The 9 Best Things to Buy in October (And 6 Things to Buy Later)

NOTE: The information below was assembled before and during October 2022. That month is now over, but you can save throughout the year! Check out our Staff Pick deals, so you can shop our "best of the best" offers.

October isn't known for having a ton of deals or shopping holidays. In many circles it's most well-known as the month of spooky vibes, thanks to Halloween.

With Black Friday around the corner, it might seem like saving opportunities won't come for another month, but October has plenty to offer as far as deals go. In fact, if trends from the last two pandemic-era Black Fridays return, noteworthy deals for that shopping holiday could arrive even sooner.

Check out our guide on what to buy in October, as well as the few things you should buy later — or at least do extra research on before you add them to your cart.

Top Offers to Shop in October

Carvel: Take $5 off orders of $20 or more when you order through Grubhub or DoorDash. This offer is valid October 22 through October 31.

Noodles & Company: Take 50% off a regular entrée every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October.

Rewards members can also earn double points on weekday purchases Monday through Friday from October 17 through October 21 and then October 24 through October 28.

Need dinner before heading out for trick or treating? Get a free small entrée with the purchase of a regular entrée on October 31.

Proof: Take 30% off your bra and underwear purchase via code "TREAT30", but note that gift cards and bundles are excluded. This offer is valid from 2:59 am ET on October 26 through 2:59 am ET on November 1.

Red Lobster: Get free delivery on to-go orders placed online through redlobster.com over Halloween weekend. This offer is valid October 28 through October 31, no code required.

The Cheesecake Factory: Treat yourself with free cheesecake on orders over $40! Order online for takeout or delivery and use code "TREAT22" to receive one free slice of Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake or Hershey's Chocolate Bar Cheesecake. This offer is valid October 24 through October 28.

The 9 Best Things to Buy in October

Our infographic offers a look at five of the best things to buy in October. Below it, you can read more about the October deals and sales to expect.

Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale

At the end of June, reports emerged that Amazon was considering a second Prime Day event, allegedly happening sometime in October. And Amazon recently confirmed the sale, which kicks off at 3 am ET on October 11 and runs for 48 hours. This Prime Early Access Sale is exclusive to Prime members and geared toward holiday shopping. Expect to see deals taking up to 80% off select Fire TVs, plus savings on brands like KitchenAid, Samsung, LEGO, and adidas.

Our guide to this October Prime Day gives you more info on the event, including how it'll differ from July's Prime Day and how you can prepare to save.

General Fall Savings Events

With Labor Day behind us and Black Friday officially coming up on November 25, you might be surprised to know that retailers offer general savings events during October. In fact, last year during this time frame, we saw almost 400 general sales that covered a variety of categories, including clothing, kitchen and dining items, toys, shoes, and seasonal decor, among others.

Some of the most notable October sales we saw included a Uniqlo event that took up to 70% off men's items and a Kirkland's clearance sale that knocked up to 75% off all kinds of decorative items. Both earned our Staff Pick badge, reserved for deals we consider "the best of the best."

Kohl's had a couple of noteworthy sales, as well; it took up to 60% off plus an extra 20% off fall home decor items. Additionally, it offered an extra $10 off $50 on select purchases. Aside from that sale, Kohl's also took 40%-50% off plus an extra 25% off select men's clothing, which was perfect if you wanted a fall wardrobe refresh.

The discounts aren't all for clothing and decorations, though. In October 2021, we also saw Steam offer up to 90% off during its Halloween sale, eBay offer a "buy two, get an extra 20% off" Blu-ray sale, and Macy's offer up to 50% off select cologne and beauty clearance items.

These are a small selection of the sales we saw last year, and we expect a significant number of events to happen in October 2022, as well.

New Cars

This may not be as true these days due to recent vehicle-inventory shortages, but historically, October has been an excellent time to purchase a new car. It's near the end of the year, when dealerships are often trying to clear out older inventory to make room for newer models, especially in time for the winter holidays. How many car commercials have you seen featuring shiny new vehicles with a big red bow on the hood and a snowy landscape in the background?

SEE ALSO: Ask an Expert: What Is the October Prime Day Sale All About?

To ensure you're able to get the best deal that you can, though, be careful about when you shop. For instance, Autotrader notes that you may have better luck getting a deal if you buy a new car at the end of the month; that's usually when salespeople are trying to reach quotas. And you may have even better luck if you shop at the beginning of the week. In other words, go car shopping on a Monday. Chances are, salespeople will have more time to sit and negotiate, since the dealership could be less busy.

It's also worth checking out the cars most likely to have deals before you start shopping, too. Those that are slow to sell will probably allow for more negotiating power — just make sure you aren't sacrificing quality to save some cash.

Grills

While grills might be big during the warmer summer months, they're also popular products during the fall, especially for those who enjoy tailgating. We tend to see deals surface around Labor Day, but there should be some in October, as well. Even better, there's a good chance some will earn our Staff Pick designation.

Last year, about 20% of the grill deals we saw in October were Staff Picks, and included big brands like Pit Boss and Char-Broil. Watch for portable charcoal grills to drop to as little as $30, smokers to be $110, and gas grills to go for around $130. We'll likely also see deals on accessories. For instance, last year we saw wood grill brushes for $9, tongs with a removable LED light for $15, and water-resistant grill covers for $18.

Halloween Gear

Obviously, October is going to be one of the best times to buy Halloween items. Whether you have spooky vibes year-round or go all-in for this one month, you're bound to come across deals on costumes, candy, and everything in between. Watch for decorations to be as little as $4, while 13-piece sets of pumpkin carving tools could drop to $14. Keep an eye out for Halloween sales, too. Last year, Amazon knocked up to 30% off select Halloween items from Disney and Wayfair offered inflatable decorations priced from $27, for example.

Of course, sweet treats are a huge part of Halloween. Watch for a 34-pack of Halloween-themed Oreos to be $7, a Charms Mini Pops 400-pack to go for around $8, and a Nerds and Laffy Taffy 40-ounce variety pack to cost around $9. Needless to say, you should have plenty of options for goodies to hand out!

Plants

If you enjoy gardening, get ready to stock up on perennial plants. In October, many nurseries and even home improvement stores try to clear out inventory of these items, which means you have a good excuse to overhaul your home landscape. Perennials don't require replanting each year, making them fairly low maintenance as far as plants go. If you want flowers for spring, consider looking for bulbs now; you can plant them before temperatures really drop and they'll bloom when winter is over.

Jeans

Denim is a quintessential fall item, so if you're in need of new jeans as the temperatures start to drop, know that October is a good month to keep an eye out for deals. Last year, we saw women's jeans for as little as $8 and men's jeans for only $12. We also saw October sales at Levi's, which took up to 60% off and had prices starting at $17, and Buckle, which offered jeans from $19.

Camping Gear

Some people are happy to camp year-round, but gear for this outdoor activity is usually most popular during the warmer months. Because of that, October tends to be a good time to find noteworthy savings on all kinds of gear for the great outdoors.

SEE ALSO: What to Expect From Halloween Sales in 2022

For instance, chilly fall mornings spent around the campfire call for coffee in aluminum camping mugs, which could be as little as $2 each in October. Light sources like pop-up lanterns could cost only $7, and inflatable pillows could be $9. Watch for personal coolers and trash cans to be priced from $10, while HotHands hand warmers could come in a variety pack for only $11. And if your destination experiences high October temps, look into getting a portable air conditioner, too.

As for camping-themed sales? They could include Marmot taking up to 50% off a variety of tents, REI Outlet taking up to 50% off new markdowns, and Columbia offering up to 60% off.

In-Season Produce

With the price of groceries still high, many shoppers are feeling the pinch on their weekly trips. One way to mitigate those costs is by taking advantage of purchasing fresh, in-season produce when you can. We recommend checking out this seasonal food guide for the kinds of fruits and veggies that are native to your area and are excellent buys this month.

6 Things NOT to Buy in October

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