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You no longer have until after you’ve eaten your Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy some of the year’s best prices at the nation’s largest retailers. You don’t even have to wait until after Halloween.
“We have seen Christmas creep, moving earlier and earlier,” says budgeting expert Andrea Woroch. “These stores see more opportunity with earlier sales. They know people are more likely to go shopping if there’s a sense of urgency that they can create by having a sale.”
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Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart are all hosting competing sales events this week and next in a bid to be the first stop for consumers as they start checking purchases off their holiday shopping lists. But with so many sales events vying for your attention, it can be hard to know which ones offer the best value. The answer depends on the types of products you want, whether you prefer shopping online or in person, and when you prefer to do your shopping.
The first step is to make sure you’re not jumping at the first sale you see.
“Since most of these sales will happen simultaneously, the best way for consumers to get the most value is to compare prices,” says Brad Godwin, senior vice president and head of retail partnerships at Shopkick. “There may be specific items that are discounted at multiple retailers, so be sure to check the price across the board to make the best purchase.”
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about the biggest shopping events happening this month.
Target Circle Week
Dates: October 1–7
Who’s eligible: Target Circle Members only (free to join)
Products on sale include: Beats headphones, kitchen items, women’s sweaters, denim, jewelry and accessories
Best for: Shoppers who want to get started right now. This sale ends tomorrow.
Strategies to save:
- Check your email for personalized offers. Target Circle members may get notifications for additional savings.
- Download the Target Circle App. You can use it to see specific discounts and product availability, so you can plan before you go to the store — or order for curbside pickup.
- Take advantage of free, two-day shipping. This applies to all online purchases over $35.
Walmart Holiday Kickoff
Dates: October 9–12
Who’s eligible: Online and app shoppers only
Products on sale include: E-bikes, robot vacuums, Apple watches
Best for: Online shoppers who are not Amazon Prime members
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