October Shopping Tips

October sales

This month, look for substantial savings (and selection) on cookware, kitchen supplies and toys. It's a good time to buy large appliances (new models arrive and retailers discount remaining inventory). Also expect big markdowns on jeans, lingerie and summer merchandise, including air conditioners, grills and camping gear.

Save money by flying into a smaller or secondary airport. — Erik Dreyer/Getty Images

Cheaper tickets

When hunting down low airfares, consider not just the airline but also the airport. A study by Cheapflights.com finds that the best deals are often at secondary airports, many of them just an hour or so drive from their larger metropolitan counterparts. For instance, flights to Palm Beach, Fla., from Chicago Midway Airport this month are about $50 cheaper than flying from Chicago O'Hare.

Urban discounts

Shopping for a used car at a dealer? Try a lot in a big metro area, suggests a new study by CarGurus.com, a vehicle-shopping website. Small-town and rural dealers tend to have little competition and low inventory, so prices creep up. With more of both, lots in big cities and suburbs within a 50-mile radius listed similar used cars for $345 lower on average.

Sid Kirchheimer writes about consumer affairs.