Every month of the year, retailers discount items due to overstock, holiday sales, or transitions from one season to the next. Here are the shopping highlights for November in Hawai’i stores. Of course, we think the best way to save money is not to spend it! But, when you need or want to, plan your spending to take advantage of the times of the year when what you buy is at the lowest possible price.
- November special events with shopping discounts and deals include Veterans Day deals (November 11), Black/Green Friday (day after Thanksgiving), Small Biz Saturday (Saturday after Thanksgiving), and Cyber Monday (Monday after Thanksgiving).
Image by stuartmiles via Depositphotos
Discounted seasonal items to buy in November
Halloween goods
Early in November, you’ll want to peruse the Halloween goods for décor or party supplies for next year. Solid color black and orange party supplies can coordinate with other colors throughout the year (black and green for St. Patrick’s Day, orange and yellow for summer, etc.). Autumn décor might also be discounted to make way for Thanksgiving and Christmas supplies and will look great around your home until spring.
New and Used Cars
November continues to be a good time to buy a car. Prices on new models are lowest at the end of the month and the end of the year in December. We always recommend a used car to save the most money on your transportation costs. In November-December, you’ll find a good selection as buyers of new cars trade-in or sell their current car to purchase the latest model. When buying used, be sure to shop and compare carefully. Get a guarantee from a used car or have a reliable mechanic check the condition on a private purchase.
New products to buy in November
Veterans Day
Veterans are especially honored for their service every November 11. Free meals & food discounts for Veterans Day (hawaiionthecheap.com) are available to active and retired military. Retailers also offer some deals to the general buying public. In addition to freebies and discounts, there are Veterans Day events across the Hawaiian Islands (hawaiionthecheap.com).
Electronics, laptops, and gaming systems
November is the best month of the year for almost any technology purchase from smartphones and digital cameras to laptop computers, smart home devices and wearables, game consoles, video games, DVDs, and more.
But wait until Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or later. In most cases, you save the most by buying the outgoing model, or at least a model without extra features you won’t use. For example, I’m in the market for a new TV, but plan to wait until after Black Friday. In prior years, I’ve found a better selection on a range of models after Black Friday and leading up to Christmas.
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Major appliances
The best prices on appliances occur during the month of November and for Black Friday. You’ll find discount prices on all major appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, and washers and dryers, as well as smaller appliances such as vacuum cleaners.
Cookware and small appliances
As with major appliances, you’ll find great prices on small kitchen appliances including coffee makers, mixers, blenders, slow cookers, toasters and toaster ovens, and countertop microwaves. In addition to appliances, November is a good time for other kitchen tools, gadgets, cookware, and bake ware.
Baking supplies
Ingredients for baked goods are in abundant supply and there are very good deals to be found on related groceries such as flour, sugar, butter, nuts, dried fruits, and spices as well as baking mixes, pie crust, and cookie dough. But keep an eye on expiration dates and don’t over buy.
Clothing and formal wear
You’ll find better prices on all sorts of apparel and shoes after the holidays. But on Cyber Monday expect to find great prices on all kinds of everyday wear.
In addition, November is a good time to shop for formal wear or elegant pieces for holiday parties, since the pieces are in abundant supply. Of course, you’ll see discounts after the new year. But if you have a special holiday or party event coming up, shop now.
#SHOPSMALLHAWAII Saturday after Thanksgiving.
If you prefer to skip the mall and big box stores, you may want to “shop small” at local retailers. Initiated by American Express and now adopted by many communities and governments, the SHOP SMALL initiative is a national, year-round celebration of small business owners everywhere.
#SHOPSMALLHAWAII was launched in 2017 by the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership along with several resource partners to provide resources to small businesses in Hawaiʻi through educational workshops, promotions, and special events. The Shop Small Hawaii initiative is now a year-round celebration of local small businesses, culminating with an annual celebration on “Small Business Saturday”. More info: Shop Small Hawaii
Gift cards
Another way to avoid the mall crush is to give gift cards for the holiday season. Major retailers typically offer discounts on the purchase of cards. If you have the funds, November is a good time to stock up on discounted gift cards to use for everyday purchases later. Just be sure to use the cards you buy. Or they become very, very expensive pieces of plastic! Here are some more strategies for using gift cards wisely:
Event calendar of free and affordable things to do
Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do in the next 30 days across the Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina.
Featured Events are listed first each day, highlighted by a photo. These are unique, popular, or annual events that we or our advertisers don’t want you to overlook.
You might also like: Hawaiʻi on the Cheap – affordable living and things to do (hawaiionthecheap.com)
