Target is my happy place. It’s good for checking items off your shopping list or for curing boredom. While online shopping isn’t as fun as spending hours in the home section imagining a backyard I don’t currently have, it’s worth it when everything is discounted.
While most of us are happily celebrating the start of spooky month, the allure of holiday shopping is creeping up earlier and earlier. Target’s Deal Days sale competes with Amazon’s Prime Day every year, and this year each brand is giving their sales a part two in October. Amazon’s event starts next week, Tuesday, October 11.
Are you unsure whether you should start shopping now or wait till Black Friday? Rest easy. Target will match prices if it goes lower at any time between October 6 and December 24, so don’t worry about missing out on a better sale.
Device Deals
Photograph: Apple
We love the iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends), especially if you need portability. Its 8.3-inch screen has slimmer bezels than its predecessor, plus both front and back cameras are improved. It has an A15 Bionic processor so it can handle intense apps and games, and it supports the second-gen Apple Pencil.
Are you holiday shopping for a teen? Instant cameras are still having a moment. This is one of the most affordable options. It’s cute and easy to hold. This bundle comes with batteries and a pack of 10 films.
We like Amazon’s Fire Tablets for leisurely tasks, so if you just want to play games or watch movies, $75 isn’t a bad deal—it’s much better than spending over $500 on an iPad if you aren’t planning on utilizing all its features. The 10 is our favorite Fire Tablet, and we always recommend waiting for one of these sales to grab one.
Kitchen and Home Deals
Photograph: Target
KitchenAid stand mixers are pricey, but they’re a long-term investment that’s well worth it for many home chefs and bakers. This is the deal price that we saw during Prime Day a few months ago, but we usually see them dip even further during Black Friday. If you want to grab it now, keep an eye on the price and utilize Target’s price match if it does get cheaper.
If you need a grocery order over $50 anyway, you can get $10 to spend later with same-day pickup or delivery. There are a few exclusions, but it should be clearly marked as to what is included.
Dysons are some of the most useful and attractive cordless stick vacuums on the market; the only problem is that they’re usually priced to match. The Dyson V8 is the best Dyson on a budget. This one has a slightly longer run time (40 minutes) than some of the cheaper models, and as usual, it’s maneuverable and has a wall dock for easy charging and storage.
Dust and pet hair piles up by the second, it seems, and letting a robot keep up with that is a convenience we can get behind. iRobot’s 600 series is an affordable line we like, especially when it’s discounted under $200 like this. This one typically retails for $245. iRobot’s app is easy to use and the vacuums have stellar navigation, according to WIRED senior associate editor Adrienne So.
Photograph: Hoover
If you have more to spend, we have found Roborock’s to be one of the most reliable robot vacuums for the money. This one mops! It uses sonic waves to map your home, uses multidirectional brushes so there’s less debris left behind, and when it gets to a carpet, the mop automatically lifts.
Though the PowerDash does occasionally reach its $120 list price, it usually hovers between $90 and $100, so don’t rush to buy our budget carpet cleaner pick if you aren’t sure. But if you do need something right now, this one is super light and easy to maneuver around, and it does a good job of getting out stains like cat puke. We also like the bigger Hoover SmartWash for $270 ($50 off), but like the PowerDash, this sale is pretty common.
Photograph: Casper
You should never buy a mattress at full price, and this is the deal we’ve seen the last few times around on our runner-up pick. Hybrids, which are made from a blend of foam and springs, are our top choice when it comes to mattresses. This one has a good balance between soft and supportive, and the springs make it breathable with just enough bounce. We think it should satisfy most people, whether you’re a stomach, side, or back sleeper. A few other models from Casper and Tuft and Needle (another brand we like) are also discounted.
If you need a new faux Christmas tree this year, nearly every one is discounted right now. A bunch of options are pre-lit, which is helpful for a quicker setup. You can get even get a Christmas palm tree for $120 ($55 off).
More Deals
Photograph: Target
Hoping to go as the Sanderson sisters this year? Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your kids, or your pets, all costumes and accessories—including baskets for carrying all your candy—are buy one get one 50 percent off.
This deal includes tons of things you might already need, like toothpaste, deodorant, or shampoo. Some of our favorites are pimple patches from Hero Cosmetics ($9) and Starface ($15), La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 ($18) for irritated skin, Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic ($16), and literally anything from Miss Jessie’s for curls.