Every month, retailers offer incredible deals across various categories—from tech and home essentials to fashion and groceries. With so many discounts and promotions available, it’s easy to overlook some of the best offers. Here’s a round-up of the top deals and discounts you may have missed this past month, plus some tips to ensure you never miss out on great savings in the future.
1. Tech and Electronics
October saw significant discounts on electronics, especially as retailers geared up for early holiday sales. Here are some standout tech deals:
- Amazon Prime Day offered massive savings on Amazon devices. The Echo Dot (5th Gen) dropped to its lowest price ever, while the Fire TV Stick and Kindle Paperwhite were steeply discounted.
- Best Buy hosted its own “Black Friday in October” sale with deals on laptops, headphones, and smart TVs. Sony and LG TVs, as well as Bose and Beats headphones, saw price cuts of up to 40%.
- Apple fans could also catch great deals on refurbished iPads and MacBooks directly from Apple’s refurbished store, with prices slashed up to 15% on selected models.
Tip: Tech deals come back around during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so if you missed these, stay tuned for November discounts.
2. Fashion and Apparel
October typically marks the start of clearance sales on summer and fall fashion, as retailers make room for winter collections.
- Nordstrom Rack hosted a Clear the Rack event, where clearance items received an additional 25% off, making for steep discounts on brands like Nike, Free People, and Levi’s.
- Old Navy ran a site-wide flash sale with discounts up to 50% on fall essentials like sweaters, jeans, and jackets.
- Macy’s also had significant markdowns on designer clothes during its “Fall Sale,” with up to 40% off brands like Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren.
Tip: Follow your favorite brands and retailers on social media to get notified about exclusive flash sales, which often pop up with little notice.
3. Home Goods and Appliances
October is prime time for discounts on home goods, as retailers start preparing for holiday sales on larger items.
- Wayfair offered deep discounts on furniture during its 5 Days of Deals sale, with markdowns up to 60% on sofas, dining tables, and bedroom sets.
- Home Depot and Lowe’s both had early holiday sales on major appliances, with refrigerators, dishwashers, and washers and dryers from brands like Samsung and GE discounted by up to 35%.
- Bed Bath & Beyond held a home essentials sale with up to 40% off kitchen gadgets, small appliances, and bedding items.
Tip: Many retailers extend their deals through the first week of November, so you still may be able to catch some lingering discounts on home items.
4. Groceries and Everyday Essentials
Groceries can be one of the hardest areas to save on, but many stores offered some standout discounts this past month:
- Target provided shoppers with an extra 20% off grocery orders over $50 when using their Target Circle rewards. This included essentials like snacks, pantry items, and frozen goods.
- Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh offered Prime members exclusive deals on produce and seasonal items like pumpkins, apples, and fall-themed snacks.
- Kroger had buy-one-get-one-free deals on a variety of popular household products and pantry staples. Coupon stacking made these savings even better.
Tip: Use grocery rebate apps like Ibotta and Fetch Rewards to earn cashback on top of your grocery deals, especially during high-discount periods like holidays.
5. Beauty and Skincare
With the holiday season approaching, October saw a variety of beauty deals perfect for stocking up or early gift shopping:
- Sephora’s Friends & Family Sale offered a 20% discount to insiders, making it an ideal time to buy pricier products like skincare devices and high-end fragrances.
- Ulta’s Gorgeous Hair Event had up to 50% off haircare essentials, including brands like Redken, Paul Mitchell, and T3 styling tools.
- Bath & Body Works held their annual “Buy 3, Get 3 Free” sale on body care, letting customers mix and match lotions, body washes, and sprays for ultimate savings.
Tip: Sign up for email newsletters with your favorite beauty brands to get early access to discounts, as these sales often feature limited-time offers that sell out fast.
6. Health and Fitness
October brought several great deals on health and fitness essentials, ideal for anyone looking to gear up for winter workouts or cozy indoor fitness routines.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods had a sale on fitness equipment, with discounts up to 30% off brands like NordicTrack and Bowflex.
- GNC ran a buy-one-get-one-50%-off sale on vitamins, protein powders, and supplements, which could be further discounted with GNC’s loyalty program.
- REI marked down cold-weather outdoor gear and exercise apparel by up to 50% during its Gear Up Get Out sale, with savings on brands like Patagonia, The North Face, and Columbia.
Tip: Wait for winter clearance events in January for even more fitness and sports gear savings as stores clear out seasonal stock.
7. Travel and Experiences
Travel brands offered some exclusive promotions for fall, giving travelers a chance to save on upcoming holiday trips or experiences:
- Expedia and Booking.com had discounts on flights, hotels, and packages for early holiday bookings, with some deals offering up to 30% off.
- Airbnb offered promo codes for select bookings, particularly for experiences and longer stays, ideal for remote workers planning month-long trips.
- Southwest Airlines and JetBlue had flash sales on domestic flights, with one-way fares as low as $39.
Tip: Watch for early Black Friday deals in November, as airlines and travel companies often release their biggest discounts before the holidays.
8. Kids and Baby Products
October was full of kid-friendly sales, perfect for parents looking to save on essentials for babies and toddlers, as well as toys in anticipation of the holiday season.
- Buy Buy Baby had up to 30% off baby essentials, including car seats, strollers, and high chairs from brands like Graco and Chicco.
- Target offered 20% off select kids’ apparel and a $10 gift card for every $50 spent on baby products.
- Walmart also held early Black Friday sales on toys, featuring popular items like LEGO sets, action figures, and dolls at up to 40% off.
Tip: Keep an eye on Amazon’s early holiday toy sales, which offer deep discounts and tend to get better closer to the holiday season.
9. Pet Supplies
Pet owners also enjoyed discounts on pet food, accessories, and grooming essentials:
- Chewy had a sale on Halloween-themed pet gear, with discounts on costumes, treats, and toys for cats and dogs.
- PetSmart offered 20% off pet grooming services for loyalty members, along with discounts on premium pet food brands like Blue Buffalo and Hill’s Science Diet.
- Petco ran flash sales on essentials like pet beds, crates, and collars, with some items discounted up to 50%.
Tip: Subscribe to auto-ship programs with stores like Chewy and Petco to get continuous savings on pet essentials, as well as early access to future sales.
How to Never Miss Out on Deals Again
To make sure you don’t miss future discounts, here are some quick tips:
- Subscribe to Newsletters: Signing up for your favorite store’s newsletter often comes with exclusive subscriber-only offers.
- Use Deal Sites and Apps: Sites like DealNews, DiscountMeThis, and Slickdeals curate daily discounts, flash sales, and promo codes so you never miss out.
- Set Price Alerts: Use price-tracking tools like Honey and CamelCamelCamel to set alerts on items you’re watching. You’ll get a notification whenever the price drops.
- Follow Brands on Social Media: Many retailers announce flash sales and promo codes through social media, especially on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
By keeping up with deal alerts, subscribing to newsletters, and checking in regularly on deal sites, you’ll be well-prepared to score excellent discounts every month.