By Rachel Conover, Cheapism.com
By shopping standards, October is that odd month that sits smack in the middle of the back-to-school frenzy and the holiday shopping extravaganza. But frugal shoppers need not despair -- there are plenty of deals to be had, albeit a little varied. The best October deals range from leftover items from previous months to goods discounted in advance of the big shopping days to come. And don't forget, Halloween happens in October.
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Halloween is just around the corner.
Here's the frugalista's list of October deals:
Halloween Gear. Unless you thought way ahead and bought a Halloween costume and decorations last November when prices were at their lowest, you'll need to be on the lookout for deals this month. The longer you wait, the bigger the deals. There is a fine line, however -- you won't find many costume choices and sizes if you wait too long. The best time to buy Halloween gear is mid-month when you'll still have some selection and lower prices.
Toys. October is a good time to snag toy deals for the upcoming holidays. True, prices probably won't be as low as on Black Friday, but if you don't want to battle the holiday crowds there are two ways you can score super low prices on toys this month. First, look for toys from last year because most retailers are marking down and clearing shelf space in preparation for November. Second, with the release of the Toys R Us Fabulous 15 toys for the 2012 holiday season you'll start seeing October deals on these items, as well.
Denim. Back-to-school shopping is over and the holiday shopping season is just about due, and much like the month of October, denim is stuck in the middle. Retailers want to sell off back-to-school denim and make room for holiday trends, so keep your eye out for October deals on pants.
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Health Insurance. September to November is the time to renew or sign up for health insurance through open enrollment with your employer. While health insurance is never cheap, now is the time to look for a cheaper plan or ways to cut costs by changing your current plan. Check out Cheapism's tips for saving money on health insurance.
Cars and Big Appliances. As we noted last month, car dealers are eager to make room on the lot for new 2013 models and October is prime time for striking a deal on a new car that happens to be last year's model. October deals also abound for big appliances as retailers mark down old models to clear the aisles for new models and holiday sales.
October is also a great time to purchase seasonal produce.Summer Gear. This is most likely the last month you'll see patio furniture, summer yard tools, and summer-themed decorations in stores. And you know where you'll see them: the clearance bins. Add window air conditioner units to the list of October deals and you can easily get ready for next summer now, for less.
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Seasonal Produce. October is the first month that the fall harvest begins to ripen while some summer plants are still producing their final yields. Look for cheap apples, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, grapes, kale, leeks, lettuce, oranges, pears, squash, sweet potatoes, and yams. If there's an apple orchard nearby, picking your own is cheaper yet. Sometimes the same can be said for pumpkins. Moreover, these October deals make for a fun time with family and friends on a weekend morning.
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