Consumer News: After-Christmas sales playbook: what to buy and how to find the real deals

Learn to shop Ross like a pro (and stop wasting time)

• Shop early and often: Ross Dress for Less turns over inventory quickly, so weekday mornings, especially Monday and Tuesday, give you the best shot at fresh deals.
• Dont shop by size alone: The best finds are often misplaced, so check nearby racks and dig past the front.
• Target high-value sections: Shoes and accessories usually offer the biggest discounts grab them before theyre gone.

Shopping at Ross Dress for Less can either feel like a goldmineor a complete waste of time.

Some people walk out with $200 worth of name-brand gear for $60. Others leave frustrated after digging through messy racks for 45 minutes. The difference isnt luck. Its strategy.

Ross operates very differently than traditional retail. If you understand how their pricing, inventory, and markdown system actually works, you can consistently find deals most shoppers miss.

First: How Ross pricing actually works (this explains a lot)

Ross isnt running sales like a normal store does.

Instead, the store is built on more of an opportunistic buying model. The products you find on their shelves and racks are typically one of the following:

• Excess inventory from big brands
• Cancelled orders from department stores
• Past-season merchandise
• Overproduction directly from manufacturers

Thats why youll regularly see:

• Top brands like Nike, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, etc.
• Consistent pricing 20%60% below department store pricing

But the key difference is that Ross will rarely, if ever, restock the same item.

They tend to buy small batches, sell them fast, and move on.

Thats why youll notice:

• Inventory is constantly changing
• Sizes are very inconsistent
• Deals disappear quickly

Once you understand that, your entire approach should change.

The #1 mindset shift: Ross is not a storeits a system

Most people lose money at Ross because they:

• Go in looking for something specific
• Get frustrated
• Then impulse-buy something else

Thats backwards. Instead, Ross rewards:

• Flexibility
• Patience
• Repetition

Think of it this way, youre not necessarily shopping for super-specific items at Ross, but instead you win by looking for the best values.

The best days and times to shop Ross

Most people lose money at Ross because they walk in looking for something specific, get frustrated, then often impulse-buy something else.

Instead, you have to be flexible, patient, and learn to time your purchases.

Specifically, the best time to shop is right after new inventory hits the shelves. Ross receives shipments multiple times per week and most stocking happens in the morning.

From having talked to many Ross employees over the years, weekday mornings, particularly early in the week (on a Monday or Tuesday)is the best time to shop.

This is because a lot of restocking happens on Mondays, as stores try to replenish from weekend sales. Many stores also do their new clearance markdowns on Monday and Tuesday when the store is less crowded.

So, if at all possible, hit your local Ross on Monday, a couple hours after opening, through Tuesday, and youll be able to shop fresh inventory (and deals) before they get picked over.

Pro tip: If you leave this article only remembering one thing, it should be shop Ross more often, not for longer. Instead of one long trip, savvy Ross shoppers make quick, frequent visits, and look for new inventory and fresh clearance markdowns.

Aged 55 or older? Gotta shop on a Tuesday

Not only will you get first dibs on new inventory on a Tuesday, but if youre 55 or older, youll also save an additional 10% off everything you buy.

There's also no sign-up required to get their senior discount. All you need to do is flash your ID at check-out, and Ross will happily give you an extra 10% off.

Where the best deals are hiding inside the store

Ross isnt built for easy shopping. Its built to move inventory fast. Stuff comes in, stuff goes out, and nobodys carefully organizing it in between. That chaos? Thats where the savings live if you know how to work it.

1. The wrong-size racks (this is where the gold is)

People grab a medium, hold it up to look at it, decide its not right for them and often toss it wherever theyre standing. Very rarely does someone walk it back to the right rack.

So now youve got:

• Smalls hiding in larges
• Premium brands mixed into random sections
• Clearance-level deals sitting in plain sight just in the wrong spot

If youre only shopping your exact size rack, youre missing a huge chunk of inventory.

What to do instead:

• Always scan the rack one size upand one size downfrom your actual size.
• Check racks right next to your section (especially those endcaps).
• Look for higher-quality fabrics or brands first, then check for your size.

From shopping at Ross over the years, Ive found that a lot of my best finds felt more like mistakes. Because they are.

Pro tip: Buy now, decide later. Because the good stuff at Ross disappears quickly, when you find a good deal, buy it and decide at home. Ross has a generous 30-day return window which gives you plenty of time to try it on at home when youre not rushed.

2. The back of racks (where patience pays off)

Most Ross shoppers shop like this: Quick glance grab whats in front move on

That means the front of every rack gets picked over fast. Whats left behind or shoved back?

Usually, the better stuff that just didnt catch someones eye in twoseconds.

Youll find:

• Name brands pushed behind generic items
• Nicer pieces hidden behind loud or outdated styles
• Out-of-season gems that people overlooked

If youre willing to actually dig, you instantly have less competition.

Simple rule: Dont trust the first fiveitems on any rack. Thats just what everyone else already rejected or skimmed.

Instead, try this:

• Slide hangers over and scan everything
• Look for quality (stitching, fabric, weight) instead of just style
• Take twoextra minutes per rack

This is the difference between Ross is picked over and Ross is amazing.

3. Shoes and accessories (highest ROI in the whole store)

If you only have 1015 minutes, skip the clothing entirely and go here.

Ross quietly crushes it in:

• Athletic shoes
• Brand-name sneakers
• Handbags and backpacks

Why this section matters more:

Clothing discounts are nice, but shoes and accessories often have the biggest price gaps vs retail.

Youll regularly see:

• $80$120 sneakers marked down to $30$50
• Recognizable brands that people specifically search for
• Items that hold resale value if you know what youre looking at

This is why resellers camp-out in this section.

How to shop it smarter:

• Check multiple sizes (people try on and ditch boxes everywhere)
• Look for slight box damage price is the same, product isnt
• Scan quickly for known brands before digging deeper

Even if you dont resell, this is where youll feel the biggest wow, thats cheap moments.

Pro tip: Learn your stores patterns by talking to employees. Every Ross location is slightly different. So, by starting up a friendly conversation, youll learn your stores exact restock schedule, clearance markdowndays, and the best days to shop.

Ford, Harley Davidson, and Roadtrek are part of this week's recall roundup

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From cheaper first dates to financial red flags, rising costs are reshaping modern romance in surprising ways

• Dating is getting more expensive and its changing behavior: Most singles say rising costs are leading them to go on fewer dates and think more carefully before making plans.

• Low-cost dates are no longer a turnoff: Simple ideas like coffee, walks, or staying in are increasingly seen as thoughtful even a green flag.

• Overspending can actually hurt your chances: Many singles view flashy spending or bragging about money as a red flag, with authenticity mattering more than price.

Dinner, drinks, maybe a movie dating used to feel pretty straightforward. But lately, romance has come with a price tag thats harder to ignore. As inflation pushes up the cost of everything from meals out to gas, more singles are rethinking how and even whether they date at all.

New research from DealSeek highlights just how much things have shifted. A majority of singles say dating has gotten more expensive in the past year, and many are going on fewer dates or opting for lower-cost alternatives instead. Whats emerging is a new kind of dating culture one where budgeting, financial transparency, and even couponing are becoming part of the equation.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Hailey Neff, Creative Strategist on behalf of DealSeek who explained that these financial pressures are quietly rewriting the rules of attraction, expectations, and what it means to make a connection.

How do finances impact dating?

Neff explained that the biggest shift in the dating scene is how often people are going out.

A lot of singles are doing the math now, she said. In our study, 71% said dating has gotten more expensive, and 40% said theyre going on fewer dates because of it.

So its not just noticing higher prices, its actually changing behavior. Dating feels a bit less casual than it used to. Even deciding whether to go on a date can feel like a budget choice.

Low-cost dating options

If youre on the dating scene, you can still pull out all the stops without breaking the bank.

About half of singles said suggesting a low-cost date is actually a green flag, and even things like using coupons are viewed positively by a lot of people now, Neff said. Thats a big shift from the old idea that you have to spend to impress. It really comes down to the thought behind the plan more than the price.

Here are some ideas for lower-cost date options:

• Coffee or a walk. These are still some of the easiest first dates because its low effort in a good way.

• Lean into things like local events, galleries, or outdoor plans. About 37% said theyve suggested free options like parks or community events just to keep costs down.

• Stay in instead of going out. Staying in is more common than people might expect. Cooking together or doing something simple at home can feel more natural than a big night out.

Most people think the expectation is higher than it actually is, Neff said. The majority want to keep a first date under $100, and more than half prefer under $75.

At the same time, trying too hard financially can backfire. Around 61% see overspending as a red flag, and nearly 8 in 10 say bragging about money is a turnoff. Its less about cutting corners and more about being real about it. A simple plan that feels considered usually lands better.

From mystery packages to parking meters, scammers are using everyday QR codes to steal personal information

• The USPS is warning about a rise in QR code , including mystery packages designed to trick people into scanning malicious codes.

• Scammers are placing fake QR codes in everyday placeslike parking meters, emails, and public signswhere people are used to scanning without thinking.

• Experts say the best defense is to slow down: check where the code came from, preview the link, and never enter personal or payment information unless youre sure its legitimate.

QR codes have quietly become part of everyday life used for everything from restaurant menus to package tracking. But now, that convenience is being turned against consumers.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is warning about a surge in mystery packages arriving at homes with QR codes inside, designed to lure people into scanning them. Its just one example of how scammers are evolving, placing malicious codes on everything from parking meters to emails that look legitimate.

ConsumerAffairs spoke with Sharat Potharaju, CEO & Co-Founder, Uniqode, to break down why QR-based have become so widespread, how these are evolving, and outline exactly what consumers need to do to protect themselves before scanning.

What do these look like?

Potharaju explained that one of the biggest challenges with QR is that they usually look like normal QR experiences at first glance which is also why theyre so effective.

They can appear on a public parking meter with a prompt to pay, on a restaurant menu that looks like it came from the business, or on a missed package note with a message asking you to fix a vague problem, he said. But theyre also showing up in emails, text messages, public signage, event posters, and other places where people have grown used to scanning.

Some warning signs to look for:

• If a QR code is on a sticker placed over another code, thats a clear risk.

• If it comes in an unexpected text or email and tells you to act quickly, thats another.

• Any QR code that opens an unfamiliar URL or uses a misspelled domain is suspicious.

• After the click-through, if youre taken to a page that immediately asks for sensitive information, thats a good moment to stop.

Ultimately, the simplest rule is to pause before tapping through, Potharaju said. They should ask themselves: Where am I scanning? Wheres this supposed to take me? Would this company really need this information from me?

Familiarity powers the

One of the reasons that these types of have become so popular is because theyre based around something thats very familiar to consumers.

Potharaju said that a recent Uniqode report found that 70% of consumers now scan QR codes at least once a month, 71% describe them as genuinely helpful in daily life, and 83% are now willing to share data after a scan.

That kind of adoption is great for legitimate businesses. But it creates a big opportunity for bad actors too, he said. The more common a behavior becomes, the easier it is for scammers to hide inside it.

This isnt a case of QR codes suddenly becoming unsafe. Its more that scammers follow consumer behavior. Email, text messages, and social platforms have all gone through the same pattern. QR codes are now going through it too.

Know how to protect yourself

With these gaining ground, knowing how to protect yourself is key.

Here are some of Potharajus best tips:

• Before scanning, the first question to ask is where the code came from. If its on a sign, menu, meter, package, or flyer, double-check whether it looks original or if something was stuck on afterward. And if it came by text or email, dont assume its safe just because the sender name looks familiar.

• If you do scan, pause at the link preview. The domain should look familiar and match the company or service you thought you were scanning for. If it looks strange, is spelled slightly wrong, or doesnt match the context, stop there.

• Avoid entering payment details, passwords, or personal information from a QR landing page unless the source is clear. If youre in doubt, use the companys app or type the website in yourself.

Its usually not the act of scanning itself, but what comes next, Potharaju said. If someone shares a password, payment information, or even worse, a Social Security number, through the wrong page, that information is out there. Then the risk can become fraudulent charges, account access, identity theft, or more targeted later. This can go on for quite some time too.

Thats why slowing down and checking where the page is taking you is so important.

Taco Tuesday just leveled up with great Cinco de Mayo deals

• Cinco de Mayo is stacked with cheap margaritas and food deals at spots like Chuy's, Chilis, and BJ's Brewhouse.

• The best freebies are app-based, like free chips and guac at Chipotle, 75 tacos at Jack in the Box, and a $1 nugget deal at Taco Bell.

• Local restaurants often beat chains with better taco prices, drink specials, and events so dont skip them.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) has quietly become one of the best days of the year to score discounted food and drinks.

And in 2026, it lands on a Tuesday, which basically means Taco Tuesday on steroids.

Heres where to find the best offers this year.

Baja Fresh

• Club Baja Rewards members get $5.55 off your $20+ order on May 4and 5
• Use code CINCO5 and you must order from their website to use the code.

BJs Brewhouse

This Cinco de Mayo, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is serving up $6 Brewhouse margaritas during two happy hour windows: from 37 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. until close.

Chilis

Chilis is offering its Tequila Classic Marg for only $5 for the holiday.

A new classic marg, this crowd pleaser is made with Cuervo Tradicional Blanco, triple sec, Chilis house-made sour, and garnished with a lime wedge.

Chipotle

• Get free chips and guac (or queso) with any entre purchase.
• Use code CINCO26 in the app or online.

This is one of the easiest freebies just order digitally.

Chuys

From May 1-5th, Chuy's is rolling out a lineup of festive deals on drinks and apps, including:

• $6 house margaritas
• $9 grande house margaritas
• $1 off all Mexican beers
• $5 queso bowls

Jack in the Box

• Get 2 tacos for just 75 on May 5
• Must order form the Jack app to get the deal.

Moes Southwest Grill

• Free queso with entre

This deal is exclusively for rewards members. If youre not a member, sign up ahead of time its completely free to join.

Ruby Tuesday

On May 5 only, you can score a burger (or sandwich) and fries for just $5.99.

Plus, you can get a Ruby-Rita with Hornitos Reposado tequila for just $6, as well as a bucket of Dos Equis lager for just $16.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a limited-time deal: the first 30,000 rewards members to claim it in the Taco Bell app can score a five-piece order of Diablo Dusted Crispy Chicken Nuggets for just $1.

The offer drops May 5 at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET), so timing matters.

7-Eleven

7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members can take $3 off select beers, including Modelo Especial, Coronita Extra, and Pacifico.

Local restaurants (dont skip these)

While national chains get all the attention on May 5th, dont ignore your local spots, as they often have:

• Cheaper tacos
• Better drink specials
• Live music and events

Also, in many cities, restaurants and food trucks are offering:

• Street taco deals
• Family-friendly events
• Food + entertainment combos

Translation: your best overall deal might actually be to dine local.