It may feel a little early to start thinking about holiday shopping, but retailers certainly are. October has become the unofficial kickoff to the holiday sales season. Consumer Reports has advice on what to buy this month and how to make sure that the big sale is actually a good deal.

Consumer Reports tracks prices throughout the year to see when the products it tests tend to hit their lowest prices. And you can expect October to be a good time to take advantage of seasonal savings.

You’re probably thinking about cleaning up your yard and getting ready for winter. You may see a lot of sales on outdoor lawn care equipment like leaf blowers, string trimmers, and things like that.

If you’re looking for a new pressure washer, CR experts say to choose the right level of power for the job. Lighter-duty models work well for outdoor furniture, while stronger models are better for durable surfaces like concrete.

And while it may feel early to make that holiday shopping list, CR says now is a good time to do so. Prices are high, budgets are tight, you really want to start thinking about spreading out your spending, and retailers are thinking about that too. That's why these sales start in October.

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days start on the 6th, with other major retailers rolling out competing promotions. The earlier you can research your potential purchases, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed decisions and get the most out of this sale. 

Something to consider: A lot of these items are already on sale before the sale starts, but in the day or two prior, they'll go back to full price just to drop back down to that same sale price. Tools like Keepa can track prices for products that you’re interested in.

Starting your shopping early gives you plenty of time to watch prices and, hopefully, save some money before the holiday rush.