There's so much to look forward to in October: pumpkin spice everything, sweater weather, Halloween deals, and of course, the early Black Friday sales. When considering what to stock up on in October, it’s all about taking advantage of the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (and the competing Prime Day sales from Target and Walmart) while biding your time until Black Friday in November.
Along with the big pre-holiday sales, watch for end-of-season pricing on plants and outdoor clearance — I'm talking 75% off. You can also start your holiday shopping early with up to 50% off Christmas trees, deals on beauty gifts and stocking stuffers, as well as discounts on this year's hottest toys before they're out of stock.
The Biggest October Sales to Shop
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days — Oct. 7 - 8
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is typically THE sale in October. This 48-hour event puts a spotlight on early holiday deals. You’ll find thousands of discounts across tons of different items, including Amazon Echo devices, Apple AirPods, TVs, smartphones, robot vacuums, home decor, and toys.
Target Circle Week — Oct. 5 - 11
During Target Circle Week, you’ll find tons of offers for Circle members only: 20% - 50% off thousands of different products such as home goods, apparel, and toys. Plus, they'll have daily deals for Target Circle members each day of the sale. And you can make Target coupons and deals even better with your 5% Circle Card discount.
Walmart Deals Event — Oct. 7 - 12
The Walmart Holiday Deals event in October is the official start to the holiday shopping season at Walmart. It kicks off at midnight ET on Oct. 7 on Walmart.com. A paid Walmart Plus membership does give you early access to the online deals a few hours before everyone else, at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 6.
What to Stock Up on in October
Now that we know which sales to shop, here's what should be on your October shopping list. We’ve been tracking these sales since 2009, and these are the items and product categories that often see hefty price cuts in October, making now the best time to buy.
$5 and $10 Halloween Costumes
Early in October, I see stores offer $5 and $10 Halloween costumes. These are typically generic costumes or accessory kits, but they're at the lowest prices you'll find all season while the selection is still good. You do have to act fast, because the super-affordable costumes go quickly.
Tech Deals on Apple, Amazon Devices, and More
I know Black Friday deals are right around the corner, but if you're in the market for new tech for the holiday season, now's also a great time to pounce. Prime Big Deal Days, Target Circle Week, and Walmart Holiday Deals sales are all full of early-season deals on phones, accessories, smart devices, and more.
During these pre-holiday sales, we usually see deals on the following items:
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AirPods
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iPads
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Fire Sticks
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Echo Devices
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iPhone Chargers
Hot Toys for Christmas
It might seem a little early to start shopping for Christmas gifts, but let me tell you, it's not. When it comes to toys — especially the hottest toys of the year — you don’t really want to wait around hoping for a bigger sale. Trendy toys sell out quickly and often aren’t restocked before the Christmas holiday.
Fall and Clearance Plants
At the end of September and into October, Lowe’s has a huge plant clearance sale where you can get everything from mums to succulents on sale for up to 75% off. We’ve seen plants as low as $1 already this year.
Beauty Sets and Stocking Stuffers
Toys aren't the only gifts you can grab early. I start to see beauty deals on gift sets and stocking stuffers on sale in October at Ulta, Sephora, Bath & Body Works, and Target. Use these gift sets to save up to 30% on brands you already use and love, especially brands that rarely go on sale like Drybar, Grande Cosmetics, and more.
Christmas Trees
Yes, you read that correctly. Christmas tree sales start as early as October. Watch for a Target Circle Week deal to get up to 50% off artificial Christmas trees. And if Target has them, you know Amazon, Walmart — and possibly even Home Depot and Lowe's — will have them on sale too. Aim for at least 50% off, or wait for later-season sales.
October Holidays and Freebies
National Taco Day — Oct. 7
National Taco Day is always the first Tuesday of October, so we have an official Taco Tuesday every year. Celebrate with deals from Taco Bell, El Pollo Loco, Del Taco, and more.
National First Responders Day — Oct. 28
National First Responders Day honors firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other first responders with freebies at national chain restaurants all day long. These range in value from free cookies to free entrees. Most of the deals don’t require any purchase, but they do require you to present your ID.
Halloween Food Deals — Oct. 31
The most common Halloween food deals I see each year are free or discounted kids' meals with the purchase of an adult entree, BOGO offers on popular menu items, and free desserts or treats for customers in costume.
Wait Until November For ...
We see better deals on some things during Black Friday sales. Save your pennies and wait until November for these items:
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TVs
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Kids' Winter Coats
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Gift Cards
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