5 Best Things To Buy Before the End of 2026

Laptops, glasses and other purchases your life already revolves around may be worth buying before 2026 ends. Some may rise in price by 2027, while others come with benefits or discounts you could miss by waiting.

Here are five purchases to consider making this year, but only if you already need them and they fit your budget.

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1. A Laptop or Smartphone

If your laptop is struggling to load basic programs or your phone has a cracked screen, watch for holiday sales instead of assuming electronics will get cheaper next year.

Technology research firm Gartner expects average PC prices to be 17% higher and smartphone prices 13% higher in 2026 than in 2025. Rising memory and solid-state drive costs are partly to blame as AI data centers compete for components also used in consumer devices.

Rising component costs could keep laptop and smartphone prices elevated into 2027. If you’ve been itching to replace a phone with a cracked screen or a painfully slow laptop, a 2026 holiday sale may be the time to finally do it.

2. FSA-Eligible Health Expenses

If you have money left in a health flexible spending account, check your balance and plan deadline before the year ends.

FSAs generally follow a use-it-or-lose-it rule, according to the IRS. Your employer may let you carry up to $680 into 2027 or offer a grace period of up to 2.5 months, also per the IRS. Some plans offer neither.

Prescription glasses, contact lenses, dental care, over-the-counter medications and menstrual-care products are some of the expenses that might qualify. Confirm eligibility with your plan before you make a health-related purchase. The goal is to use the benefit for something you need, not load up on products that will sit untouched.

3. A Discounted 2026 Vehicle

The arrival of 2027 models may create deals for buyers who do not care about having the newest model year.

Manufacturer incentives for non-electric vehicles were up 22.2% year over year in July, according to a J.D. Power and GlobalData forecast. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) also said Labor Day and year-end typically bring some of the largest incentives.

The best deals may be limited to certain models, trims or locations. Look at the final price and financing costs before signing. Thousands off the sticker price won’t save you money if the loan has a high rate or a payment your budget can’t handle.

4. Planned Business Equipment

If you have been working around a slow computer, broken desk chair or another piece of equipment that needs replacing, buying it before the year ends could provide a tax benefit along with the upgrade.

For businesses using the calendar tax year, equipment must generally be ready for use by Dec. 31 to count toward a 2026 Section 179 deduction, according to the IRS. If you order a laptop on New Year’s Eve and receive it in January, it generally won’t qualify for 2026.

For office furniture, Caitlin Agnew-Francis, commercial sales manager at Desky, recommended checking the fit and warranty instead of choosing the biggest markdown. A cheap chair is no bargain if it hurts your back or needs replacing next year.

Buy what your business already needs and ask a tax professional whether deducting it in 2026 makes sense. A deduction may lower your taxable income, but it doesn’t make the purchase free.

5. Discounted Household Staples

Holiday promotions may be a good time to stock up on coffee, chocolate, personal-care products and other shelf-stable favorites.

Coffee prices were 12.9% higher in June than a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Department of Agriculture expects prices for sugar and sweets, including most chocolate candy, to rise 7.2% during 2026.

Check the unit price against what you normally pay and stock up only on products your household regularly uses.

Pro Tip: Buy Only What Already Makes Sense

No discount is worth dipping into your savings for something you don’t need. But if the purchase replaces something that is falling apart or helps avoid a larger expense later, buying before year-end might be the move.

Christina Mehltretter, certified public accountant (CPA) and financial advisor with Carolinas Financial and Retirement Planning, recommended considering how a large purchase fits into your broader financial goals. If the sale itself created the desire to buy, passing on it may be the better choice.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.