October is good for more than just spooky season; it’s a great time to find some scary good savings if you know where to look. There are some highly anticipated events like Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days and similar sales that retailers like Target launch simultaneously to compete. Plus, you’ll find other smaller savings opportunities that will help you get a head start on holiday shopping without having to wait for the Black Friday craze of next month to find the right price.
To help you find the deals and prices you want for everything on your shopping list, we’ve analyzed our internal discount data to pinpoint the average discounts available across October’s most popular shopping categories. We’ve listed some awesome brands and can’t-miss deals for you to peruse below as you build your monthly shopping plan. You can also explore the calendar above for an interactive shopping experience, allowing you to click directly into deals or save reminders to your personal devices so you can shop at a later time.
Top sales to shop in October
- Sephora Hair Faves: Get up to 50% off fan-favorite hair products from Sephora for a limited time. Shop now through Oct. 4!
- CVS Photo sitewide deal: Score up to 40% off with CVS Photo sitewide and in-app with code SHOP40. Place your photo order by Oct. 10.
- Walmart Fall Deals Event: Shop a full week of deals on electronics, home essentials, toys, and more from Oct. 5-11.
- Amazon Prime Big Deal Days: For just 48 hours, Prime members can unlock deep discounts across several categories. Don’t miss out! Shop Oct. 6 and 7.
- Target Circle Deal Days: Target has a two-day can’t-miss shopping event for Target Circle members on Oct. 6 and 7! Plus, paid 360 subscribers can get early access to deals on Oct. 5.
- CVS Photo posters and decor deal: Take 60% off your posters and wall decor order with code TAKE60. Turn your favorite photos into your fall decor vibe. Shop by Oct. 10 to get the deal.
- BJ’s Wholesale Anniversary Sale: BJ’s Wholesale is celebrating 42 years by offering 42% off select goods. Enjoy the celebratory savings all month long!
- Lowe’s early gifting + cash back: Get an early start to holiday gifting with Lowe’s throughout this month. Find options as low as $25 and under, plus activate up to 6% cash back.
- adidas up to 50% off + exclusive 15% off: Score up to 50% off select styles at adidas this month, plus get an extra 15% off with our exclusive code, RMN15.
- RMN 20th Birthday Boost Event: RetailMeNot is turning 20! Join us in the celebration with a limited-time cash back boost event running Oct. 22-26. Don’t forget to stack those savings!
- Expedia up to 35% off top hotel deals: Time to book some fall travel! Throughout October, enjoy up to 35% off top hotel deals in dreamy destinations when you book with Expedia.
- Tripadvisor $30 off: Receive an exclusive $30 discount this month on tours, experiences, and activities when you join Tripadvisor Rewards!
The 5 smartest things to shop for in October
1. Health & beauty (average discount: 32% Off)
Here’s your chance to get an early start on shopping some excellent stocking stuffers. This is a great month to find good prices on all things health and beauty. From hair care essentials to a beauty maven’s must-have skincare and makeup, now is the time to do a fall haul.
Shop deals from some of our favorite beauty brands:
- Ulta
- CVS
- Musely
- Tarte Cosmetics
- ALASTIN Skincare
- L’Occitane
2. Gifts (average discount: 22%)
Get out your nice list and check it twice; the perfect gifts for all your loved ones are out there at the perfect prices. To help you be the best gifter without blowing your budget, several stores and brands are already offering early holiday gifting deals this month and it’s your best chance to shop gifts before Black Friday sales. In addition to the list of go-to gifting stores below, keep an eye out on Prime Big Deal Days and the competing events from retailers like Target. Be smart and get a head start!
Give gift shopping a go at these reliable retailers:
- Kay Jewelers
- CVS Photo
- Macy’s
- Hey Dude
- Zales
- Total Wine
3. Clothing (average discount: 21% Off)
It’s officially fall, y’all! While you may find some select sales on seasonal apparel, the best clothing deals right now will be summer clearance racks. Grab warm weather wardrobe essentials while they’re majorly marked down and tuck them away for the next sunny day.
Check out these clothing brands for sweet prices and deals:
- Michael Kors
- adidas
- Princess Polly
- Ashley Stewart
- PUMA
- Levi’s
4. Home & garden (average discount: 21% Off)
Speaking of summer clearance, the home and garden section will also be full of deep discounts now that the seasons have changed. Shop summer inventory steals to tuck away for next year. (Or you may get a little use out of some outdoor gear for a week or two depending on the temperatures in your neck of the woods).
Discover great home and garden buys here:
- Ace Hardware
- Lowe’s
- The Home Depot
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- At Home
5. Toys (average discount: 20% Off)
Here’s another reminder that now is the time to get the early start on your holiday shopping! Don’t wait until you’re desperately trying to find the last of the trending toys on the shelf. Look for great deals right now ahead of the Black Friday hype and haze. Go ahead and ask your little ones to write an early letter to Santa so you know what to search for ahead of time. Mark your calendar for Prime Big Deal Days and competing sales on Oct. 6 and 7.
Here are brands we recommend for scoring unique and popular toys for less:
- Walmart
- Target
- LEGO
- Best Buy
- Amazon
Honorable mention: Halloween stuff
Timing is everything when it comes to finding the hauntingly good deals on all things spooky. In the first half of this month, you’ll see Halloween decor prices that may actually scare you, but hang tight. In the latter half of the month, you’ll see markdowns of 50% or greater. Add to your decor as the month goes on, or do a late October haul if you want to be super savvy. The last days of the month are when you’ll find the best deals because the stores will be trying to clear out all things ghoulish to make way for the merry and bright. Pro tip: the same rule applies to candy. When the tricks are over, you get all the treats. Load up on your favorites Nov. 1!
The 5 things NOT to shop for in October
1. Electronics
Laptops, computers & tablets are among the electronics you shouldn’t bother shopping this month. These items were just marked down for the back-to-college sales, but are now largely back to full prices until Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, so mark your calendar for those if you need an upgrade soon.
2. Winter clothing & heavy outerwear
While warm weather clothing and the occasional fall deal will be your friend this month, it’s not the time to shop for heavier winter gear. If you need some staples for this season, start looking for sales in late November starting around Black Friday. However, if you can wear last year’s essentials for one more season, you’ll find the best markdowns on winter gear from January to March.
3. Vacuums & floor cleaning devices
A new vacuum cleaner can be a pricey investment if you want the real deal, so any savings help. You won’t really find price cuts here in October. Promotional cuts will hit around Black Friday, but if you want the best of the best savings, wait for spring cleaning sales events in March and April.
4. Mattresses
The best times to shop for new mattresses are around the major federal holidays and that’s one thing October doesn’t have. You’ll find some good mattress markdowns around Black Friday if you need a new one soon, but the best deals are Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day in February, May, and September, respectively.
5. Tools & hardware
While October is generally a good month for deals on gifting, hold off if the perfect something for someone on your list is in the tools and hardware category. You can shop these items for less throughout November and December as plenty of holiday gift set bundles will pop up on the market, so you can get the gift in time for the holiday; just hold off for now.
The post Save the Dates: What to Buy in October appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
