Best Things to Buy in November

While I'm sad to bid farewell to my favorite month of the year (October), November ain't so bad, either. November offers just as many pumpkin spiced lattes as the prior month, not to mention pumpkin pie, thanksgiving warm fuzzies and -- hello! -- lots of shopping.

From Black Friday to Cyber Monday to discounts galore in preparation for winter and the holidays, November is certainly a great month for buying. Today, I'm highlighting the best things to buy in November if you really want to get your money's worth. And that goes for holiday shopping and your standard, non-holiday purchase.

FYI: The products highlighted below are all discounted from their original price, so they probably won't stay in stock for super long. You can continue to find more discounted goods on these products at your local brick and mortar shops as well as our Aol Shopping search engine.

Beauty Sets

Whether gifting yourself or buying for the holidays, the abundance of beauty boxes and gift sets are impressive throughout November. The best part about these gift sets? They combine multiple products and, as a result, are offered at a discounted price.

So not only do you get more product, you get it for a much cheaper price than you would if you bought everything separately. Not to mention, these beauty palettes, sets and boxes typically go on sale at least midway through November (with steeper discounts found on Black Friday/Cyber Monday).

For example, the Bodyography Holiday Gift Set pictured at right, is worth $92 and being sold for $65. Better yet? The price drops to $49.99 on Cyber Monday and stays there until the end of the year.

Hot Buys:
Estee Lauder "Art of Eyes Dramatic Smokey" Gift Set, $36.50 ($100 value)
Laura Mercier "Colour to Go - Warm Neutrals" Portable Palette, $48 ($89 value)
Nordstrom 'Studio to Go' Palette, $16.90 (reg. $35)
AVON Mark Super Flip Color Kit, $9.99 (reg. $20)
Tweezerman Mini Brow Rescue Kit, $22.50 (reg. $25)

Wine

What better way to stay healthy (and happy) throughout the busy month of November than with a bottle or two of wine? Chardonnay, cabernet, moscato, pinot grigio and speciality wines alike are often found at discounted prices this month. Not to mention, you'll find that the selection of wines offered at this time of year is greater. That gives you more to choose from, so buy for yourself or

I'm personally a fan of sweet wines. Pour me a glass of a sweet, sweet moscato or chocolate wine and I'll be your friend forever. I recently tried Almond Roca Cream Wine and fell head over heels in love. It pairs well with coffee and is only $15 per bottle.

Hot Buys:
Chocolate Shop The Chocolate Lover's Wine, from $15
Castello del Poggio Moscato d'Asti Muscat Wine, $10.99
Domaine Chandon Reserve Pinot Noir Non-Vintage Brut Wine, $22.99
Freixenet Sparkling Cordon Negro Brut Non-Vintage Wine, $11.99
Wine of the Month Club (5 Months Worth), $214

Cookware

Shoppers don't always get so lucky when it comes to finding discounted products on item they need stat. Cue November's hot deals on cookware. As you plan for this year's holiday menu, you may discover that you're without some necessary kitchen cookware.

Whether you're in the market for a giant pot, slow cooker, ladle, cooking mitt or turkey fryer, November is the best month to buy. In fact, you'll find these items are discounted by around 25% on average.

Why? Well, there's a surplus of these products hitting shelves. It's also just after the back-to-school and wedding season that boosted all those sales. Retailers continue to move products off their shelves to make way for more holiday gift oriented merchandise.

Hot Buys:
Rachael Ray Bubble and Brown 2 3/4 Qt. Round Casserole Pan, $34.99 (from $49)
Chikara 8 piece Knife Bamboo Block Set, $76.33 (from $120)
Wolfgang Puck Enamel-Coated Cast Iron 9-Piece Mini Cocotte, $50 (from $100)
Calphalon Nonstick Roasting Pan with Rack, $60 (from $100)
Calphalon Nonstick Multi-Pot, $99.95 (reg. $150)

Wedding Dresses

So, buying your wedding dress this month maybe wasn't on your to do list. But you know what? That's exactly why November is a great month to finally go shopping for the white dress of your dreams. Thanks to the post summer/fall wedding rush and holiday season madness, wedding dress sales come to a screeching halt.

As a result, wedding retailers take the appropriate measure move their product: sales. Good deals are to be had from now through the beginning of the year. So yes, if you have the time and the funds to buy your wedding gown now, I strongly urge you to peruse online and brick/mortar retailers.

Hot Buys:
Zac Posen Off the Shoulder Gown with Halter Straps, $2,997 (from $9990)
Aidan Mattox Asymmetric Textured Gown, $115 (reg. $330)
ABS by Allen Schwartz Asymmetrical Silk Gown, $306 (reg. $510)
Alberto Makali Beaded Spaghetti Strap Mermaid Gown, $754.90 (reg. $1258)
Theia Cap Sleeve Mermaid Silk Organza Gown, $674.49 (reg. $1295)

Candles

When your home isn't being filled with the aromatic bliss that is Thanksgiving and holiday cooking, add a little fragrance to the air with the help of a candle or two.

Candles not only make the room smell better, they add a sort of homey ambiance and calmness. I especially like to light a candle after a long or hard day at work or after scrubbing the house from top to bottom. It's also nice to have a candle burning in the bathroom throughout the evening.

Candles are the perfect addition to a DIY gift basket or as a standalone gift -- especially for office mates, your child's teacher or other acquaintances. You'll find discounts across the board on home fragrances this month, so stock up for the year (or a least for holiday gift giving).

Hot Buys:
Rustic Luxe Homescent Collection, from $9.50 (reg. $12)
Sugar & Bamboo 9.5-oz. Jar Candle, $9.99 (from $19.99)
Napa Style Primavera Lumiary Candles, $12.99 (from $34)
Gumps Butterfly Decoupage Candles, $24.99 (reg. $45)
2 pc. Waterfall Mist Pillar Candle Set, $4.99 (reg. $9.99)