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7 Reasons to Do All Your Holiday Shopping in October
Why early-bird deal hunters get the worms
5-minute read
Robert Samuel Hanson
Key takeaways
- Pre-holiday sales with deep discounts on a range of items start in October.
- Shopping sooner gives consumers more time to budget, spread out expenses and reduce reliance on credit cards.
- Buying gifts early can help shoppers avoid sold-out items, earn rewards and enjoy a less stressful holiday season.
When it comes to holiday shopping, October is the new November — and consumers are catching on that there’s no need to wait until Black Friday, with two-thirds of those surveyed by marketing platform Optimove saying they plan to start their holiday shopping before November.
If it seems too early to start checking items off your gift list while stores are still stocked with Halloween decor, think again. “Starting your holiday shopping early is a good idea,” says Julie Ramhold, senior editor at DealNews, a daily deals website. “I’ve seen plenty of people swear by shopping throughout the year and stashing gifts in a closet so that when the holidays roll around, they’re covered. But even if you don’t want to shop that way, beginning your shopping in October is a smart strategy.”
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From taking advantage of early deals to avoiding shortages of the year’s hottest gifts, here are seven reasons you should get a jump on your holiday shopping.
1. Score Black Friday deals early
You don’t have to wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving for retailers to slash prices. “Those kinds of deep discounts will become available in early October,” says Ted Rossman, principal consumer finance analyst at nonprofit credit counseling agency Money Management International. Amazon will host an annual two-day sales event called Prime Big Deals Day, starting on Oct. 6, where Amazon Prime members get access to exclusive deals on a range of products. Best Buy, Target and Walmart also have early holiday sales events in October, which means even more ways to save.
“Outside of these sales events, October is also a good time to shop for select products that typically go on sale during this month, which includes fall clothing and denim, smart thermostats, dress-up costumes just before Halloween and outdoor entertaining essentials like grills — all of which could make great holiday gifts at a discount,” says Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings adviser in Bakersfield, California. And, with the release of the new iPhone Duo, expect to see deals on older iPhone models and phones from other brands, she says.
2. Spread out your spending
With prices rising, many shoppers are adjusting their holiday budgets, according to a survey by personal finance website the PennyHoarder. Of holiday shoppers, 46 percent said they are limiting the number of gifts they buy to offset higher prices, and 40 percent said they will opt for cheaper items.
Shopping early can help you free up cash for other end-of-year expenses. “Perhaps even more important than buying early, though, is coming up with a plan,” Rossman says. “Set money aside from every paycheck between now and the holidays. Building that holiday fund is a valuable buffer against high-cost credit card debt.”
3. Nab popular items before they sell out
The longer you wait, the more you have to worry about out-of-stock items and shipping delays. “Toys are a category where popular items can sell out quickly, making October a good time to snag coveted toys before inventory gets tighter closer to the holidays,” says Mackenzie Shand, executive editor at BlackFriday.com, a website dedicated to Black Friday deals.
Plus, you can score deals on toys this month as retailers such as Amazon, Target and Walmart mark down these popular holiday gifts during their fall sales events. Look for discounts of up to 40 percent.
4. Rack up rewards
If you use rewards or cashback apps, websites or credit cards, doing your holiday shopping in October can pay dividends later in the season. “You could tap into those rewards in December to help pay off those last-minute gifts,” Woroch says. For example, the Fetch mobile app and web browser extension rewards you with points for online purchases that can be redeemed for gift cards to a variety of stores, such as Costco, Home Depot, Target and Walmart. Or you can earn cash back when you shop through sites or apps such as Rakuten, RetailMeNot and TopCashback.
If you don’t already have a cash-back credit card, Woroch recommends looking for one that offers a big sign-up bonus, such as a $200 cash reward after spending $500 in the first three months. “Since the holidays are upon us, you will easily hit that $500 spending minimum,” she says. “It’s like getting a free $200 back, plus additional cash back or rewards for a variety of purchases.” You can compare cash back credit card reward offers on websites such as CardRates.com, CreditCards.com or NerdWallet.
5. Give better gifts
Last-minute shoppers know all too well about the pitfalls of buying in haste. When you’re in a hurry, you could overspend and grab gifts that may not be a hit with your recipients.
“By being ahead of the game, you can take your time and be mindful about your purchases, making sure to get just the right thing, rather than feeling rushed and buying something last-minute that you aren’t totally sold on,” Ramhold says.
6. Avoid the crowds
If you hate jam-packed parking lots, crowded aisles and long checkout lines, get your holiday shopping done now. Malls and stores are typically less crowded in October compared to November and December, when holiday shoppers often turn out in droves, Ramhold says.
7. Get more time to celebrate and give back
With your gift shopping out of the way, you’ll have more space on your calendar in November and December to enjoy time with family and friends and to give back, which is what the holidays are all about. “If you do your shopping in October, then you’re going to be ahead of the game, which means cutting out major sources of stress during the holiday season and being able to relax and enjoy being with those you value,” Ramhold says.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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