The first big holiday of 2021 is finally here Memorial Day, also known as the unofficial start of summer, is the perfect opportunity to save on 4K TVs, kitchen appliances, outdoor furniture, and more The holiday is also known for its mattress discounts

In fact, Memorial Day mattress sales tend to offer the lowest prices of the year on everything from the best mattresses to organic bed sheets We outline our best tips for getting the best price possible on this holiday

Look for dollar-off discounts, not percentages: One way to get the best deal possible is to look for dollar discounts, not percentages Retailers will try to get your attention with fancy slogans like "50% off," but the real discount comes down to how much money you can save Look at the original price of the mattress and the discounted price to see how much you can save Also, remember that mattress prices vary depending on the size of the mattress and whether it is memory foam or hybrid

Always look for coupons: on Memorial Day, almost all mattress retailers offer coupons So it pays to search the retailer's website to see if there are any coupons available before making a purchase Alternatively, you can initiate a live chat with customer support and ask if they have any valid coupons that you can use to lower the price of the mattress you want to purchase Helix, for example, has a number of coupons that can be used to save $100 to $200 off the purchase price

Don't be persuaded by early deals: Stores often hold "Memorial Day Bargains" in early May However, as a shopper, you don't want to buy something and then see the price drop just two weeks later To avoid this, check the expiration date of the bargain For example, the $500 discount on Tempur-Pedic is valid through June 7 This means that it is highly unlikely that the Memorial Day sale will take place on May 31 By comparison, Leesa's $500 discount will end soon This means that more aggressive discounts from Leesa are likely to be offered in the next few days

Find the best possible guarantee: In-person shopping is making a comeback in many states, but buying online is still faster and easier than in-person shopping The downside of shopping for a mattress online is that you cannot touch and try the mattress before you buy it Fortunately, many mattress manufacturers offer extended trial periods with warranties of 10 years or more Nectar, for example, offers a 365-night home trial with a lifetime warranty To be fair, not all retailers are as generous, but it is worth looking into the warranty and return policy of the mattresses you are interested in

Look for freebies on purchases: dollar-off discounts are great, but nothing beats saving money and getting extras with your purchase Dreamcloud traditionally offers a comprehensive set of freebies with the purchase of a mattress This includes a free mattress protector, sheet set, and luxury pillow In total, you get $399 in accessories at no extra charge