What to buy (and skip) in October
This month, you probably have costumes, candy, decorations and pumpkins on your list of things to buy, not to mention fall clothes and household supplies. There’s a lot to purchase, but shopping for the season doesn’t mean you have to spend a scary amount.
We’ve put together a guide of everything you should buy (and skip) in October so you can snag the sales and avoid paying full price.
Buy: Jeans
Historically, October has been one of the best times to buy jeans. The cold-weather staples have been on shelves since back-to-school season and retailers are now starting to discount them.
The autumn deals on denim have already begun as October approaches. So far, we’ve spotted buy one, get one 50% off jean promotions at stores like Express and American Eagle Outfitters. Buy your jeans this month to expand your wardrobe without breaking the bank.
Skip: Toys
Halloween hasn’t even arrived yet, but you may already be thinking about the holiday shopping season — and holiday toy season. Wal-Mart has released its 2016 holiday toy list and Toys R Us has unveiled its 2016 Hot Toy List.
If you want to pay the lowest possible price for this year’s new gizmos and gadgets for your children, wait until December. Retailers usually discount toys close to Christmas. In 2015, Amazon offered sweeping toy discounts in the weeks preceding Dec. 25. So if your son or daughter is OK without having a shiny new Star Wars figurine right now, come December you might be able to give both Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.
Buy: All things outdoors
Most people head indoors when the weather cools down, but October is a good time to focus your shopping on the outdoors. We’re talking about camping gear, patio furniture, outdoor living essentials and more.
Prices on outdoor products tend to be highest when demand is highest. But with summer becoming a distant memory, now is the time to act if you need new camping supplies.
For example, Cabela’s is hosting a 40% off sale on camp furniture. At Lowe’s, Weber Genesis gas grills are now $100 off.
Skip: Electronics
We recommend that you hold off on picking up that new laptop, tablet or HDTV for a little while longer. The best time of the year for electronics deals, Black Friday, is just around the corner. You’ve waited this long, so keep up that discipline until the post-Thanksgiving deal blitz arrives Nov. 25.
In 2015, Black Friday was a blowout. Wal-Mart sold a 50-inch TV for $269. Best Buy took up to $125 off the iPad Air 2. Target slashed Beats headphones by more than $100. Deals are expected to rival these levels again in 2016, especially for shoppers who get in line early.
Buy: Halloween candy
In 2015, shoppers who celebrated Halloween planned to spend a total of $2.1 billion dollars on candy alone, according to the National Retail Federation. If you’re one of these spooky celebrants, you are likely to be looking to buy candy in bulk again this year.
We recommend waiting until the end of October to make your purchase. Also, consider bulk candy retailers like Costco or Oriental Trading Co. to lower your average cost per unit.
Skip: Cleaning supplies
If you need a new vacuum cleaner or other floor care device, don’t act this month. You can expect deep vacuum and cleaning supply sales in late November or early spring. For instance, last Black Friday, we saw big sales on major vacuum brands from stores like Target, Best Buy and Costco.
Shop: Columbus Day weekend sales
This Oct. 10, shoppers can commemorate the day that Columbus set sail by sailing straight into a weekend full of deals. Department stores in particular are known to host sales in the days leading up to Columbus Day. If you can, reserve many of your non-Halloween purchases for that weekend.
Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.
