target is me happy place. This is great for checking items on your shopping list or fighting boredom. While shopping online isn’t as fun as spending hours at home imagining a backyard that I don’t currently have, it’s worth it when everything is discounted.
While most of us are happily celebrating the start of this creepy month, the allure of holiday shopping is spreading earlier and earlier. Target’s Deal Days sales rival Amazon’s Prime Day every year, and this year each brand has a second installment in October. Amazon’s event kicks off next week, Tuesday, October 11.
Not sure whether to start shopping now or wait until Black Friday? sit back and relax. If it drops anytime between October 6th and December 24th, Target will match the price, so don’t worry about missing out on a better sale.
Equipment deals
Photo: Apple
We love the iPad Mini (8/10, recommended by WIRED), especially if you need portability. Its 8.3-inch screen has thinner bezels than its predecessor, and both the front and rear cameras have been improved. It has an A15 Bionic processor so it can handle intense apps and games, and supports the second-generation Apple Pencil.
Are you shopping for teens? Instant cameras still have a moment. This is one of the most affordable options. It’s cute and easy to hold. The bundle comes with batteries and a pack of 10 film rolls.
We love Amazon’s Fire tablets for casual tasks, so if you just want to play games or watch movies, $75 isn’t too bad — it’s better than spending over $500 on an iPad if you’re not going to use all the iPad’s features The Multi.10 is our favorite Fire tablet, and we always recommend waiting for one of these sales to snag one.
Kitchen and Home Deals
Photo: Target
KitchenAid stand mixers are expensive, but for many home cooks and bakers, they’re a long-term investment that’s well worth it. That’s the deal prices we saw on Prime Day a few months ago, but we usually see them drop further during Black Friday. If you want to buy it now, keep an eye on the price, and if it does get cheaper, use Target’s price match.
If you need a grocery order over $50 anyway, you can get $10 to spend later on same-day pickup or delivery. There are some exceptions, but what is included should be clearly marked.
Dyson is one of the most useful and attractive cordless vacuums on the market. The only problem is that they are usually priced to match. The Dyson V8 is the best Dyson on a budget. This one has a slightly longer runtime (40 minutes) than some of the cheaper models, but as usual, it’s maneuverable and has a wall dock for easy charging and storage.
Dust and pet hair seem to build up in a second, and it’s a convenience for us to have the robot keep up. iRobot’s 600 series is an affordable line we love, especially when it’s discounted below $200 like this. This usually retails for $245. According to Wired’s senior associate editor Adrienne So, iRobot’s app is easy to use and the vacuum has top-notch navigation.
Photo: Hoover
If you have more to spend, we found the Roborock to be one of the most reliable robot vacuums for your money. This mopping! It uses sound waves to map your home, uses a multi-directional brush so less debris is left behind, and the mop lifts automatically when it reaches the carpet.
While PowerDash occasionally hits the $120 list price, it usually hovers between $90 and $100, so don’t rush into our pick of cheap carpet cleaners if you’re not sure. But if you do need something right now, this one is super light and easy to handle, and does a great job of removing stains like cat poop.We also like bigger Hoover SmartWash for $270 ($50 off)but as with PowerDash, such sales are common.
Photo: Casper
You should never buy a mattress at full price, and here’s a deal we’ve seen in our runner-up picks the last few times. Made from a mix of foam and springs, the hybrid is our top choice when it comes to mattresses. This one strikes a good balance between softness and support, with the spring giving it just the right amount of breathability and just the right amount of stretch. We think it should satisfy most people, whether you sleep on your stomach, side or back. Some other models from Casper and Tuft and Needle (another brand we love) are also discounted.
If you need a new faux Christmas tree this year, it’s on sale for just about everyone right now. A bunch of options are pre-lit, which helps with faster setup. You can even get a Christmas palm tree for $120 ($55 off).
More offers
Photo: Target
Hoping to be the Sanderson Sisters this year? Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your kids, or your pet, clothing and accessories, including a basket to carry all your candy, are 50% off buy one, get one free.
This deal includes plenty of items you may already need, such as toothpaste, deodorant, or shampoo. Some of our favorites are the acne patches from Hero Cosmetics ($9) and Starface ($15), La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 for irritated skin ($18), Daughter Curly Magic from Uncle Funky ($16) , and anything from Miss Jessie’s curls.
