It’s officially fall and you know consumers are getting their Halloween on. In fact, Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $13.5 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
It’s easy to see why when a 12-foot giant-sized skeleton that costs $299 is a best seller at Home Depot.
Also in October, major retailers are dropping prices like it’s hot. Amazon is back with another Prime Day-like sales event, Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 6-7. Target’s Circle Deal Days are also Oct. 6-7. Walmart is offering “deals and more” Oct. 5-11.
If you’re shopping this month, we’ve highlighted a couple tried-and-true categories to keep an eye on.
Buy: Halloween gear
Halloween stuff is a given, but can you wait until the bitter end? The closer to Halloween, the steeper discounts will be on costumes, says Patricia Huddleston, professor of retailing at Michigan State University.
Retailers want to get rid of as much of their stock as possible by Oct. 31, she says. The same goes for Halloween-themed candy.
For both, she says: “Of course, your best deals are going to be on Nov. 1.”
Skip: Most clothing
October is not a great time for apparel sales. You're better off skipping most clothing purchases if you can hold off.
“The markdowns are best around the holiday season and after Christmas,” Huddleston says.
At that point, she says, most winter apparel, including tops and bottoms, will be discounted to make way for spring inventory.
One exception to end-of-year sales is jeans, which are known to go on sale in October, after the back-to-school season ends. Check stores such as American Eagle and Gap for good deals.
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Buy: Outdoor furniture, grills and flowers
Expect major markdowns on summer inventory that retailers are desperately trying to offload. Leftover deck essentials like outdoor furniture and grills are likely to be marked down.
While you’re upgrading your yard, Huddleston suggests checking out garden centers early in the month for deals on perennials.
Nothing says fall like yellow mums, am I right?
Skip: Most electronics
Save major spending on electronics for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That’s when you typically see the heftiest discounts on TVs, gaming consoles, laptops, tablets, smartphones and activity trackers. These savings can add up to hundreds of dollars.
The exception to this rule is the gadgets that go on sale during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. Prices will be down, but discounts may not be Black Friday-level deep.
Bonus: Tacos, pasta and desserts
October also comes with three food holidays to look forward to.
National Taco Day is Oct.6, National Dessert Day is Oct. 14, and National Pasta Day is Oct. 17. Look for promotional signage at local restaurants, check for deals on these restaurants’ websites and social accounts, and come back here to NerdWallet for curated lists.
The Nerds love freebies and discounts, so we’ll be posting stories later this month on where to find taco and pasta deals.
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- 1.National Retail Federation. NRF Halloween Survey Shows Consumer Spending Expected to Reach $13.5 Billion. Accessed Sep 24, 2026.
