What to Buy (and Not) in November

By Raechel Conover, Cheapism.com

To buy or not to buy in November? That's the big question as the official kickoff to the biggest shopping season of the year begins. This is the month when seemingly everything is on sale, from electronics to apparel to appliances and furniture. So what's worth buying in November and what's worth waiting on?

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Electronics. If you've been looking for the right time to refresh your TV inventory, November is your moment. With Black Friday and the holidays fast approaching, HDTV's will sink to their deepest discounts this month, and good deals should continue through December. Tablets and laptops will also see bargain offerings as the gift-buying momentum picks up; some simple laptops may even drop as low as $200.

Halloween Items. Halloween is over and done, and retailers are wasting no time clearing the shelves. Now is the time to find next year's Halloween costume at nearly 50 percent off. Other big buys in November include deeply discounted Halloween decorations.

Halloween candy will also go on sale this month and those discounts mean there's no better time for loading up on your holiday baking needs, stocking stuffers, and school snacks.

Tools. Tool kits, like drill, wrench, and screwdriver sets, make a welcome gift for the men on your list, and this month kicks off the prime time to buy one. Some of the best sales of the year will likely surface in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday extravaganzas and continue into December.

Cookware and Home Goods. With holiday cooking starting this month cookware deals also heat up. Be on the lookout for cookware items for your own kitchen or as a gift for someone on your holiday list.

While prepping for Thanksgiving dinner you also may be planning to clean the house. Good news here if your vacuum is on its last wheel -- you can get a new one this month for much less. The same goes for big and small appliances all through the house. Sales and discounts will be cropping up this month especially around, and during, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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Apparel. Clothing may be on a lot of wish lists but you'll have to wait until January for the biggest markdowns on winter clothes and shoes. If it's a must-have item for someone special, however, watch for stores offering some of the best coupons of the year. Hats, gloves, and winter sleepwear that make good gifts under the tree will be deeply discounted in Black Friday sales, making them deals to buy in November.

If you've recently become engaged, sew up that wedding dress now. November is a slow month for bridal retailers who typically respond with lower-than-average prices.

Entertainment. DVDs and Blu-ray movies make excellent stocking stuffers, and with prices as low as $2 and $3 in Black Friday sales, you can pick up a few and save by buying in November.

Toys come with some modest discounts in November but prices won't hit a low point just yet. In past years, the best time to buy toys has been closer to Christmas. During the two weeks leading up to the big day even deeper markdowns will show up on holiday toys. Wait as long as you can on this one.

Collectibles. Are you angling for a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament with 2013 prominently displayed? If so, wait until December to fork over the cash. Although 2013 collectibles go on sale about now, better deals pop up in December. And if you can hold out until January, the price declines will be steeper yet -- on a very limited selection, however.

Seasonal Produce and Food. November is a big month for food. Millions of people celebrate Thanksgiving with tables groaning under the weight of a hearty and tasty repast. Apples, pears, cranberries, plums, clementines, and pumpkins round out the seasonal assortment of fruit (yes, pumpkins are a fruit) while broccoli, leeks, cabbage, squash, cauliflower, parsnips, celery, chestnuts, potatoes, shallots, turnips, and yams make companionable in-season vegetables you should buy in November.

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You'll also find rock-bottom prices this month on turkey and other game, such as goose, pheasant, and venison. Buy one variety for your Thanksgiving feast and freeze a second for a December holiday dinner.

Finally, November plays host to a handful of notable food holidays, which may help you score deals or find coupons. Keep an eye out for deals on National Candy Day on November 4, National Cake Day on November 26, and National Chocolates Day on November 29. If nachos are your thing, National Nachos Day is November 6 and you may score deals at local restaurants.

More from Cheapism:
Use food holidays to get discounts year-round
Last minute cheap and trendy Halloween costumes

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