AARP Hearing Center
.jpg?anchor=17,8&q=80&color=ffffffff&u=8wsalu&w=375 "Fall Movie Preview 2026")
Best Things to Buy in November 2026
Score deep discounts on electronics, toys, small appliances and more
6-minute read
AARP (Getty Images, 4; Shutterstock, 2)
Key takeaways
- Black Friday-like deals stretch across the month, giving shoppers more time to compare prices and find discounts.
- Clothing, small appliances, TVs and toys may be up to 50 percent off.
- Check price histories and product specifications, especially for laptops and TVs, because a large advertised discount may not always mean the best value.
The month bargain hunters have been waiting for all year is finally here. November brings the Super Bowl of shopping: Black Friday.
“Black Friday remains one of the best times of the year to score deep discounts,” says Mackenzie Shand, executive editor at BlackFriday.com, a website dedicated to Black Friday deals.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
“That said, the event has evolved into more of a ‘Black Friday season.’ The best deals aren’t limited to the Friday after Thanksgiving anymore — retailers are spreading them throughout November to capture early holiday shoppers,” Shand says.
That means more time to scoop up savings. And with so many sales happening throughout the month, you can find deals on a range of items. Here’s what you can expect to find deeply discounted in November.
Apple products
You won’t see markdowns on the new iPhone Duo or iPhone 18 this holiday season, but if there are other Apple products on your gift list, you might spot deals on them. For example, the new AirPods 5 could be slightly discounted, and prices on older models will drop as much as 30 percent, Shand says.
If you want a smartwatch that keeps track of your health and fitness activity, you’ll find deals on older series of Apple Watches this month, says Stephanie Carls, a retail analyst at coupon and cash-back offers website RetailMeNot. Also, older iPad models will be discounted.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
Potential savings: 20 to 30 percent off
Clothes
Many clothing stores will offer attractive Black Friday sales, Carls says: “Expect retailers like Gap and Old Navy to offer impressive sitewide deals, with discounts likely up to 50 percent off in some cases.”
In addition, several retailers that rarely hold sales — including Alo Yoga, Aritzia, Lululemon and Skims — will participate in Black Friday, she says.
You’ll also find discounts on footwear from a variety of retailers this month, Carls says.
Where to look for deals: Anthropologie, Kohl’s, Macy’s
Potential savings: 30 to 50 percent off
Gift cards
When it comes to what people really want for the holidays, look no further than gift cards. They rank as the top gift Americans want to receive in 2026, according to a National Retail Federation survey.
Fortunately, November is the time to stock up on gift cards at a discount from major retailers, Carls says. Many restaurants also offer deals on gift cards this month, she adds.
Even if you’re not a fan of giving gift cards, you can benefit by buying them at a discount and using them to make purchases during Black Friday sales to score additional savings, Carls recommends.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Costco
Potential savings: 20 percent off
Headphones and speakers
November is a great time to get gifts for the music lovers on your holiday shopping list — or to pick up a few items to enhance your own listening experiences. You’ll see the best discounts of the year on Bluetooth headphones and speakers, Carls says. That includes popular brands such as Beats, Bose, JBL and Samsung.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Target, Walmart
Potential savings: up to 50 percent off
Laptops
Retailers slash prices on laptops by as much as 50 percent during Black Friday sales, says Courtney Omell, an editor at the Krazy Coupon Lady, a website dedicated to finding coupons and deals. But she cautions against focusing on the discount alone, because laptop prices have increased significantly over the past year due to a memory chip shortage.
“Compare the actual price to what that same laptop sold for last year, because some ‘discounts’ come off a list price that went up first,” she says. You can use Google Shopping to check a product’s price history. Also pay attention to the specifications on marked-down laptops because some brands have been cutting memory or storage to keep prices down, Omell says.
Don’t wait until the Monday after Thanksgiving in hopes of getting a lower price. “While it used to be the case that Cyber Monday was the online and tech counterpoint to Black Friday, retailers often run the same deals all weekend through Monday,” Omell says.
“The strategy is to start shopping for laptops on Black Friday,” she continues. “If you don’t find exactly what you want, or don’t have time to shop the holiday weekend, treat Cyber Monday as the final round to snag a solid laptop deal.”
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Dell, HP, Target, Walmart
Potential savings: 15 to 40 percent off
Small kitchen appliances
Retailers know that air fryers, coffee makers and other countertop appliances are popular holiday gifts, “so they use big discounts to clear inventory before newer models arrive,” Omell says.
Some of the best deals are on stand mixers. “The KitchenAid stand mixer is always a hot ticket item, and usually Black Friday features its best price of the year,” Shand says. “Expect discounts of up to 35 percent off.”
Where to look for deals: Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Target, Walmart
Potential savings: 20 to 50 percent off
Smart home devices
Looking to outfit your home with a new smart speaker, smart thermostat or other Wi-Fi-connected device? Many manufacturers offer some of the lowest prices of the year in November to get their smart home products into as many homes as possible, even if it means selling some of these items at a loss, Omell says.
The goal is to get shoppers into their ecosystem. “They’re more likely to buy accessories, subscriptions or compatible products later,” she says.
Look for discounts on Amazon Echo devices, Amazon Fire TV Sticks, Google Nest products and Ring video doorbells.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Walmart
Potential savings: 30 to 60 percent off
Televisions
You don’t have to wait until Super Bowl sales to purchase a new TV at a deep discount. The best deals during Black Friday sales will be on budget brands and last year’s models, which will likely be marked down 40 to 50 percent, Omell says. Be aware: Some manufacturers release cheaper models specifically for holiday sales.
The discounts won’t be as steep on top-rated 2026 models, which have seen a run-up in prices this year, Omell says.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Target, Walmart
Potential savings: 20 to 50 percent off
Toys
Take advantage of Black Friday sales to get deals on the toys your grandkids want. “Retailers know that discounts on hot toys draw shoppers into their Black Friday sales, so you’ll see some of the lowest prices of the year on popular toys such as KPop Demon Hunters singing dolls and Lego Pokémon sets,” Omell says.
Be sure to compare prices across stores. “While one retailer may have the lowest price, another may have more generous coupons,” she says.
Another strategy she recommends: Walmart typically offers the first round of its Black Friday deals in mid-November, “making it a smart time to look for toy deals that might sell out during the busy Black Friday weekend.”
Where to look for deals: Kohl’s, Target, Walmart
Potential savings: up to 50 percent off
Vacuums
If you want to give yourself the gift of a new vacuum to make cleanup after holiday gatherings easier, November is the perfect time to buy one. You’ll find some of the best prices of the year on handheld and robotic models from brands such as Dyson, Roomba and Shark, Shand says.
Where to look for deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
Potential savings: up to 40 percent off
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
Easy Ways to Make Extra Cash in an Hour or Less
How to monetize unwanted gift cards, old electronics, your opinions and more
8 Financial Moves to Make in Your 50s
If you grooved to Van Halen during your teenage years, it’s time to prepare for retirement
Great Ways to Be a Better Online Shopper
Navigate online shopping with these savvy strategies