October has finally arrived, and in many places so has the cold weather. Although October is a month filled with warm activities, delicious foods and exciting holidays, you may find it always weighs heavy on your budget. Luckily, there’s lots of things you can save money on during this autumn month. With these ten great purchases that will save you big, you should be able to maximize your budget, while allowing yourself a little wiggle room in the upcoming months. So, don’t fret the splurge on last week’s pumpkin spice latte, or stress over your children’s Halloween costume’s because these savings are sure to leave you feeling amazing about your future budget.
1. Camping Gear
Camping season has finally come to a close, which means it’s now the perfect time to grab your camping supplies for the upcoming year. Camping supplies encompass a wide variety of items too. Obviously, tents are going to hit the shelves at a majorly discounted price. In some stores, you can buy this item for up to 50% off, especially if the store is expecting newer models in the upcoming season. Clothing is another major sales item during this time of the year. Long johns, jackets and water proof gear are great example of items you can buy now, that won’t just save you money for the next camp season, but will also save you money when it comes to winter apparel. Apart from clothes and tents, you should be able to find sleeping bags, cooking gear and even some weapons and fishing poles, which will make prepping for next season even easier. Not to mention, since it’s still early, you may actually be able to get a few camping trips in before the weather is too cold, which will allow you to enjoy your new purchases.
2. Fine Jewelry
The holidays are one of the prime times for jewelers, which means the prices can skyrocket in order to keep up with the demand and make more profit. With the holiday season right around the corner, you may want to get any fine jewelry shopping out of the way before it’s too late. Now, is the perfect time to pick up something sparkly if you plan on surprising your someone special with a beautiful gift for the holidays. Of course, you will miss out on holiday releases if you do this, but these items are usually passing trends that aren’t worn or cherished for decades anyway. If you choose to shop early, you can find a classic piece that will be cherished and passed down through generations. Of course, now is the perfect time to grab an engagement ring or wedding band, if you plan on making a romantic move during the season. October is the off-season for weddings, so it may be the right time to plan a small wedding, if you haven’t already begun the process. The holiday season is also proposal season though, so buying ahead of the time will help you stay prepared for the big event and save you major money.
3. Food
Although the real feasts don’t begin until next month, October has its fair share of reasons to pig out for less. In fact, October is actually National Pizza Month and many stores will offer a wide variety of discounts that will make your pizza purchase taste even better. If you’re a vegetarian, then you may want to hit your favorite stores on October 1, because it’s World Vegetarian Day, which means huge savings on all of your favorite veggie brands. Coffee lovers may want to enjoy one last cold beverage on October 4, in honor of National Frappe Day. Your sweet tooth will also rejoice for National Cheesecake Day on October 21! Of course October is also the home of Oktoberfest, which will bring you lots of sales on sauerkraut, sausage, beer and other German foods after October 4, when the celebration comes to a close. You may also want to take advantage of the low prices you’ll get at your local apple orchard or pumpkin patch, as all of this delicious produce will be in season and ready to be picked. Not to mention, with Halloween around the corner, you’ll want to save all of the pumpkin fillings for baked seeds and pies later on in the season!
4. Candy
Although less nutritious then all of the food offered during the season, you should still be able to find some awesome deals on candy. First of all, Halloween is at the end of the month, which means the big variety bags of candy will be on sale. Whether you plan on handing out candy or not, this can be one of the best times to buy huge assortments of your favorite treats. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more intricate, then you’ll be pleased to know all of the customized candy from summer will be on sale. Thus, you can find great deals on red, white and blue dipped strawberries and other summer time creations. You may want to browse online for these treats, as there are many websites offering surprising deals on their leftover stock. You should also be able to find candied apples at an exceptional price since apples are currently in season.
5. Halloween Costumes
Although Halloween may be coming up later in this month, it’s still a great time to buy your Halloween costumes. However, there are a few tricks you should consider when you look for costumes during the month of October. For starters, you should always start in the clearance section. There’s lots of costumes that were put on clearance last year, which will quickly be reduced even more in order to make room for all of the costumes that will hit the clearance rack when this Halloween is over. You may be surprised by how many popular costumes you can find on the clearance rack. Of course, if you’re not satisfied with the costumes in your local stores, there’s lots of online costume stores that have a huge variety of clearance costumes. You may also be able to find the materials needed to make your costume amazing at a great price. For instance, some fabrics may be on sale as well as the basic accessories, like fangs, makeup or special gloves.
6. Cruises
If you’re already stressing about the holidays, then you may want to enjoy a little time away from the chaos. During October, cruises are a prime price, which will allow you to save big time on a well-deserved vacation. This is especially great for people who may not get a chance to take leave during the holiday season as it will help you rest up before you have to deal with hustle and bustle of the next couple of months. Although prices are best if you choose to go on your cruise during October, you can still save big time by simply booking your cruise during this month too. You may want to keep your plans off of time prime season, but with some careful planning, you should be able to cash in on some great deals.
7. Mammograms
October is National Breast Awareness Cancer month, so it’s no surprise that many hospitals and doctor’s offices are offering reduced price mammograms to any women that books during the month of October. This is a great idea for women who may not have the test completely covered by their insurance policy. Of course, you may want to talk to your doctor about the prices to see if there is actually a reduction in your area as not everyone will participate in this bold move to help prevent breast cancer. If your doctor or hospital is participating, then you may want to book an appointment as early as possible as there is sure to be many women who want to take advantage of the generous offer. Of course, you may also want to spread the word, so every woman has a chance to get the test completed.
8. Disneyland
If you want to send the kids into a frenzy of joy, then now is the time to grab a Disneyland vacation. If you plan a trip around the last 3 weeks of October to the early weeks in November, then you’ll be privy to some awesome Disneyland prices. Of course, with the price reduction also comes less crowds because these short weeks are the Disney off-season. You’ll be able to enjoy cheaper hotel rates, food in the park and possibly even ride tickets if you choose to travel to Disneyland during this time of the year. The good news is, since Disneyland is in California, you won’t have to worry about the weather being bad during your trip. You’ll probably experience mild weather, which may make it an even greater time to enjoy a mini vacation.
9. Harvest
Autumn weekends are the greatest because it’s the perfect time to check out your local produce. A lot of pumpkin patches, apple orchards, vineyards and corn fields will offer a lot of activities for your family to enjoy at a price that will make everyone happy. The best thing is, you can pick food for the family at a price that will probably have you picking your jaw up off of the floor. Generally, you can pay ahead of time to pick a certain weight of food. When you take the food home, it’s easy to can, freeze or cook it up to make your meals stretch further than ever. It’s also a great time to teach your family about where food comes from first hand. Also, since it’s autumn, you’ll probably be able to book a walk through a corn maze or a special hayride when you check out the local harvest.
10. Dog Adoptions
October is also dog adoption month, so now is the perfect time to bring a furry friend into your home for the holidays. Most animal shelters and charities like SPCAs will have better deals on dog adoptions during this month. Some may even waive the adoption fees, so you won’t have to pay a cent for your new pet. The best news is, your dog will already be fixed and vaccinated, if not the clinic will give you a voucher to have the procedure finished for no out of pocket cost. Of course, since it is October, you may not be able to adopt a black dog because many shelters ban adoptions of cats and black dogs during this month due to cruel activity. However, if you do fall in love with a black dog, then you can put in the paperwork for your adoption and take your new friend home as soon as Halloween is over. Not all shelters operate under this procedure though, it often depends on your area and past problems in the region.
October is a great month for saving on so many things you may have already thought about buying, and many that you may not have even considered. With these ten things saving you cash, you may find the month to be a lot more fun than you ever thought possible. Not to mention, you may even feel a bit more relaxed as you prepare for the upcoming busy months, this holiday season.
