9 Things to Never Buy in October

October is a great time of year to score discounts on items for Halloween, autumn decor, grills, and perennial plants as nurseries batten down for the winter. There is even an Amazon Prime Day in October now. But it’s not so great for your budget in other ways.

There is a long list of items that aren’t available at their best price in October. You can keep more cash in your wallet if you hold off on purchasing them right now.

Here are nine things you should never buy in October.

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1. Electronics

Black Friday is the time to load up on a variety of electronics. At Thanksgiving, you can find televisions, earbuds and headphones, speaker systems, computers, tablets, gaming systems, and more at great prices and in limited edition sets and models. In fact, these are some of the best prices of the year on dozens of items.

If you’ve been eyeballing an application-based utility for your home or office – like a security camera, smart kitchen appliance, sprinkler system, garage door opener, etc. – then Black Friday and into the holiday season will be a great time to grab some deals.

2. Jewelry

Jewelry is a hot ticket item for the holidays. That is why it is better to look for new necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, body jewelry, rings, and more in the lead-up to the holidays. Black Friday should kick off some of the deepest discounts of the season, so avoid purchasing high-priced bangles and chains until November.

3. Gift cards

Unless your favorite local shop is hosting a sale or special on gift cards or merchandise, hold off on purchasing new gift cards until the holiday sale season. This is when both corporate chain stores and mom-and-pop shops share deep discounts. You’ll often find gift cards at BOGO prices or close to them, so take the opportunity then to stock up for the year.

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4. Winter clothing

October isn’t known for hosting big deals on cold weather clothing. Deep discounts will start around the Thanksgiving holiday and increase as winter holidays draw nearer, so consider waiting until then to go shopping for new wardrobe options like sweaters, corduroys, outerwear, and more.

5. Cleaning supplies

The beginning of the year is the optimal time to purchase a myriad of items, including cleaning supplies. People are setting New Year’s Resolutions and prepping their homes for spring cleaning. Stores recognize this, and you will find bulk discounts and clearance pricing on items from wet wipes to glass cleaner, air fresheners, air purifiers, mop heads, and more.

Electronic cleaning accessories like vacuums will see better prices beginning at the holidays.

6. Fragrance

Perfume and fragrance sets are big time popular items during the holidays. As such, they experience some of their best prices and bundle discounts around that time. This encourages bulk purchasing while out to scour the shelves for presents or with your new gift card.

If you are thinking about switching up your scent or purchasing an old favorite, wait out October and check the aisles starting in November. This rule of thumb applies to all perfumes, hair fragrances, body mists, home scents, and otherwise.

7. Workout gear

The new year is the best time to purchase workout gear. People are setting resolutions for a new beginnings and improvements to their routines. So, workout gear largely finds its best deals at the end of December and into January.

As exercise brands prepare to roll out seasonal gear for the warmer months, you may find better deals as well. Either way, your wallet will benefit from waiting to grab free weights, yoga mats, running shoes, track suits, or otherwise for a couple of months.

8. Health food items & supplements

For the same reason as stated previously, health food items and supplements usually experience their best prices at the new year, as people tend to resolutions and fresh starts. Consider taking a trip down the protein aisle while shopping for your Christmas gifts, and you may get to witness the price drops in real time.

If you want to start a supplement regimen, consider doing it around the New Year, even if not for budgetary restrictions. Many people are deficient in vitamin D and vitamin C during this time, and a variety of supplements offer boosts of these basic vitamins in addition to others. Adjust your supplements based on sun exposure, movement, sleep schedule, and other factors.

9. Appliances

While more reasonable prices have been found on appliances in October, it is not the optimal time to be purchasing big ticket items like refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, microwaves, air fryers, and more.

Black Friday is the next opportunity to grab deep discounts on appliances. So, if you can wait until November to consider an upgrade or update a broken machine, it might be better for your budget.

Bottom line

Not every item you want to purchase is available at its best price right now. If it isn’t an urgent need, these items really shouldn’t be purchased in October.

As always, keep your eyes peeled on retail end caps for limited seasonal and randomly clearanced items to save money on essentials and splurges alike.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt. Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).