Why early-bird deal hunters get the worms
Why wait until November to start your holiday shopping when there are a number of benefits to getting it done in October? Just ask the 48 percent of shoppers polled by Bankrate who plan to begin making their holiday purchases by Halloween this year. That’s well before Black Friday, the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and it’s becoming more and more common — and retailers are responding in kind.
“The truth is that the so-called Black Friday creep began long ago, but the pandemic really accelerated it,” says Julie Ramhold, senior editor at DealNews. “We had already seen Black Friday sales ahead of the holiday itself, and starting in 2020, retailers seemed to be leaning into offering up deals even earlier. And that’s essentially continued, so that if you’re ready to start your shopping in October, it’s entirely possible.”
From limited-time deals to avoiding crowds, here are seven reasons why you’ll benefit from getting a jump on your holiday shopping.
1. Black Friday in October
Since the pandemic, Amazon has been hosting Prime Day in October, enabling shoppers to take advantage of discounts way ahead of Black Friday. During the event, dubbed Prime Big Deals Day, Amazon Prime members can save on a range of products, from personal gadgets and cosmetics to apparel and small kitchen appliances. The popular sale, which kicks off at 3 a.m. ET on Oct. 8, isn’t the only action in October. Target, Walmart and Best Buy are getting in on it too, which means even more ways to save.
Target is rolling out its Circle Week sale on Oct. 6, lasting through Oct. 12; Walmart’s Holiday Deals event will run Oct. 8–13; and Best Buy is offering a 48-hour flash sale Oct. 8–9. Best Buy is also running its Prep for the Holidays Event on Oct. 21, with exclusive deals on electronics, appliances and more.
“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 shopping expert Andrea Woroch.
2. Spread out the spending
Inflation may be coming down, but many shoppers are still worried about affording holiday gifts, according to Bankrate’s survey. Of holiday shoppers, 28 percent said they are stressed over the costs, and the same number said holiday shopping will strain their budgets. Moreover, 27 percent expect to rack up debt to cover their holiday shopping costs. That doesn’t take into account spending on holiday festivities beyond gifts, like parties, charitable donations and holiday outings.
Getting your shopping done early could help you free up cash for these other end-of-year expenses. “Deals aren’t getting better or worse once you hit early October,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “[Shoppers] don’t have to wait” to get gifts out of the way.
3. Price match protection
Thanks to price-matching policies offered by many major retailers, you often don’t have to worry about missing out on Black Friday deals or holiday sales later in the season, depending on where you shop. While price-matching rules may differ depending on the retailer, typically if you buy a product and find it being sold at a lower price within two weeks of purchase, the retailer will give you the better deal, either by reimbursing you via your original payment method or by offering store credit. Since most retailers begin rolling out Black Friday deals in early November, Woroch says that if you make your purchases in mid-October, you should be protected. Just don’t forget to save your receipts.
Also, “make sure you set a sale alert or track price drops on the site, so you don’t miss out on the price adjustment,” she says.
4. 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. But the earlier you shop, the more time you have to plan and select the right gifts for everyone on your list. “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.
5. Avoid the crowds
If you hate jam-packed parking lots, crowded aisles and long checkout lines, shopping early in the season should be beneficial. Malls and stores are typically less crowded in October, compared to November and December, when holiday shoppers often turn out in droves, Ramhold says.
6. Stress less about out-of-stock items
The longer you wait, the more you have to worry about out-of-stock items and shipping delays. During last year’s holiday season, more than one in eight products were out of stock, according to an Ipsos poll. Even if you find the item you want, if you procrastinate, you may pay more for shipping so your presents arrive on time.
Then there is the threat of port strikes up and down the East Coast that could delay shipping and the arrival of holiday gifts in stores.
7. More free time to celebrate and give back
With your gift shopping out of the way, you’ll have more time to enjoy family and friends, and 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.
Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including TheWall Street Journal,Forbes,Investopedia and HerMoney.
