This is part of my ongoing monthly stock-up and save series. It’s all about What To Stock Up On In October today! If we make a plan on what our needs and wants are, we can check each month to see which is the best month to spend the money for those things we really need. As you know I update this series every month.
It’s all about buying the items we need at rock-bottom prices whenever possible. Let’s get started with the savings. By cutting costs on items you need each month you may be able to meet your savings and overall budget goals.
If there was ever a time to stock up on garden seeds it is now, This is where I buy all of my seeds: SeedsNow
What To Stock Up On In October
Seasonal Produce
So many fruits and veggies are either being harvested right now or soon will be. I mentioned in a recent post that many small towns in Utah are currently celebrating “Peach Days.” What a fun time to get together and enjoy not only peaches but other food products much like a farmer’s market. They also have food and craft booths, band concerts, and other fun activities.
Do you love eating fruit and vegetables when they are in season? Oh my gosh, they taste so much better! This month look for pumpkins, pomegranates, broccoli, sweet potatoes, cranberries, pears, peaches, and squash.
You may want to look for your pumpkins early in the month, word is out that there may be a shortage due to a very wet spring in parts of the country where they are commonly grown.
If you missed my post on Everything You Need To Know About Apples, you may want to check it out.
Cold and Flu Medicine
Yep, flu season is here and we need to gear up for it. Most doctors suggest you get an annual flu shot, but we all should have some over-the-counter meds on our shelves too.
In the fall we typically start to see sickness everywhere. The stores know that, so they stock up on cold and flu over-the-counter medicine. You may see the shelves front and center when you visit your favorite grocery or health products store. In case you missed this post, 35 OTC Medications You Should Store
Be sure and watch for humidifiers and vaporizers as well. It’s all about staying well this season at reduced prices. It’s also about saving money every month on the items we need.
Stock Up On White Rice
Rice is a staple we all should have readily available. There are so many meals that you can plan around rice offerings, and rice goes so far when prepared.
Well, I have heard because of the drought and other out-of-the-country issues we will be having a rice shortage. Is it true, I believe it is. So I decided to show you how I store my white rice. It’s a bit more expensive than buying bulk rice, but for me, this works better and the storage containers last for years. I don’t have to put anything else in the 5-gallon buckets except the closed/unopened bags. I only buy non-GMO white rice, it’s how I roll.
When I need a bag to fill my 2-gallon buckets in my kitchen pantry, I grab a bag or two from the larger stash and then retighten the Gamma Lids back up. Here is what I do as you can see from the pictures of rice.
5-gallon Buckets
These buckets may take up too much room in your kitchen pantry, but they are sure nice for longer-term storage in the basement or other cool, dry places.
I ordered these buckets after I purchased the white rice. They are Six 5-gallon Buckets with Gamma Lids. I will order white vinyl lettering that says RICE very soon. Each bucket holds approximately 25 pounds. Yes, I have a very large family that likes to get together for meals.
Sealed with Gamma Lids
The gamma lids have two parts that both have “threads.” First, you snap on the base of the lid to your bucket, then you twist the other part of the lid into the base using those threads. There is a rubber seal or gasket that makes it airtight. I love these lids.
These are ready for our larger pantry storage area.
Columbus Day Sales
It seems like sales have become part of every holiday celebration, and Columbus Day is no exception. I think the retailers try to take advantage of people being off work with free time on their hands. The advantage of this holiday is that it generally comes before the really cold weather settles in for most of the country.
Oh boy, this month you need to watch for markdowns on clothing, bath towels, bedsheets, and decorations for the home. The stores are making room for the late-year holiday decorations, so they need a lot of room for those Christmas trees, lights, and outside decor.
Right now the word is out that many container ships are delayed getting to shore to be unloaded. Some items you hoped to see around Christmas may not make it. Buy them now just in case so you don’t have to pay more later.
It’s a great month to replace those worn-out sheets. If you need a new quilt, down comforter, or bedspread, keep your eyes glued to the ads for great buys.
Pasta Galore
We’ve been eating more pasta dishes lately. It may be due to the easy way so many can be prepared, and again, pasta goes a long way.
My favorite month to stock up on pasta is this month. The store where I shop marks them down to about a dollar a box for the size I like most. Of course, if you want bigger boxes they will cost a bit more.
The nice thing about pasta is that we can stretch a meal big time with this hearty food storage item. Another good feature about pasta is that it tends to store longer on your pantry shelf. Buy some extra now knowing they won’t expire in short order and can be used for months to come.
You may want to look for different shapes because they are priced ridiculously low in October. Some of my favorites are rigatoni, bowtie, and elbow macaroni. Watch your mailbox mailers for coupons to save even more. I love stocking up on spaghetti sauce as well!
Frozen Pizza (National Pizza Month)
We like pizza any month of the year. As the weather gets cooler, it is a popular meal to warm up your tummy!
National Pizza Day is February 9th every year. Well, National Pizza Month is celebrated on October 1st every year. So be prepared to stock your freezer with your favorite frozen pizzas.
If you want to eat out, stay close to Facebook or Instagram for specials posted nationwide.
Be sure and watch your mailbox for pizza coupons to save even more money. What do you like to put on your pizza? I like a thin crust loaded with all the goodies and extra cheese. Pizza is a great treat for those Halloween parties, and why not save some money so you can feel comfortable inviting even more guests?
Tacos (National Taco Month)
Mexican food is a true favorite in our house, whether we make the meal at home or at a local restaurant. I could eat ground beef tacos just about every night, but Mark likes his sweet pulled pork burritos.
Do you love tacos as much as I do? Well, October 4th is National Taco Day! Bring on the salsa for me to enjoy as a special topping! We’ve all heard of Taco Tuesday, well this is Taco Month, so look for huge discounts and two-for-one buys.
Check out the freezer section for those frozen tacos as well. They are great for the holidays as appetizers, right? It’s a great month to stock up on salsa, taco shells, flour tortillas, and guacamole at very low prices.
Jeans as in Blue Jeans
With the cooler temperatures, many of us have to put away the shorts we’ve been wearing for months and change into long pants. I don’t know about you, but we’re pretty casual dressers in our home, and jeans fill the bill nicely.
Here’s the deal, if you missed the school sales for jeans, no worries. Check out the clearance racks for jeans, lots of jeans. The stores are getting ready to stock Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stuff.
Buy a pair or two to stash for later because it’s getting colder this month. Be ready to put away those shorts.
It’s all about spending money on items we need at cheap prices throughout the year.
Seafood (National Seafood Month)
Mark is our family seafood lover. He gets so excited when he sees the prices reduced this time of year.
This month has some super national holiday celebrations, so we may as well take advantage of them. So if you love fresh shrimp, frozen shrimp, or mussels, watch for super low prices to make that delicious seafood meal at home.
I can see shrimp cocktails being served during future holidays like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Watch for reduced prices in weekly ads and coupons in your mailbox.
Halloween Items
It’s hard to believe Halloween is right around the corner. It has always been one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. We have lots of family gatherings this time of year, so the decorations come out early.
We all know October is the month for buying Halloween costumes, candy, decorations, and paper products. You will see drastically reduced prices the closer it gets to the end of the month.
Keep in mind, if you are looking for a certain costume you may need to buy it before the deep price cuts show up towards the 31st. If you like to give out a certain candy then stock up during the first sale that you see.
But the prices will drop every week towards the last week, so if you aren’t picky just wait.
Trust me, the kids will like any candy you give out at the door on Halloween night. It’s all about saving hundreds of dollars over the years by buying the stuff we need at the lowest prices.
Baking Items for the Holidays
Our kitchen goes non-stop this time of year. I always stock up on all sorts of baking items so I don’t run out. If stocking up, why not do it when the prices are lower?
Oh my gosh, this is the best month to stock up on baking goods for the holidays. If you need regular sugar, brown sugar, or chocolate chips of any flavor, they will be cut in price. Remember to watch for the best sales prices.
Just about everything you can imagine will be displayed down the center aisles and marked down so you can decorate those awesome desserts you want to take to holiday parties.
Cake Mixes
I made a Texas Sheet Cake this week and it disappeared like magic. Most people consider cakes to be a favorite dessert.
This is a great month to snag those cake mixes that you love to use. I love it when I can get a chocolate cake mix for a dollar. Oh, and my favorite ones are Duncan Hines, I stocked up big time!
The boxes are stored in an airtight plastic container along with the instant pudding mix that goes with my chocolate cake recipe I love to take to parties.
October is the best month to stock up on my angel food cake boxes as well. It’s hard to think about strawberry shortcakes in October, but I do so I can snag the boxes at half price. Watch for the best discount prices this month.
Dish Soap
With all those holiday meals you’ll be doing a bunch of dishes, so don’t run out. Buy them now at a discount and smile all the way to the bank.
I must confess, I buy at least ten bottles of dish soap once a year. Do you worry about running out as much as I do? You’ll save money in the long run, so why not?
October is the month to save big time on the liquid kitchen soap you like to use. You’ll also see dishwasher soap and hand soap on sale. It’s a great month to stock up for 12 months while the prices are at their lowest. It’s all about the best buys of the year.
Coffee
There are so many varieties of coffee available these days, why not stock up on your favorite when they’re on sale?
For that coffee drinker in your family, this is a perfect month to stock up on your favorites for the year. If you’re like me, you know this would be a great bartering item too, right?
Watch for hot chocolate on sale while you’re strolling down that aisle. You’ll be glad when you see the savings.
Fall Clothing
With the change in weather, there will be all sorts of new items on the racks and shelves.
When you think of fall weather, you think of sweaters, pants, socks, and jackets, right? You will see the stores clearing these out because they have a surplus of them after back-to-school shopping.
The stores need room for Christmas gifts, trees, and decorations. If you need a winter coat, check the clearance racks this month.
New Cars
If you are in the market for a new car, this is the month the dealers start pushing out the old and bringing in the new-year models. Be aware that many dealers are experiencing some delivery issues due to the shortage of computer chips at the manufacturer level. Cars may be more expensive than in years past, and the shortage may extend longer than anticipated,
With the increase in interest rates right now the dealers may not have those great interest rates like we saw earlier this year to entice us to buy that car we need. As mentioned, due to a computer chip shortage, you may find the cars are priced higher than you expected.
There really isn’t the inventory you are used to seeing. One thing to consider, you can get more for your used car, so if you have more than one car it may be wise to sell one and wait to buy that new one when prices stabilize.
Be sure and compare the prices on Sam’s Club and Costco’s websites for more savings on cars. Who would have thought these member clubs would help us save money on a car purchase?
“Prepare Your Family For Survival” by Linda
What To Stock Up On Each Month:
- What to Stock Up On In January
- What to Stock Up On In February
- What to Stock Up On In March
- What to Stock Up On In April
- What to Stock Up On In May
- What to Stock Up On In June
- What to Stock Up On In July
- What to Stock Up On In August
- What to Stock Up On In September
- What to Stock Up On In October
- What to Stock Up On In November
- What to Stock Up On In December
Unique October Holidays
- October 1: International Coffee Day
- October 2: National Custodial Worker Day
- October 4: National Frappe Day
- October 5: Do Something Nice Day
- October 6: Mad Hatter Day
- October 7: National Kale Day
- October 9: Fire Prevention Day
- October 10: National Angel Food Cake Day
- October 11: It’s My Party Day
- October 12: Old Farmer’s Day
- October 13: International Skeptics Day
- October 14: National Dessert Day
- October 15: White Cane Safety Day
- October 16: Bosses Day
- October 17: National Pasta Day
- October 18: National Meatloaf Appreciation Day
- October 19: Evaluate Your Life Day
- October 20: International Chefs Day
- October 21: Count Your Buttons Day
- October 22: National Nut Day
- October 23: National Mole Day
- October 24: National Bologna Day
- October 25: World Pasta Day
- October 26: National Mincemeat Day
- October 27: Black Cat Day
- October 28: Plush Animal Lover’s Day
- October 29: National Frankenstein Day
- October 30: National Candy Corn Day
- October 31: Halloween
Final Word
I love sharing my What To Stock Up On In October post as part of my monthly savings series! It’s all about making a list and saving money on the items we need when they hit rock bottom prices. Please keep on prepping, we must. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Autumn Pumpkins and Sunflowers Deposit photos_13382590_s-2019
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