It’s October – crazy how the year flew by!   Since it’s a new month, you might be curious to know what you should think about picking up in store, and what you can look forward to on sale, so you can plan accordingly on moving some things around in your stockpile or pantry to make room.

Don’t forget this helpful article: Building a Stockpile on a Limited Budget.  So what IS on sale this month?! 

Sales/Deals:

Halloween is this month, and since the weather is cooling down, many are turning up their ovens to do some holiday baking. That means you may find any of these items on sale:

• Candy
• Cookies
• Baking chocolate chips
• Fruitcake/Candied fruit
• Nuts
• Sugar, White, Brown & Powdered
• Baking Items ~ Baking Chocolate, Jell-O Pudding or Gelatin, Sweetened Condensed Milk & more

Since it is fall, leaves are turning and festivals are in full force ~ you can find Apples and Pumpkins on special more than ever. You’ll also find Pet Products and Car Care products on sale too.

Although Arizona does not participate in Daylight Savings, if YOU do, more than likely you can see Batteries, Smoke Alarms, Safety Equipment and Alarm Clocks on sale this month too.

Last year’s flavors of Holiday Foods will also be on clearance – if any of the stores have stock from LAST Halloween, they may bring it out and mark down to get ready for the NEW Halloween/Holiday products with NEW packaging.

Occasions this Month Include:

• Columbus Day
• National Children’s Day
• World Food Day/UN and UNICEF
• Halloween
• Daylight Savings time ends

Other Promotions this month include:

• Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month
• Fire Prevention Week (10/5 – 10/11)
• German-American Day
• Pledge Across America/Reading/School Celebration
• National Animal Safety and Protection Month
• National Apple Month
• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• National Chili Month
• National Cookie Month
• National Dental Hygiene Month
• National Dessert Month
• National Pizza Month
• National Pork Month
• National Pretzel Month
• National Seafood Month

Don’t forget your Produce!

You’ll also want to take note of the produce that is in season this month of October  – in our area of Arizona, that means Pumpkins, Squash, Grapefruit, Lemons, Corn, Cabbage, Apples, Carrots & more.

Try to buy what is in season instead of buying just anything on your trip – you’ll save yourself so much more f you are familiar with the seasonal produce in your area.

Use the interactive map from Epicurious to determine what is best purchase each month in your respective area.  Remember that an abundance of anything can allow you to can, or chop & freeze for soups & stews in months that those items may not be as inexpensive.

Read our tips to find out how to save money on produce!

Lastly… put this information to work by reaching out to your favorite companies & writing to them to praise them for their product.  Since it’s baking season, start writing to those companies like Toll House, Gold Medal Flour & even C&H Sugar.  Not everyone will respond, but you MAY score back some pretty nice coupons to help bring the cost of these items down!

We put together TEN companies that WILL send you product coupons, read that article here so you can give it a try for yourself.