8 Things to Stock Up On in October (+ What to Wait to Buy)

There is so much to look forward to in October — pumpkin spice everything, sweater weather, Halloween, and of course, seasonal sales ripe for the picking. When considering what to stock up on in October, it’s all about taking advantage of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (and competing sales from Target and Walmart!) while biding your time until Black Friday in November.

We predict that you’ll find deals on Apple products, Alexa devices, toys, Halloween costumes, and brands like Dyson and Nespresso. Plus, now is the time to hit those summer clearance racks and really score some deep discounts. Along with clearance, Target will have 30% off women’s pants and sweaters for Circle members. We’ll likely see Walmart offering up deals on home goods like Shark vacuums, Keurig, TVs, and even some late-season patio furniture.

We’ve been tracking sales since 2009 and these are the items and product categories that often see hefty price cuts in October. For more smart shopping tips and savings hacks, text HACKS to 57299, and be sure to download the Krazy Coupon Lady app.

 

​​What to buy in October at the grocery store:

• Halloween candy (brands like Hershey’s and Mars)
• Frozen pizza (brands like DiGiorno and Red Baron)
• Cat food (and other supplies, like cat litter)

What to buy in October at the big box stores:

• TVs
• Alexa devices
• Halloween costumes
• Toys
• Summer clothes (shorts, t-shirts, sandals)
• Denim jeans and jackets
• Plants

What major October sales to shop:

• Amazon Prime Big Deal Days
• Target Circle Week
• Walmart Deals – Holiday Kickoff

 

Here’s what to buy in October sales.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

Like last year, the 48-hour event will put a spotlight on early Black Friday deals from brands like Peloton, New Balance, Caudalie, Murad, Philips Sonicare, Lego, Adidas, Furbo, and even Ashley Furniture. You can also expect discounts on Alexa devices, Hasbro toys, iRobot Roombas, KitchenAid, and Samsung, as well as heavy discounts on select Fire TV smart TVs.

Target Circle Week

Just like the July 2023 Circle Week, Target will drop exclusive discounts for Target Circle members, with savings of up to 40%. You’ll find a bunch of Circle Offers available during the event. Plus, Target is bringing back their ‘Deal of the Day’ program with deep daily discounts on top brands like Apple, Nespresso, Dyson, and Nintendo.

Walmart Deals – Holiday Kickoff

Walmart confirmed that their Deals for Days event — called “Walmart Deals – Holiday Kickoff” — will start on Monday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. ET. We’ve got a sneak peek of all the deals to expect. You’ll see prices slashed on the Apple Watch, Barbie Movie Dream House, 75″ Sony TV, Cricut Maker 3, and more. Expect Amazon to price-match these items.

 

What to stock up on in October.

1. Halloween Candy

Be prepared to buy enough to last for several months starting end of October through early November. We always see Halloween deals galore in late October, so it’s a great time to stock up for movie night treats and the like. Drugstores like Walgreens and CVS often mark their Halloween candy way down. I’m talking as much as 75% off. Learn more tips to save money on Halloween candy.

 

2. Frozen Pizza

Since October is National Pizza Month, you can expect tons of deals on frozen pizza. We’ve seen DiGiorno’s stuffed pizzas for $4.47 at Target and other brands like Red Baron and Tony’s on sale as well. Frozen pizza can be the ultimate weeknight gift this time of year when school, work, and extracurricular activities make schedules busy.

 

3. Cat Food

Cheap cat food routinely shows up during October. In fact, last year Amazon offered Blue Buffalo wet cat food for just $0.21 per can! Meow Mix dry cat food was as low as $1.73 per pound, also on Amazon.

Another cool thing Amazon did at the end of the month was offer a coupon for $25 off $80 worth of pet care. You could buy cat food, litter, and more.

Want deals right now? Look through these pet coupons.

 

 

4. Electronics

The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days will be Oct. 10 & 11, 2023. This is a super early Black Friday sale that you should pay attention to if you’re in the market for TVs, Ring doorbells, or Alexa devices.

Looking at some of the preview deals for the big October sales from Amazon, Target, and Walmart, you can expect to find deals on these items:

• Apple watches
• Laptops from HP and more
• AirPods
• TVs from Sony, Samsung, and Fire TVs

 

5. Halloween Costumes

Last year, Halloween costumes hit prices as low as $4 at Walmart and $10 at Costco. Best part? These prices showed up before the holiday. Start shopping the week prior to Halloween to find markdowns like these.

And if your kids don’t need a costume for Halloween this year, wait until after the holiday to scoop them up super cheap. Costumes make great dress-up gifts for young children. Bundle them together and give your child a costume chest for Christmas, or keep them on hand for playtime.

Related: Here’s when to expect all the Halloween clearance sales.

 

6. Summer Clearance Clothing and Jeans

Macy’s and JCPenney both offer huge summer clearance sales this month. If you want to do yourself a favor, buy summer clothes for the whole family to wear next year (just size up if you have little kids). And when I say jeans, I don’t just mean pants. Watch for sales on denim jackets during this sale, too! I found a women’s denim jacket for $13 last year, regularly $49.

Macy’s

Shop early in October to score some VIP sales savings at Macy’s. The coupon code VIP takes an additional 30% off select regular, sale, and clearance price clothing through Oct. 2, 2023. We also expect a Macy’s Friends and Family sale later in the month which will have discounts on clothing and shoes. You’ll also see jeans up to 72% off in the Macy’s F&F sale.

JCPenney

We’re already seeing swim trunks as low as $7 and clearance shoes from $4. Women’s jeans are as low as $8 and select shapewear is nearly 70% off. In 2022, JCPenney offered Buy One, Get One Free clearance apparel in October and we hope to see it again this year.

American Eagle

American Eagle also has their clearance sale in October with up to 80% off. The online selection is often better than what you’ll find in-store. Plus, you can filter things by size and easily see what’s available (and the discount). Aim to spend $19.99 or less on jeans and don’t forget that American Eagle lets you request a price adjustment if you find a lower price within 14 days.

 

 

7. 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.

Also, Whole Foods and Aldi offered air plants in Day of the Dead skull planters for dirt cheap. These were specialty items that only show up once a year.

 

8. Toys

As soon as stores put their holiday toy offerings on the shelves, I recommend buying. When it comes to toys — especially the hot toys of the year — you don’t really want to wait around for a big sale. Trendy toys sell out quickly and often aren’t restocked before the Christmas holiday.

Walmart, Amazon, and Target are always swift with toy catalogs and inventory, often getting their holiday offerings in stock and on the shelves before November. If you see something on your list, buy it!

 

What to Buy in October Honorable Mentions:

International Coffee Day: Oct. 1

Just two days after National Coffee Day, watch for coffee deals to keep pouring in (see what I did there?) for International Coffee Day. Many restaurants and coffee shops offer cheap and discounted coffee during this time.

National Pizza Month: Throughout October

National Pizza Month is all of October and National Sausage Pizza Day is October 11. Both are excellent reasons to expect pizza deals. From Oct. 3 – 31, California Pizza Kitchen customers who dine in-restaurant and order a pizza will get a voucher to redeem on their next visit for a free Take & Bake pizza (reg. $17.99 – $18.99) to bring home. They can choose from CPK’s cheese, pepperoni, and Original BBQ Chicken varieties.

National Taco Day: Oct. 4

Based on what we saw last year, watch for free taco coupons from California Tortilla, $1 off tacos at Chronic Tacos, and 10 mini tacos for $2 at 7-Eleven on National Taco Day.

Halloween: Oct. 31

I definitely recommend scouting out free and cheap food on Halloween! Top places that have offered deals in the past:

• Chipotle: Wear a costume and get a discounted burrito
• Krispy Kreme: Wear a costume and get a free Halloween donut
• IHOP: Free Scary Face Pancake
• Outback Steakhouse: Free kids meal with a promo code

 

Wait until November for…

If you miss out on Prime Big Deal Days or the other big sales with things to buy in October, hold off on buying appliances and electronics. Large appliances and TVs will likely have big discounts during Black Friday sales which will begin just a few weeks later.