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13 Purchases You Should Never Make in September

Some September shopping may be better at other times of the year.

holding shopping bags
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
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You can get some great finds when you shop in September, but you can also overspend on other items.

In fact, you may find it’s better to not shop for some things in September or risk “falling” for bad deals to start autumn.

Check your shopping list and find ways to save money shopping by skipping these products and getting them during a different month.

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Electronics

Nomad_Soul/Adobe TV in electronics store

You may be excited to get new electronics, but it’s probably smart to hold off on buying that smartphone just yet.

Electronics are a big sale item for Black Friday in November, so if you don’t need it now, consider putting off purchasing a television, computer, or other electronics until the big sales after Thanksgiving.

Fall clothes

grki/Adobe couple enjoying fall

It might be time to update your wardrobe, but you should hold off buying new fall clothes until later in the season.

Check your favorite stores later in the fall when their seasonal clothing is on sale, and you can get better deals than when you buy it early in the season.

Anything pumpkin spice

Outlier Artifacts/Adobe woman holding pumpkin spice latte

It’s pumpkin spice season, which means there are plenty of items with pumpkin spice, from candy to candles to anything else that can handle a little fall spice flavor.

But September is when all those pumpkin spice items roll out at peak prices, so see if you can hold off until later in the season when prices come down.

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Amazon devices

kyrychukvitaliy/Adobe E-book device on beach

Amazon is known to offer deep discounts on devices like Kindles when its special sales come around throughout the year.

Amazon just announced that it plans to have a set of Prime Big Deal Days in October when you can get those devices at a deep discount, so wait a month and check out your options then.

Apple products

H_Ko/Adobe holding apple iphone

Apple is expected to hold an event this fall to roll out its latest new products and updates.

Hold off purchasing products if you’ve been in the market for things like a new iPhone or Apple Watch. If you wait until these new products come to market, you can get the newest model when it’s available or pick up an older model at a discount.

Halloween decorations

Courtesy of Target throw pillow halloween decoration target

Halloween can be an exciting time to decorate your home to make it spooky, but the price tag could be scary if you buy your decorations in September.

Instead, consider waiting until early November, which is after the holiday. Stores will have deep discounts on Halloween decorations that you can stock up on for next year and treat yourself to something nice with the money you save.

Car

Zoriana/Adobe Man buying a new car

Car companies traditionally roll out their new models in October, which creates a big changeover for dealers. That changeover can work to your advantage with deep discounts in October to get the old inventory off the lot.

It may be a good idea to hold off buying a new car in September and wait a month until you can get a better deal and keep some cash in your pocket.

Winter gear

OlegDoroshin/Adobe winter jackets on store hangers

You may want to prepare for the winter and start stocking up on jackets and boots, but being too early could cost you money.

Hold off on outdoor gear until more comes in stock, so you have more options and a wider variety of price points when deciding how you want to bundle up for the winter.

Specific school supplies

chas53/Adobe Backpack With School Supplies on countertop

Most kids are back in school by September, so school supplies have been picked over, and you’re probably too late to get the specific things on your school supply list.

On the other hand, it could be a good time to get discounts on school supplies, but you’ll need lots of flexibility as you pick over the leftovers that are heavily marked down as stores try to move them out.

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Halloween costumes

pingpao/Adobe girls in halloween costumes

Halloween can be a fun activity for everyone — in October.

Stores may only start to bring out their costumes in September, which means you may not find the best selection, and they won’t be marked down yet. So wait until you have more options and see if you can get a discount if you want to take a chance and buy one a few days before the holiday.

Anything from Target

Brenda Blossom/Adobe Target Store logo on smartphone screen

Target shoppers can save money by signing up for Target’s loyalty program to get discounts throughout the year.

However, one of the best times to get deep discounts at Target is during Target Circle Week in October. So make a list of items you need at Target, but don’t actually buy them until October when you can save more.

Anything from Walmart

JHVEPhoto/Adobe Pearland Texas walmart from outside

Like Target, Walmart also has a huge sales event that gives customers the chance to find extra discounts, and like Target, that event is in October.

So keep your wallet in your pocket and wait until October to get extra discounted items at Walmart.

Traditional Black Friday purchases

VadimGuzhva/Adobe Friends shopping

Retailers are starting to plan out their peak sales in November in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and then their big sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so they may be holding off on sales in September.

Instead, spend September making a list of things you want to buy yourself or others that will likely be discounted in November.

Bottom line

Ngampol/Adobe woman using car for online shopping

You can keep more cash in your wallet by timing your purchases throughout the year so keep track of the best — and worst — months to buy items.

It’s a good idea to look at your budget and consider which purchases you need to make now and which you can save until later, especially for big-ticket items.

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Author Details

Jenny Cohen

Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.