This post comes from Benjamin Glaser at partner site Dealnews.com.
October can be a precarious month for shoppers. Although it’s packed with respectable sales thanks to Columbus Day and Halloween, it’s also the month when we first see Black Friday ads and leaks. As a result, some shoppers may feel the need to abstain from making any purchases this month.
But we’re here to tell you that October is actually a great month for some purchases, as long as you’re making the right ones. Below, we’ve created a list of seven items you should buy this month, alongside a list of seven items that will be cheaper in November. That way you know you’re getting the most out of your buck.
If you’re putting off any of the following purchases because you think you’ll score a better deal next month, then think again! These items are at their hottest this month.
Best buys in October
1. Cars
October is traditionally one of the best months to purchase a new car. By now, hundreds of 2017 models have entered the market, and dealerships are more eager than ever to clear out 2016’s inventory. That means consumers have the upper hand when it comes time to negotiate. According to MarketWatch, the longer you wait to buy a new car, the greater the bargain you’ll find. However, don’t wait too long; by November and December, selection can become an issue. So head to the dealership now!
2. Costumes
Make no mistake, the best time to buy a Halloween costume is on the day after Halloween, when retailers discount all of their unsold costumes by as much as 75 percent with stackable coupons and free shipping. However, most people don’t buy their costumes that far in advance, so the second-best time to purchase one is during the week before Halloween.
That week, you’ll find sales that range from 20 percent to 70 percent off from retailers like Spirit Halloween, Oriental Trading and Hot Topic. On Oct. 29 last year, Amazon even offered free one-day shipping while slashing up to 70 percent off costumes.
Gamers should also take note that for the past few years Steam has been holding its own Halloween sale, taking up to 90 percent off a selection of horror- and zombie-based video games like The Walking Dead and Plants vs. Zombies, with prices starting as low as 19 cents.
3. European vacations
According to travel expert Rick Steves, October can be an excellent time to book a European vacation, since October is the start of Europe’s off-season. That means travelers will “find more budget rooms, spend less time in lines, and meet more Europeans than tourists.”
Combined with a strong dollar, that means travelers can expect to have an overall better vacation experience while saving money on the side.
4. Patio furniture
New patio furniture is probably the last thing on your shopping list this month, but the truth is October can be a great time for patio furniture deals. Retailers are desperately clearing out their inventory, so look for up to 70 percent off at Sears, Target and eBay, as well as stackable coupons that will increase savings.
5. 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTVs
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Black Friday is the best time of the year to purchase a new HDTV. However, in years past, we’ve noticed that 55-inch sets didn’t drop much in price. That’s because this category size has hit a price plateau, meaning retailers have discounted them as much as they’re willing to.
You can currently find deals on 55-inch HDTVs for about $400, which is the same price we’re predicting for Black Friday. So if you’re in the market for a TV in this size range, you might as well purchase it this month, as it won’t drop significantly next month. Moreover, by making your purchase this month, you can shop at your leisure and avoid the stress of shopping during the holidays.
6. Jeans
Back-to-school sales have come and gone, but certain back-to-school items — such as denim — are still on sale with deals that won’t get any better. Last year, Amazon discounted designers like Lucky Brand and 7 For All Mankind, cutting 50 percent off and offering free shipping. Levi’s had its own sale, cutting up to 75 percent off.
Come November, these discounts won’t be as strong, or if they are, they’ll have certain purchase or shipping requirements. So your best bet is to shop now and enjoy the same discounts without the purchase requirements.
7. Camping gear
Although you won’t find sales on winter sports gear, October is still a great month for deals on end-of-season outdoor gear like water sports and hiking equipment. Shop Backcountry Outlet, CampSaver Outlet and Cabela’s for sales that knock from 40 percent to 60 percent off select merchandise. While it’s likely you’ll see similar sales in November, the sales are more frequent in October and come with no minimum purchase requirements.
Wait Until Black Friday to Buy …
While there are some great deals in October, there’s no denying that November is a month full of stunningly low prices on a variety of electronics and other goods. Below we’ve focused on some of the bigger Black Friday deals that you should plan to buy in November.
1. Appliances
Although appliance manufacturers tend to release their new models in September and October, it turns out that November is actually the better month for deals on large appliances. That’s because many of these items will be deeply discounted for Black Friday as stores like Home Depot, Sears and Lowe’s kick off their site-wide sales. Our deal archives show that November will on average offer more than twice as many appliance deals than we see during any other month of the year.
Also, roughly 16 percent of our November appliance deals were marked Editors’ Choice last year. By comparison, only 4 percent are marked as such during October.
2. Winter apparel
As a general rule of thumb, you should never buy apparel that’s in-season because you’ll wind up paying higher prices for it. However, Black Friday is the exception. Every clothing retailer from Macy’s to J.Crew will discount its cold weather apparel and accessories, which means it’s worth waiting until November to refresh your stock of sweaters, hats and gloves. Expect apparel retailers to offer their best coupons of the year with discounts that can take up to 50 percent off or more from your purchase.
However, there’s an exception to the exception! Don’t look for big discounts on winter coats like parkas on Black Friday. The best deals for these come in January.
3. Most Apple devices
Retailers crushed the Apple Store’s Black Friday sale last November. And although we’re used to seeing that every year, last November was an exceptionally great month for Apple deals as we saw dozens of deals on Apple’s MacBook Air, iPad, iPhone, iMac and iPad mini. This year we expect to see a repeat, particularly on the 11-inch MacBook Air and iPad Air 2, which have not been refreshed recently. Deals on the iPhone 6 and 6s will also be hot, as the iPhone 7 is now the current-gen model.
4. Laptops
November is the best time of the year to buy a new laptop. If your budget is tight, you can expect to see 11-inch budget notebooks as low as $99, a price we’ve seen for the past several Black Fridays. If you require a more sophisticated machine with current-generation hardware, such as one of Intel’s latest processors, then you’ll want to look at 15-inch mainstream models, which could hit as low as $300. Expect to find these sales from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Staples.
5. HDTVs
HDTVs are the meat and potatoes of most Black Friday sales. For many screen sizes, you simply won’t find better deals any other time of the year. And with prices that start as low as $70 (for a 32-inch set), it’s no wonder most shoppers wait all year to buy their televisions in November. And if you think its only off-brand TVs that see discounts, think again. Last year we saw an increase in the number of name-brand 4K HDTV deals, and we can expect that to occur again this November.
6. General electronics
November is the best month of the year for making general electronics purchases. That means you’ll find price lows on tablets, cameras, home theater gear and media players. Unfortunately, there’s no way of guaranteeing that the specific device you want will go on sale next month, but the chances are in your favor that at least one retailer will discount it.
7. Photo services
The holidays are a great time not just for taking pictures, but also for printing them. During the week of Black Friday we traditionally see sales from a variety of photo printing services. Last year, for instance, Shutterfly, Walgreens and Groupon all offered their best deals of the year on printing and personalized items for Black Friday.
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