October is a great month to stock up on fall baking supplies, canned soups, coffee, seasonal produce, Halloween candy, clothing, household essentials and end-of-season outdoor gear. You’ll also start seeing early holiday sales throughout the month.
Whether you’re building an emergency pantry and supplies, trying to save money by buying things when they’re on sale, or simply putting a little extra away for a rainy day, October has plenty of opportunities to stock up. Let’s look at what’s worth buying this month.
What to Stock Up on in October
If you find an especially good deal, consider picking up a few extras for your local food pantry or charity.
October sales go well beyond groceries. Along with seasonal foods and pantry staples, you may find good prices on clothing, household essentials, health and personal care items, and end-of-season outdoor gear.
Keep scrolling through the full list so you can see what may be worth stocking up on this month and what you may want to wait to buy later.
Stock Up SSales Lists by Month of the Year
Each month brings a different mix of seasonal sales, clearance items and pantry staples worth watching for.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October – you’re here!
- November
- December
These monthly stock-up lists are based on the types of sales and seasonal promotions that tend to happen throughout the year.
How Do You Know What to Buy Each Month?
What to stock up on in October, or any month, is largely based on seasonal sales, store promotions and grocery sales cycles.
Stores tend to discount certain types of products at predictable times of the year. In October, that often includes things like fall baking ingredients, canned foods, seasonal produce and Halloween candy.
The goal is not to buy everything simply because it is on sale. When something you regularly use drops to a good price, consider buying enough to carry your household until you’re likely to see another good sale. That is one of the easiest ways to build a useful stockpile without paying full price.
Check Out All the October Food Holidays
You can bet stores will take advantage of many of these “food holidays” to bring you specials and sales!
- October 1 – International Coffee Day
See Why I Switched to Percolator Coffee - October 2 – National Fried Scallops Day
- October 3 – National Taco Day
See my recipe for DIY Taco Seasoning - October 4 – National Taquito Day
- October 5 – National Apple Betty Day
- October 6 – National Noodle Day
Easy All Natural Macaroni and Cheese - October 7 – National Frappe Day
- October 8 – National Pierogi Day
- October 9 – National Dessert Day & Submarine-Hoagie-Hero-Grinder Day
- October 10 – National Angel Food Cake Day
- October 11 – National Sausage Pizza Day
- October 12 – National Pumpkin Pie Day
50 Pumpkin Recipes To Enjoy This Fall - October 13 – National M&M Day
- October 14 – National Dessert Day
Vintage Pie Recipes You and Your Family Will Love - October 15 – National Mushroom Day & National Red Wine Day
How to Make and Use Mushroom Powder - October 16 – National World Food Day
- October 17 – National Pasta Day
- October 18 – National Chocolate Cupcake Day
- October 19 – National Seafood Bisque Day
- October 20 – National Brandied Fruit Day
- October 21 – National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
- October 22 – National Nut Day
How to Make Homemade Almond Extract - October 23 – National Boston Cream Pie Day
- October 24 – National Bologna Day
- October 25 – National Greasy Foods Day
- October 26 – National Pumpkin Day
- October 27 – National Potato Day
How To Make The Best Baked Potato Soup - October 28 – National Chocolate Day
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Scone Recipe - October 29 – National Oatmeal Day
Homemade Granola Recipe - October 30 – National Candy Corn Day
- October 31 – National Caramel Apple Day
Fresh Foods and Seasonal Produce to Buy in October
October is a great time to stock up on seasonal produce to enjoy fresh, freeze, can or dehydrate for later.
- Apples: See my tips for dehydrating apples or make a batch of Crockpot Apple Butter.
- Artichokes
- Broccoli: Try it in my Instant Pot Beef & Broccoli Recipe.
- Brussels sprouts: How to Cook Brussels Sprouts in 3 Minutes
- Cranberries
- Pears
- Pomegranates
- Pumpkins: Stock up for soups, baking, freezing or preserving.
- Winter squash: Try my Butternut Squash Chili.
- Sweet potatoes: You can even grow your own sweet potatoes.
Frozen Foods to Stock Up on in October
Watch for sales on freezer staples and easy meal options throughout the month, especially if you have extra freezer space.
- Frozen seafood: fish, shrimp and other seafood may be worth watching for when your store runs a good promotion.
- Frozen pizzas and pizza crusts: October is National Pizza Month, so this is a good category to keep an eye on.
- Frozen appetizers and easy meals: stock up only on the foods your family already uses when you find a price worth buying ahead.
Pantry Staples to Stock Up on in October
October can be a good month to watch for sales on fall comfort foods, baking ingredients and pantry staples as stores shift into holiday shopping season.
- Canned soups and stews: handy to keep on hand for quick fall meals.
- Coffee: compare your usual brand’s price and stock up when you find a good promotion.
- Cake mixes and baking mixes
- Baking staples: flour, sugar, spices and other ingredients you’ll use for fall and holiday baking.
- Pasta: a useful pantry staple to buy ahead when prices are good.
- Taco fixings: shells, tortillas, salsa and other taco-night staples may be featured around National Taco Day.
- Pizza-making ingredients: October is National Pizza Month, so watch for promotions on sauce, crusts and toppings.
- Halloween candy: prices often become more promotional as Halloween approaches, but compare unit prices before buying large quantities.
- Pet food: watch for retailer promotions rather than assuming October is always the lowest-price month.
Clothing to Stock Up on in October
October can bring some good clothing deals as retailers move further into fall and continue clearing out older seasonal inventory.
- Jeans: October can be a good time to find discounts after new fall inventory has been in stores for a few weeks.
- Sweaters and fall basics: watch for retailer promotions and early holiday sales.
- Jackets and lightweight outerwear
- Socks and slippers
- Summer clothing: you may still find final clearance prices on warm-weather clothes.
- Halloween costumes: watch for markdowns later in the month. One year I used costume sales to make dress-up boxes for my kids as Christmas presents.
What about boots? If you don’t need them right away, it may be worth waiting. Black Friday often brings deeper discounts on boots and booties.at the deepest discount after Thanksgiving during Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales.
Household Items to Buy in October
October can be a good month to watch for household deals, especially as retailers run fall promotions and early holiday sales.
- Cleaning supplies: look for promotions on dish soap, laundry products, paper goods and other everyday household basics.
- Linens and bedding: October sales events can bring discounts on sheets, blankets, towels and other home essentials.
- Smoke detectors and home safety items: October is Fire Prevention Month, making this a good time to check your smoke alarms and replace anything that is outdated.
- Fall and Halloween decorations: deeper markdowns often start as Halloween gets closer, with the best clearance typically coming after the holiday.
- Humidifiers and seasonal wellness supplies: watch for fall promotions as colder and drier weather approaches.
- Baking supplies: retailers begin promoting baking and kitchen items as holiday cooking season gets closer.
End-of-Season Deals to Look for in October
October can be a good time to find clearance prices on warm-weather and outdoor items as stores make room for fall and holiday inventory.
- Camping gear: watch for end-of-season markdowns on tents, sleeping bags, camp chairs and other outdoor gear.
- Pool supplies: some stores may still have final clearance early in the month.
- Patio furniture and outdoor decor: leftover summer inventory may be discounted as retailers clear seasonal stock.
- Bikes, helmets and cycling gear: fall clearance can bring good prices, especially on older models and seasonal inventory.
- Fans and room air conditioners: stores may mark down remaining warm-weather appliances as temperatures cool.
Stocking up in October can help you save money on groceries, household essentials and seasonal items you already know you’ll use. It is also a good month to start watching for early holiday deals and picking up a few Christmas gifts ahead of the rush.
Make a note of the items on this list that make sense for your home and budget, and come back next month for my Stock Up in November guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Stock Up on in October
What groceries should I stock up on in October?
October is a good month to watch for sales on canned soups, baking supplies, pasta, coffee, seasonal produce, Halloween candy and other pantry staples. Prices vary by store, so focus on the items your household already uses and buy ahead when the sale is worthwhile.
What produce is in season in October?
Apples, pears, cranberries, pumpkins, winter squash, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, pomegranates and sweet potatoes are all common fall produce choices in October. Seasonal produce can be enjoyed fresh or preserved by freezing, canning or dehydrating.
What are the best things to buy in October besides food?
October can also bring deals on clothing, household essentials, fall and Halloween items, camping gear, patio furniture and other end-of-season outdoor products. Early holiday sales may also start appearing during the month.
Should I buy everything on sale in October?
No. A good stockpile is made up of things you already use, not simply things that happen to be discounted. Compare prices, check what you already have at home and stock up when the price makes sense for your budget.
More Stockpiling and Preparedness Tips
- How to Build a Stockpile for $10 a Week
- Non-Food Items to Stockpile
- Stockpiling Medication: A Guide to Help You
- Prepare for a Power Outage
Originally published in 2020. Updated September 2026 with current seasonal shopping tips and sale information.
