The 11 Best Things to Buy in November 2025

When you flip the calendar to November, it's impossible not to think about the Super Bowl of shopping: Black Friday. While the end-of-month sales event dominates the headlines, savvy shoppers know that November is actually a month-long marathon of savings, not just a sprint to the finish line. In 2025, the deals are starting earlier than ever, and there are hidden gems to be found well before you carve the turkey.

From clearing out spooky inventory to prepping your kitchen for the holiday feast, this month offers unique opportunities to save on categories that often get overshadowed by doorbuster tech deals. Whether you are looking to stock up on baking essentials, hunting for a wedding dress, or just want cheap candy, our guide breaks down the smartest buys of the month. Here are the 11 best things to buy in November to maximize your budget before the Black Friday craze truly begins.

Also check out our guide on what to buy every month of the year, so you'll know how to save whenever you shop!

The 11 Best Things to Buy in November 2025

Our infographic gives you a look at five of the best buys of November. Below it, you can learn more about the November deals and sales you'll likely see before Black Friday.

1. Halloween Leftovers

Whether you're looking for discounted decor, candy, or even costumes, November 1 is when those deep savings really show up in the form of after-Halloween sales. While stores like Wayfair and Walmart offer noteworthy promotions on all things spooky, the best discounts don't usually appear until the day after the holiday. Watch for discounts as high as 70% off on creepy candies like Witch's Brew Kit Kat bars, Ghoulish Green Snickers, and others, plus pumpkin- and ghost-shaped goodies.

Shop all kinds of Halloween items on clearance in early November, with discounts as high as 80% off.

Looking for decorations and costumes on the cheap? Initial discounts should be at least 50% off, but they could go as high as 75% off or even 80% off, depending on where you shop. For instance, Spirit Halloween (and stores like it) will likely have some of the biggest discounts as they try to clear out stock before closing their doors for the year.

Be aware that because discounts pop up throughout October, the selection can dwindle by the time Halloween rolls around. So it's best to shop as soon as possible on November 1 to get your hands on the good stuff. If you wait too long, discounts can get better, but the selection will only get worse. Wait too long and you'll be able to save 80% or more — but only on the castoffs that no one else wanted.

2. Early Black Friday Deals

Shoppers could take advantage of early Black Friday deals from retailers like Abercrombie and Hollister in 2025 even before the month of November. This fall, we saw Black Friday-branded events pop up as soon as October 14th. With a variety of retailers already hosting early sales, there's no doubt they'll continue to pop up as we get closer to the holiday itself. And that means you may not have to wait to find a great deal. Instead, take a look at any early sales you come across to see if deals within them worth grabbing. As a bonus, you'll be able to avoid the potential chaos of shopping on Black Friday itself.

SEE ALSO: The Best Things to Buy in October (And What to Buy Later)

3. Veterans Day Sales

Veterans Day events used to serve as the last big shopping opportunity before Black Friday rolled around, but now they're just extra November sales in a discount-heavy season. These tend to pop up before the holiday itself, much like what happens with any other shopping event. In previous years, we saw Veterans Day sales pop up around November 2; Veterans Day itself happens annually on November 11.th

Don't expect these to be the best offers of the year, or even of the season, but they're still worth checking out if you're getting into your holiday shopping early. In previous years, we saw deals like the following:

• 10% off flights from American Airlines
• Free 10pc boneless wings and fries from Wingstop

And if you're a veteran yourself, check out our list of the best military discounts, so you can save in November and throughout the year.

4. Baking Supplies

If you enjoy baking during the holiday season, know that we should start seeing plenty of deals in November on staple ingredients. Regularly check your local grocery ads and take advantage of nonperishable items that go on sale, like canned pumpkin, marshmallows, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions.

Prepare to stock up on baking supplies, cookware, and food storage containers for even less in November.

Even if you can find these items in your local grocery store, you may want to be prepared to pay more — and that can cut into your holiday budget overall. Why are we worried about these items in particular?

5. Wedding Dresses and Apparel

It may seem like a weird time to be thinking about weddings, unless you're getting married soon. But this time of year is when wedding apparel retailers like Boscov's are trying to clear out last season's stock at a discount. If you need a dress, it's a good time to start looking, as you may be able to find even better discounts as stores try to make room for new looks in the new year. In general, expect November discounts to range from 20% off to 40% off, although clearance racks could see savings of up to 80% off this month.

6. Cookware

If thinking about cooking for the holidays has you questioning your current cookware collection, know that November is a good time to buy new pieces. In previous years, we saw a significant amount of cookware deals, with about one-third of them earning our Staff Pick badge.

Watch for standout offers this month to include ones like a stainless steel 3.5-quart saucepan for just $10, a nonstick turkey roaster and rack for $12, a 16" pre-seasoned cast iron grill for $13, and a 15-piece glass bakeware set for $25.

7. Home Services

There's a good chance you could see significant discounts on different kinds of home services in November, depending on where you live. When temperatures start to cool, demand for home services goes down, so contractors and other professionals may be willing to work with you on pricing projects you have in mind. They could also be offering discounts in general with demand down, so check around and see which promotions are available for the items your home needs along with the services.

8. Main Dishes for Holiday Celebrations

If you have turkey every year for your holiday celebrations, the good news is prices should be lower this year compared to previous years. More good news! DoorDash will deliver your turkey this year, and at a discount! Whether you have seen their commercials or not, the discount and convenience is real!

Buying a turkey in November for Thanksgiving? Expect turkey prices in 2025 to be lower than they were last year.

9. Food Storage Containers

This one shouldn't come as a surprise, but at the same time, some consumers may not think about picking up food storage containers for cheap early in November. Be prepared to shop stores like Target, where you could find a 30-piece Rubbermaid set for just $9 or a 22-piece glass Pyrex set for $22. Amazon, meanwhile, could offer up a 6-piece Anchor Hocking glass set for as little as $6.

10. Seasonal Produce

If you think fresh produce is off the table now that temps are cooling in many places, you'll be happy to know that's not the case. Expect the best fresh veggies in November to include beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, mushrooms, parsnips, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash. And if you're on the hunt for the freshest fruit, look for cranberries, oranges, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, and tangerines

11. BOGO Gift Cards

We may not see a ton of them this month, but it's a good idea to start watching for deals on gift cards from top retailers like Disney. As of late November, we're seeing the "buy one, get one" promotions for Black Friday. But they could start sooner, so follow your favorite brands and take advantage of these bonus gift card deals when they pop up.

Remember that these promotions involve buying a certain amount in gift cards to receive a bonus card. And while gift cards typically don't expire, the bonus cards will be very specific about when you can use them.

The Bottom Line: Shop Smart All Month Long

November is a unique balancing act in the retail world. While it is easy to get tunnel vision waiting for Black Friday and Cyber Monday doorbusters, the smartest savings often happen in the quiet moments earlier in the month. By taking advantage of deep clearance on seasonal items, stocking up on holiday food essentials while prices are competitive, and keeping an eye on early-access sales, you can spread out your spending and avoid the stress of last-minute panic buying.

As we move deeper into the month, remember that the landscape shifts quickly. Keep your eyes peeled for those BOGO gift card offers and monitor the price of that Thanksgiving turkey—especially with delivery services entering the mix this year. Ready to tackle the biggest shopping days of the year? Consider signing up for the DealNews Select newsletter. It drops a collection of the absolute best, handpicked deals into your inbox every weekday. And if you have a specific item on your Lowe's shopping list, you can set a deal alert for it on our site. We'll send you an instant notification the moment it goes on sale, so you'll never miss a price drop.