as a shopping holiday, and all the major retailers jump on board, so you'll see a larger number of sales happening at once, but they aren't necessarily the best sales those stores will offer this year. Keep an eye out for the items we mentioned, especially if there's something you need right away. And remember, holiday weekend or not, we're still looking for the best deals we can find on these items, so check Brad's Deals throughout the year. We'll let you know when we find a spectacular sale that you shouldn't miss.

This article first appeared at Brad's Deals.