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10 Things to Always Buy in October

These purchases are even sweeter when bought in October.

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Updated Sept. 29, 2024
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October is a month full of scares. But it can also be a great time to save money shopping. In fact, you’ll likely find deep discounts on products for inside and outside of your home in October.

You may want to start looking now, given that some of the bigger deals are offered toward the beginning of the month.

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Appliances

Nomad_Soul/Adobe washing machines in store

October may be a really good time to buy an appliance you’ve been putting off this year. New models typically come out in November, so stores are probably looking to give you a deal to get rid of the older ones they want to move.

In fact, you’ll likely see discounts at some major stores up to 40% or more. Keep in mind it’s still helpful to shop around to find the best deals.

Vehicles

littlewolf1989/Adobe car dealership showroom interior with brand new vehicles for sale

Speaking of pushing the old models out, October is another good time to buy a new vehicle. It’s the month when many new models start arriving at dealerships. That means they’re looking to move the older models and may offer you a good deal on a vehicle.

Take a look for yourself — go online and visit a few dealers in your area and you may discover a great deal on a vehicle that fits your lifestyle.

Winter outerwear

OlegDoroshin/Adobe winter jackets on store hangers

You’ve probably heard before that the end of a season is a good time to buy clothes. By October, many of the sales on summer clothes have come to an end. But, this is the time to start looking at winter items like coats and hats.

October is when those items have the earliest sales. They’re meant to get customers to start thinking about winter clothes during a time when some warm weather may be sticking around.

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Home improvement products

NOWRA photography/Adobe putting things on a trolley

October is a good month to buy some simple home improvement products. You should be checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly, and if you need new ones October usually brings good deals on these items, along with thermostats.

You may want to avoid combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and purchase them separately, given that those perform better in consumer testing.

Cooktops and ranges

Mihail/Adobe woman buying cooking range in store

October tends to be a month with some of the best deals on larger items for your home. That means October may be your month to grab cooktops and ranges. Again, if you can wait until around Columbus Day, you may be able to find the best deals.

These items can be quite pricey, so it makes sense to take advantage of big deals and discounts in October.

Outdoor furniture and grills

Sharkshock/Adobe preassembled grills and smokers

Why not use October as a month to upgrade your outdoor patio and yard? You’re likely to see big markdowns on summer items like outdoor furniture and grills. Retailers want to move these items out ahead of winter and before new stuff arrives ahead of spring.

While you’re at it, perhaps check out the garden center for perennials. Early October can be a good time to get big deals on flowering plants that you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Outdoor tools

Ivan Traimak/Adobe garden equipment shop

October is usually a good time to find deals on outdoor items like leaf blowers, snow blowers and chainsaws. Since these things can sometimes be expensive, it’s good to check out prices and deals in October.

You may think that the best deals on snow blowers would be after winter, but they’re among the most deeply discounted products in October.

Halloween items

Mireia/Adobe Plastic Halloween pumpkins

This can be a bit tricky. Since Halloween doesn’t come until the end of the month, you may need to search around for deals. If you’re willing to wait until the end of the month, retailers usually offer deals so they move stuff off the shelves before the calendar changes to November.

That means you may want to hold off until it’s very close to Halloween to grab candy, decorations, and costumes.

Mattresses

LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe partial view of woman sitting on mattress in furniture shop

Columbus Day is typically a time to find great deals on mattresses. It may be an ideal time to snag a good deal and find a comfy, warm mattress to put in place just in time for cooler weather.

Stores tend to run their mattress sales ahead of and just after the actual holiday, so perhaps note October 14 on the calendar and remember to shop ahead of the holiday.

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Tacos and desserts

Анастасія Стягайло/Adobe various desserts and cakes

Doesn’t it seem like each day brings a new opportunity to celebrate a certain food? Well, October is a time for tacos and desserts. With National Taco Day on October 1 and National Dessert Day on October 14, October can be full of delicious deals.

Local and national restaurants may offer taco and dessert discounts. You can look for signs and check out their websites and social media accounts.

Bottom line

Kenishirotie/Adobe woman with blue color shopping cart

You can find big discounts on products beyond mattresses and cars in October. It’s a great month to score deals on things you need around the house to help you stretch your paycheck.
Keep an eye on the mail and social media during October. Stores tend to offer some big, but limited time, sales during the month.


Author Details

Chris Adam

Chris Adam is a seasoned personal finance, technology, and general assignment journalist. As a broadcast and digital journalist, he's served as a leader in network and local newsrooms. Some of his favorite topics to write about include investing, shopping, retail, and stocks.