It may only be the beginning of fall, but holiday deals have already started, which means you can grab all sorts of deals during the month of October. Here are the best things to buy this month.
Every month, we look back at the best times to buy anything during the year, and pull out items each month to remind you what's coming. Obviously, none of this is to say you should go on a shopping spree—but if you've been holding off for a lower price on something, these are the things that get the sale treatment in October.
All Autumn
Cars: New car models come out in the summer, which makes the end of the year a great time to buy a car—as long as you're willing to get last year's model, say Consumer Reports, Bankrate, and Dealnews. Deals should be even better in October than they were in September. Make sure it's not better for you to lease a car instead of buy, and if you're looking to get a good deal, you can save some money by haggling or (if you're evil) screwing with the car salesmen.
Cookware & Kitchen Accessories: Anyone who's walked into a mall in October knows that the holidays get earlier and earlier every year, which means the sales start now! Cookware is one of the more popular things to start early say Bankrate and Dealnews, so check out Consumer Reports' cookware buying guide, our five must-have kitchen tools, and give your kitchen a makeover.
Digital Cameras: Cameras see some nice deals early in the year, but if you need one now, you'll probably see another round of deals coming off the latest announcements. According to Digital Photography School and Digital Camera HQ, check out older models for a lower price.
Gas Grills and Air Conditioners: Just like in September, most stores are trying to get rid of their summer gear. As Forbes says, no one wants to store the stuff no one is buying—it's cheaper to just sell it at a discount. So if you have the space to store it, stock up on your grills, air conditioners, and other summer-only items now.
Plants: Most plants aren't going to survive the harsh winter ahead, but if you have an indoor garden or greenhouse going on, Real Simple and Dealnews recommend picking up your new plants cheaply as the weather starts to cool down.
Toys & Games: Places like Toys R Us are starting to ramp up their holiday sales, so now's a good time to get kids' stuff at a discount—whether for Christmas gifts or not.
Wedding Supplies: As beautiful as it is, winter isn't exactly prime wedding season for most people, which means planning one gets a lot easier. Find a venue, negotiate services, and buy or rent supplies for much less as the fall and winter go on say Bankrate and Dealnews. Just don't go overboard—you can do a lot of trimming on your wedding budget if you know where to look.
October
Appliances: As we said in September, fall is a good time for appliances. Most new models start coming out around this time, says Bankrate, so pick up last year's leftovers at a discount.
Jeans: Interestingly, says Real Simple, jeans are one of the more common leftover items after the back-to-school rush. As the weather gets a little cooler, make sure you're all stocked up jeans now.
Patio Furniture: You probably won't need it in the snow, but if you have somewhere to store it, Dealnews recommends grabbing the last bits of patio furniture for next summer while the stores try to get rid of them.
We'll be posting updates for you guys every month, so you're aware of the deals going on all year round. If you're curious to see what's coming up, you can always check out our full best time to buy guide to see the entire year at a glance. And, if you know of any deals we didn't mention, share them in the comments below.