You can save a lot of money by shopping ahead for Christmas and watching for good sales. This list will help you know what to buy in October to save money.
It’s the start of my favorite time of the year. These next three months are packed with fun holidays and some of my favorite things. Plus Christmas is getting so close.
It hasn’t really cooled off too much here yet but hopefully, it will soon. I’m noticing a bit of change in color on the trees and of course, you can’t go to a store without seeing pumpkins and something that is pumpkin spice flavored. October is just such a fun month.
It’s time to be sure you have planned everything for Halloween. Be sure to pick up my Halloween planner that I offer on my other blog. It will help you make sure you are fully organized and ready to go. We don’t want a stressful Halloween either!
It’s also a good time to start stocking up on even more Christmas supplies. Now you can buy freezer and pantry items without any worry of them going bad, just check dates. Plus Christmas decor and gifts are starting to make it out to the stores.
If you haven’t already be sure to get your Christmas planner as well. You want to have your shopping lists done and meals planned if you want to save as much money as possible. You don’t just want to buy things you think you may need but actually buy the supplies you know you do need.
There are some things that are better to buy in October than other months and I’m going to help you navigate that with the following list.
WHAT TO BUY IN OCTOBER
Candy
Not all of the Halloween candy will be in Halloween colors and shapes. You can find some that is just normal candy in different packaging. This is great for any holiday baking.
You can also find fun-size candies that are in their normal packaging and perfect for stocking stuffers or gift baskets.
At this point, you really shouldn’t need to freeze any of the candy. Just check dates but it all should be fine until Christmas.
Looking for natural candy? Check out Natural Candy Store.
Baking Supplies
Baking supplies go on sale around most holidays and Halloween is no exception. Look for baking mixes, sugar, flour, baking cups, pudding mixes, and all of those kinds of things.
And of course, don’t forget all things pumpkin and pumpkin spice. If you like pumpkin treats around Thanksgiving or Christmas go ahead and stock up.
You may find these things in the normal baking aisle or they may be with the Halloween supplies in the store. Be sure to check both places and compare prices. And of course, check the dates.
National Seafood Month
October is National Seafood Month so you are sure to find good deals on all kinds of seafood. If you are going to use it for Christmas time you will want to buy canned or frozen and of course, check dates.
There are a lot of seafood dishes that are traditional around the holidays so this could be a big help for your budget.
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
It’s also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month so you may find sales on dog supplies. If you like to give your dog a stocking this is a great time to get some treats.
Also, think if you are wanting to do any random acts of kindness during the holiday season. If you are one good idea is to stock up on some of the on-sale supplies and in December take them to a local shelter.
Produce
While fresh produce won’t still be good in December there are some types of produce you can buy to freeze or can to use in your holiday baking. You can even bake a pumpkin and puree it to keep in your freezer.
The following are some of the produce you will likely see on sale.
- Apples
- Artichokes
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Cabbage
- Cranberries
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Sweet Potatoes
- Turnips
- Yams
Check the canned and freezer sections as well to make sure the already canned or frozen options aren’t a better deal.
SAVE EVEN MORE MONEY IN OCTOBER
A great way to save more money for the holidays is by using cashback apps. There are a lot out there but there are a few that are my favorites.
My favorite apps are the Ibotta app, which is an easy to use app that will give you cash back on some of the items you are buying. You simply scan receipts that contain products they currently have offers for and you can get cashback.
My other favorite is Fetch Rewards. It works like Ibotta but you don’t have to find the offers and you get some points for every receipt, even if there are no special offers. I love to redeem my points for Amazon gift cards to use at Christmas time. Enter my referral code, TN8EW, during signup and you’ll get 2,000 Fetch Points ($2.00 in points!) when you complete one receipt.
And for things you order online use Rakuten (formerly Ebates). All you have to do is install the app and it will tell you when you can earn cashback. You can also get $10 just for signing up and making a qualified purchase.
Don’t forget to also get the free money-saving challenge worksheet by signing up below. It can help you save money and get ready for the holiday season.
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