The holiday season has finally approached us, which means the budget may need a bit of stretching if we’re going to get through November without overdoing it. From Thanksgiving feasts to Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, this month is filled with action that could leave your head spinning from all of the financial transactions. Luckily, there’s a lot you can actually save money on during this busy month too. In fact, if you play your cards right, your savings will be spent frugally so you can still celebrate your hard work and shopping skills when the month comes to an end. With these ten items on the top of your list, you’re sure to find the price tag you were hoping for whenever you get to the cash register.
1. Electronics
With Gray Thursday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, you’ll be pleased to know that electronics will be at their best price all month long. One of the best things to buy during this month is televisions. Everything from top of the line models to older editions will be on sale, but you’ll have to act fast as most of the deals are only until supplies run out. You should also check out deals on laptops too. With brand new designs coming out this year, you should be able to find an extraordinary deal on older models. Of course, phones, tablets and e-readers will also be on top of the sales list this season too, so if you’re looking for an upgrade make sure to keep up with sales so you can find the best deals. Gaming console bundles are already being released, but if you can hold out until sales day because they should take a price decrease. Of course, you may have to stand in line for a few hours to get this type of deal. Last but not least, you may want to look for items that aren’t exactly on the obvious list for electronics. For instance, SD cards, USB drives, external hard drives and so on, are usually priced well during this month.
2. Home Fragrances
The weather should be getting colder as the month progresses, which means you’ll probably have less fresh air to enjoy because the heater will mostly likely be on. Thus, home fragrances might be the best way to freshen up your home without costing a small fortune. Luckily, this month, home fragrances tend to be at their best price throughout the year. Sure, spring and summer fragrances should already be discounted or in the clearance bin, but they may have an even greater price reduction during this month. Autumn scents will also be moving out of the top seller bins as the month comes to an end, which means they will hit sale prices soon. You should also be able to find some great early release winter fragrances too, which will allow you to prep for holiday guests for less than you’d normally pay.
3. Christmas Trees
Although it may feel a bit early to think about Christmas Trees, you should start considering what you want to buy before you finish up your Thanksgiving dinner. Real Christmas Trees are actually at the best possible price right after Thanksgiving when they start making their grand appearance at grocery stores and special lots around your town or city. Although it might seem like the tree will die before the holiday season arrives, you can use special plant foods to help keep it vibrant until the big day finally arrives. You may want to know what to look for in a tree before you go shopping though. Remember, the closer to Christmas you get, the more your tree is going to cost. So, it might be wise to enjoy the nicer trees while they last because the price will be reasonable if you’re feeling the Christmas spirit a little early. Of course, artificial trees are another story. These trees will still be at a great price throughout the month of November because most people will be more preoccupied with going out to get the gifts for under the tree than the tree itself. This will also allow you to keep the tree in a box for a little while, so you can enjoy the rest of November without jumping ahead too much.
4. Wedding Dresses
Engagement season is coming up fast and wedding season follows right after, which is why November may be the perfect time to get your wedding dress. Generally, during this time of the year most bridal shops order an excessive amount of wedding dresses and other accessories to help prevent them from running out of stock during the busy season. So, if you plan your wedding right, you should be able to grab your dress now at the best possible price. It’s always a good idea to buy your dress several months ahead of time anyway, so you can make sure the alterations are absolutely perfect. Since it is the off-season for dresses, you should also have an easy time finding more styles. Plus, bridal boutiques will be less crowded so you can enjoy more space to check out new dresses as well as the full attention of the seamstress who won’t feel burned out due to the lack of business in the off-season.
5. Kitchen Essentials
November is a great month to buy anything and everything you might need for the kitchen. First and foremost, this month should automatically see price cuts on items like pots and pans or bakeware. Due to the weather being a bit colder, more people want to spend time indoors baking, which means these items will fly off the shelves if they’re a good price. So, if your kitchen is lacking anything, you should shop around now to see if the price suits your needs. This also makes it a great time to shop for friends or family that may be getting married. Their wedding registry should serve as a great guide, but if you know them on a closer level then you should be able to find something that suits their needs perfectly at a price that makes your budget happy. You don’t have to shop now though. If you keep an eye on prices they should remain the same after Black Friday. Thus if you want to wait until Gray Thursday, Black Friday or Cyber Monday then you may find even greater deals. If not, then the good price will remain the same when the shopping days are over.
6. Tools
With the cold winter moving in fast, you may be grateful for all of the tool discounts this month. This is a great time to stock up on items you’ll need to winterize your home or patch a roof that is leaking. You should check out lawn tools too, as it may be a great idea to trim your trees before the big freeze hits. You should also check out snow gear, so you can shovel snow and keep your home slip free while the weather creates potential danger after potential danger. Of course, this time is also perfect for when you want to check out some early holiday shopping deals. The tool lover in your family will be simple and cheap to buy for if you can get your purchases in this month. However, you may want to hold out until Black Friday to make larger purchases, as most stores will be able to offer huge discounts on some of the most popular items.
7. Toys
There’s no doubt, if you have kids then you may want to get your toy shopping in during the month of November. If you’re looking for one of this year’s “it” gifts then you may want to consider shopping as early as possible because they tend to fly off the shelves because it takes a while for most stores to replenish stock. Luckily, most toys will take a price reduction in the month of November, which will ensure you can get your toy shopping done under budget, in most cases. This is the perfect time to shop for smaller scale toys as they will be at the lowest possible price. Stocking stuffer items should be at a fabulous price too, so make sure you have everything you need before things go up in price in December. All the same, you might want to hold off on bigger ticket items if you’re willing to risk your chance of getting them. Generally, these “it” toys will be a great deal around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
8. RVs
Dream of taking to the wide open road with someone special? Well, November is the month to plan on buying an RV. Generally, this period of time is the off season for RVs because most people like to road trip during the summer months when road conditions are ideal. So, make sure to check out the deals to see if something strikes your fancy. You should be able to talk the salesperson down on the price too, especially if they’re desperate for a commission sale during the dry season. Although it may not seem ideal, you could still use your RV to travel during the holiday season to save a bit of money. Most RVs have a great heating system, so you will remain comfortable while traveling to see your loved ones. The purchase alone, could come in handy for mini-road trips or weekend getaways too, which will save on your vacation budget.
9. Blue Rays
If your movie collection is missing a few of your favorites, then you might want to use this month to help replenish your collection. It’s also a great time to think about shopping for movies for the holiday season as they tend to make great gifts. November sees a slight decrease in the price of most Blue Rays, including newer films. You may find that the older movies are where you will find the most savings though, but this could come in handy if you’re trying to upgrade your collection from basic DVDs to Blue Rays. Generally, older movies will range from $3 to $10, which will allow you to buy more than you ever expected. Of course, during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you should be able to find some pretty awesome deals on TV series or special edition movie collections.
10. Food
With Thanksgiving coming up this month, you may be happy to find out that some foods are a great thing to buy during this month. In fact, turkey, which is generally the main course, is best bought in the month of November. You might want to buy as quickly as you can though because as the holiday approaches prices will also boost. If you plan to repeat the dish for Christmas then make sure to buy two turkeys now. Seasonal produce is also in abundance this month. Food like kale, winter squash, apples, beets, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and pumpkin will all be cheap. Of course the month also sees some other tasty holidays. For instance, Deviled Egg Day is the 2nd, Bittersweet chocolate and almond day is the 7th, and Parfait Day is the 25th. Last but not least, sandwich day is the 3rd, so look around to see if you can find freebies or discounted sandwiches in your area.
November may be known as a month for spending and overindulgence, but there are also lots of ways to save money during this amazing month of abundance. With these ten shopping ideas, you should be able to find more joy and financial comfort during this chilly month. Now, you won’t have to feel as stressed when you plan out your holiday festivities and shopping sprees.
