what-to-buy-in-november


Thanksgiving is less than a month away and Christmas Eve exactly a month later! This fills many with incredible excitement and  some with little bit of trepidation or apprehension. Apprehension that there might not be enough time to get everything ready without spending a ton for Christmas. “Everything” includes shopping, cleaning, decorating, baking, mailing, and meal planning. For our family there are also the Church Christmas programs, decorations, dinners and ladies activities. The entire month of November provides the opportunity to get all your shopping completed early.  You can and should be able to save money, and reduce stress for the holidays.   I love being able to have shopping completely out of the way so we can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Yes, as much as people tend to wish there was more time, the holidays are quickly approaching.  But they usually do involve quite a bit of shopping. With that in mind, I’m going to share with you how to:

1. Shop the early sales in November.
2. Get great deals using sales and coupons in November, both online and in store.
3. Ease your apprehension
4. 
Perhaps learn a few tricks, that could help remove some of the stress from Christmas shopping.

This post may contain affiliate links.  See our full disclosure.

GREAT DEALS START EARLY:

Some of the best seasonal deals are at the very start of November. Stores have big inventory in preparation for the holidays, and will still be able to bring in more if the October sales have been good. You’ll be able to pair up coupons, clearance sales, percentage off store prices and /or big discounts at stores like Penney’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s and other big stores, but other chains will also have deals like this.

Hurry, hurry, hurry for post Halloween sales of candy which will get you 50% off or more on cartloads of treats.  Some of it can be saved and used as the base for Holiday baking and crafts.

If you are ordering from overseas sources, you’ll want to order as early as possible.  Shipping can take weeks.  Don’t let starting too late stop you from getting the best deals.

When most people think of shopping in November, they think of the mad shopping days right after Thanksgiving. It doesn’t have to be that way. The entire month of November provides the opportunity to get all your shopping completed early. Amazon is having sales the entire month – with an uptick in sales the week of Thanksgiving – through Cyber Monday.

Don’t discount (bad joke!) Veteran’s Day sales, over the  November 11th weekend.  You’ll see some really good sales from the “Brick and Mortar” stores like Sears, Kohl’s, Penny’s, and Macy’s.  Many special deals  for Veterans extend throughout the entire month of November. AND if you are a Veteran or active Military, you might just get extra discounts. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK!

As a bonus, if you don’t get it done early, there will always be deals that are only available on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

TRICKS TO GET THE BEST DEALS:

MOST STORE SALES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE!

This is the coolest thing!  If you hate going out and shopping like I do, you will be able to find almost everything available online for the same price, and over the week of Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, you’ll likely find free shipping and might even find additional discount coupons.  NOW THAT IS A WIN, WIN, WIN!!

USE COUPONS:

Listen my friends. Before you start shopping you REALLY want to consider coupons.  Not just grocery coupons, but retailer coupons.  These coupons are either available online, on downloadable apps, in newspaper ads, or from sources like Groupon. You can “stack” these when shopping. Stacking coupons is using a retail coupon AND a store coupon on the same item.

USE NEWSPAPER ADS:

You might want to subscribe to the newspaper for a month, or at least pick up the Sunday paper each week AND the Thanksgiving day newspaper, because the those newspapers will be loaded with ads as well as bonus coupons to save even more.

Many, many retailers have coupons available to either get a certain percentage off your purchase, or to save dollars off your total purchase when you reach a specified dollar amount, or both. You can stack these coupons. Many, many, MANY of these coupons are available during the first weeks of November, and often equal 50%off, or more, on top of already discounted items. USE THEM!


PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THIS:
Here is another really great way to “stack” savings. Ebates.com will not only give you great coupon codes, to save with your online order,  but will also give you a percentage back from your online order from many, many retailers, and cash for referring others. With Ebates, you can get a $10 gift card back on your first order of $25 or more, and you can get $5 from referrals first qualifying order. You’ll find discounts and cashback deals as high as 8% all month.  Ebates has some of the VERY BEST online coupon deals for a big percentage off, plus FREE shipping, from your favorite retailers online. Look for the best deals on Cyber Monday, November 28. Sign up here to get your best deals. (Affiliate Link) You can earn lots of money by having friends sign up as well.


YOUR BEST NOVEMBER DEALS:

TOYS:
The biggest department and toy stores are putting out their “toy catalogs” already.  When our kids were little they would spend hours dreaming over them. Retail stores will have special deals including money saving coupons or buy one get one sales before Thanksgiving. Some of these will be in those toy booklets put out by retailers. Walmart, Fred Meyer, Toys R US, Shopko and others will have them. Download their apps for online coupons. Look for percentages off and “buy one get one 50% off.” There will also be great buys on toys the whole week of Thanksgiving, Black Friday weekend as well as Cyber Monday online sales, where you’ll want to check out sites like Ebates (affiliate link) for great coupon codes. Finally be sure and check out Amazon, E-bay and the online stores like Goodwill for great deals on gently used and new toys. November is also a great time to buy a Christmas bicycle, either new and used.

ELECTRONICS:

New video games have come out in October, so you won’t see reduced prices on those until Black Friday, and you will be able to find really low prices on tablets.  Look for the lowest prices of the year, on laptops.  Apple products will be deeply discounted for Black Friday sales as well as HDTVs, and general electronic products like notepads and cameras. Check out these tricks to help make your Black Friday shopping successful.


KITCHEN WARES:

Kitchen wares, pots and pans and small appliances are well priced in November. Aluminum foil, disposable bake ware, plates, napkins and utensils will also be on sale. You’ll find small kitchen appliances throughout the month with special deals on Black Friday, the week before Thanksgiving online, and Cyber Monday.

FALL AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS:

Michael’s in my neighborhood already has fall floral marked at 60% off. Hobby Lobby and other retailers will have their fall decor as well as plates and napkins at 50% off and better. Look for clearance sales on Halloween napkins and paper plates, as well as Thanksgiving themed ones right after those special days. Don’t forget to take your store coupons or put their app on your phone to get instant coupons, some stores will let you take an additional percentage off on clearance.

Many stores already have Christmas decorations at half price. Grab your newspaper ads look for them.  The big plus of buying early is that there is still a great selection.

CLOTHING:

Winter coats, gloves, scarves and boots are well priced all month, but will hit some of their best prices right after Thanksgiving.  Look for the best online clothing deals starting on the Monday BEFORE Thanksgiving.  You’ll find some huge coupon deals as well as free shipping.  A variety of these deals are generally available for a full week in one form or another.  I’ve found some great online deals on Thanksgiving day. Start your online scouting early. Cyber Monday will bring it all to culmination, with some great free shipping deals. For the very best prices on boots, wait until January.

 

NEW” CARS:

If you are looking to purchase a new car, and are willing to go with a 2016 model or older, then fall is the time to buy.  The prices shrink as inventory shrinks, so you’ll have fewer choices as the end of the year approaches.  In November you’ll also find some great used car prices from trade-ins at your local dealership. For the very best deals wait until December.  Next month, I’ll tell you the very best day to buy a car.

 

 PRODUCE:

When November arrives, along with it come many lovely choices for produce. Be sure and use the fruits and vegetables of the season. They will taste best, have the most nutrition and give you the most “bang for your buck.”  Look for root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, turnips and rutabaga. In November, you’ll find the very best prices of the year for sweet potatoes, just in time to make your famous Sweet Potato Casserole for Thanksgiving. They will store well in a cool, dark place for well over a month. Cruciferous vegetables, such as Cabbage, Cauliflower and Brussel sprouts are highly nutritious and at the height of their seasons.

Seasonal fruits include Apples, Cranberries, Pears, Pomegranates, Pumpkins and Avocados.  Sadly, this year there is a shortage of avocados, due to challenges in California and a bit of an embargo from Mexico. Prices for avocados will be quite high.

You can click on this Epicurious map to check out the best local produce in your area, for November.

HOLIDAY FOODS:

TURKEYS:

The VERY BEST prices of the year for turkeys are always in November. If you have freezer space it is always great to have an extra bird or two in the freezer, and your butcher will cut it in half and wrap it for free if a whole turkey is too much to cook at one time. The bigger the turkey the lower the price per pound, and more the more actual meat vs bone per pound. Along with turkey you’ll find great prices for almost all the side items on your holiday grocery list. This includes, but is not limited to ham, frozen pies, gravy mixes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and canned pumpkin, and of course baking supplies (see above.) Sales start the middle of November. If you need some help knowing how to buy or prepare a turkey here is a complete step by step tutorial to easily purchase, thaw and roast the perfect bird.

Where we live you can get really great prices for turkeys by spending a certain amount on groceries. Make up your grocery list by looking for good prices on additional items. Here’s how you can also get some really good deals for these.  Look for “loss leaders” in grocery stores for many products.  Loss leaders are advertised prices that are very low and do not make money for the retailer, but are placed in the ad, in order to get customers into their stores with the calculated risk that once they get you in there, you will spend money on other products to make up for the loss they will take on the “loss leader.”Make a list before you shop and stick to it!

 

 CANDY AND BAKING:

If you are planning to bake your own goodies for the Holidays, be sure and check the Pre-Thanksgiving sales which start very early and go through Thanksgiving. You’ll find butter, flour, sugar, nuts, spices, chocolate and many other baking ingredients at some of the best prices of the year.

 

DAIRY AND MEAT:

Many prices are still high but you can still get good deals by watching for sales, and buying less expensive cuts of meats Beef is down from a year ago, chicken prices are also better than a year ago as are pork prices. 

Milk prices aren’t changing right now and eggs, at least in our area are lower than they have been in a year. And finally, the price for butter seems to be coming down a bit.


TRAVEL:

Fuel prices are still low, this is not only a plus for automobile travel, but for airline travel. If you are planning to travel after the new year, consider waiting to buy your tickets until December when some of the best fare sales are predicted. If you are planning to travel for Christmas, you will want to plan on purchasing your tickets soon, as prices traditionally rise as Christmas approaches. See my October 2015 posting for AIRFARE BARGAINS to save on added air travel charges.

 

SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME:

November is the best time to buy dining room furniture and a great time for new carpet or flooring. Start early if you are wanting to have the installation done by the holidays. Also, if you search, you can find some great deals on appliances, but again – DON’T WAIT.

 

 

SO – get to shopping!! There’s excitement that Christmas is COMING.

I love Christmas and the opportunity to celebrate my Saviour’s birth.

november-pin

HOW TO GET THE BEST DEALS IN NOVEMBER

18 thoughts on “HOW TO GET THE BEST DEALS IN NOVEMBER

  • November 2, 2016 at 10:41 am
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    Great tips. Thanks! I can’t wait for the good deals. Yum yum.

    Reply
    • November 2, 2016 at 11:42 pm
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      My girls are shopping with real diligence online. Those overseas shipments have to go in early to get them in time. Thanks for the kind words!

      Reply
  • November 4, 2016 at 7:51 pm
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    Wow! That’s so cool! My friend told me about Ebates several years ago and I never looked into it. I am so glad you reminded me. You are pretty wonderful, sweet friend (and not just because you help me save money 😉

    Reply
    • November 5, 2016 at 6:45 am
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      Awwwww! Appreciate you checking out Ebates. I’ve managed to get some money from them almost year – since I signed up.

      I’m amazed at the prices of eggs in our neck of the woods right now. I saw them for .69 a dozen with no limits this week. Even the price of real butter is coming down right now! Thanks for your friendship – It is pretty awesome!

      Reply
    • November 5, 2016 at 6:41 am
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      For sure. I’m working on it too. My goal this year is to be done with Christmas shopping in November! It’s a big one!

      Reply
  • November 5, 2016 at 12:45 pm
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    Marjie you rock it. I’m not looking forward to buying stuff. Ughh.. This will help.

    Reply
    • November 5, 2016 at 8:24 pm
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      I don’t like shopping – well, the truth is, I don’t like spending money! Starting early is the key!

      Reply
  • November 5, 2016 at 4:13 pm
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    For the past 5 years or so I’ve made an effort to ease up and actually enjoy the season. What a difference it can make!! Your tip on shopping early is key. I never take advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but I think I will this year! Great post!!

    Reply
    • November 5, 2016 at 8:22 pm
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      Online – the whole week before Thanksgiving – there will be sales as well.

      Reply
    • November 5, 2016 at 8:23 pm
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      My pleasure! Appreciate you reading and commenting, Jen!

      Reply
  • November 6, 2016 at 6:22 am
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    Wow!! This is such a great list of tips. Totally saving this!

    Reply
    • November 6, 2016 at 6:51 am
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      I really appreciate this. Hope these tips help you get some great deals!

      Reply
  • November 7, 2016 at 3:08 am
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    Great tips! I love shopping with coupons so I can’t wait to see what comes in the sales circulars.

    Reply
    • November 7, 2016 at 5:48 am
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      I’ve found several flyers in the Sunday paper with $$ off coupons – like $10 off of $30 – on any merchandise – along with other pretty nifty deals. I get SO excited – and wish everyone could save money like that!!

      Reply
    • November 7, 2016 at 7:42 pm
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      I appreciate you stopping by and for your kind comment!

      Reply

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